The Sands at Nomad is Kenya first coastal ‘Boutique’ hotel. Set on 25 meters of pristine greensward with uninterrupted vistas over one of the most beautiful stretches of this legendary beach, The Sands is the inspiration of the celebrated local artist, Mario Scianna, who is already renowned for his work in creating two of the south coast’s most stylish bars, Marco’s and Mario’s, at the adjacent Leopard Beach Hotel.
A unique fusion of hand-carved polished mahogany, soaring sail-work, classic Venetian ‘stucco’ and traditional Swahili architecture, The Sands nestles in 25 acres of indigenous coastal forest, where silken-coated colobus monkeys swing. Centered upon a 5 meter-deep futuristic pool with central gazebo, the sinuously curved central reception area features an atmospheric lounge with a shaded al fresco Jacuzzi terrace, a Romanesque bar, an al fresco restaurant offering excellent a la carte dishes, a boutique and global connectivity centre. Deep in the forest shade is a professional massage and nature treatments salon.
Location
The resort stands on Diani Beach, 25 miles south of Mombasa.
Accommodation
In keeping with the world-class style and innovative panache of the hotel’s conception, the accommodation comprises an individualistic selection of 18 comfortable rooms, 7 exclusive beach cottages and 12 luxurious suites, many with private Jacuzzis, panoramic terraces and spacious sitting rooms. All the rooms enjoy air-conditioning, integrated music and entertainment systems, private bars and 24-hour service, and all are individually interior designed and furnished with an inspired combination of Swahili objects d’art furniture and Mario’s finest mahogany woodwork.
The Rooms
Accommodated in the main reception building the hotel offers 18 double rooms (Forest View and Sea Breeze), each with ensuite bathrooms. Each room is equipped with: air-conditioning, mini-bar and satellite TV. There are also 7 unique beachfront thatched-roof cottages each with uninterrupted views across the sands and ocean. Each is equipped with: air-conditioning, mini-bar, satellite TV. The 6 Ocean View Double Rooms enjoy glorious sea views, sweeping private verandas, and are available with either one or two bedrooms with en suite bathroom: ideal for families or groups of friends. The selection of suites includes:
Three Ocean View Superior Suites (with private Jacuzzi, luxurious bathroom, first floor terrace and spacious reception room a mere 20 meters from the Ocean’s edge), the ‘Peponi’ Master Suite, a magnificent first floor suite featuring a spectacular bathroom with a king-sized Jacuzzi opening on to a terrace. The ‘Mbuyu’ Grande Suite, situated in its own private area of greensward and looking directly out to sea, this unique suite has been constructed in the traditional Swahili style, with a high thatched roof pierced by a dramatic waterfall that descends into a crystal pool below. Featuring a classic four-poster bed on a raised podium, a private verandah an elegant sitting room and a semi-open air bathroom with its own Jacuzzi, the suite offers the ultimate in secluded romance. Finally, there is the ‘Mbega’ Suite, which is situated within the central reception building enjoying both forest and sea views and its own private verandah.
Dining and bars
Nomad Beach Bar and Restaurant offers a luxurious tropical buffet breakfast and is open for lunch and dinner with a broad selection of tropical cocktails, pizzas, pastas, seafood and other international specialties. The wide sweep of bar offers cocktails, wines, spirits, juices, and authentic Italian coffee. The Red Pepper Japanese restaurant offers sushi, sashimi and other Japanese specialties. The Riva’s Bar is located within the main reception area overlooking the pool – ideal for lunches and sundowners and offering a wide range of cocktails, milk shakes, coffee and ice creams.
Conference and event facilities
The resort is ideally suited to the presentation of Indian Ocean Weddings.
Child-friendly
The Sands welcomes children.
What to see and do
The activities on offer include swimming, snorkelling, sea kayaking, diving, water sports, dhow trips, glass-bottom boat trips, nature trails, butterfly farms, places of historic interest, visits to the nearby Shimba Hills (a coastal national park with plentiful elephant) or to the world-famous Arabuko Sokoke Forest, one of the last of the rainforests.
Other attractions
The resort offers also a delightful wave-lapped beach bar and restaurant incorporating and an international dive school offering luxury launches, action sports and game fishing.
Diani Beach itself offers just about everything the visitor could wish for: restaurants, shops, golf course and night spots plus; the Colobus Trust, an area of indigenous forest that provides a sanctuary for the areas many colobus monkeys and the Kaya Kinondo, a cultural centre built around a sacred Kaya (grove) of the Digo people.
The ‘Forest Breeze’ centre offers professional massages and facials, pedicure and manicure, exotic body scrubs and personalised natural treatments.
Sports
The hotel enjoys immediate access to Diving the Crab, a world-class renowned PADI 5 STAR CENTER and SSI PLATINUM centre, which offers dive courses, wreck explorations and whale shark spotting. The 5m-deep pool, the deepest at the Kenyan Coast, is ideal for diving courses.
Other water sports such as kite and windsurfing, kayaks, pedalos and deep-sea fishing are available in the hotel
A championship 18-hole golf course lies within minutes of the hotel.
Boating
A selection of hand-made luxury motorboats and cabin cruisers are available for private marine safaris, exclusive beach BBQ’s and Indian Ocean excursions