With tourism as the major industry in Lamu, there is no shortage of hotels and guest houses on the island.
Here is a list of what I consider to be the best hotels in Lamu:
Baitil Aman Guest House in Lamu
Baitil Aman Guest House
Address: Shela, Lamu, Kenya
Phone: +254 (0)733 37 53 80
The Baitil Aman Guest House in Lamu, Kenya is located in the idyllic town of Shela. Away from the bustle of Lamu Town, the guest house is located a few minutes’ walk from the beach. It is also just down the street from the Peponi, the hotel that is famous for being the happy hour spot of choice for visitors to Shela.
The Baitil Aman Guest House is situated in a 200 year old traditional house on a quiet street in Shela. The guest house is full of great antiques and picturesque doors, and is a photographer’s dream come true.
Rooms at the Baitil Aman are huge and offer great views of Lamu. Some rooms come with extra beds. Each room at the Baitil Aman Guest House has an ensuite bathroom (bring your own toiletries), mosquito nets, a desk, and wireless Internet access (one of the few places in Lamu to have it).
There is plenty of hot water for showers at the guest house, although water pressure can sometimes be low. Power outages in Shela are frequent during the day and in the middle of the night, but are rare in the mornings and evenings. Bring a flash light just in case, but don’t be too worried about needing it at the guest house.
The roof terrace at the Baitil Aman Guest House is the perfect place to enjoy dinner under the stars. The restaurant serves up amazingly good food, including Hot and Spicy Crab (1200 KES), and a delicious whole lobster (2000 KES). Other good menu items include the jumbo prawns (1500 KES) and vegetarian curry (600 KES).
In the mornings and afternoons you can relax in the beautiful garden or the pillow-filled lounge area. Breakfast is included in the room rate and there is a great breakfast menu of omelettes, pancakes, Swahili tea, fresh tropical fruit, and more.
The staff at the Baitil Aman are friendly and helpful, and are willing to go the extra mile to do things like laundry or fulfil other one-off requests.
Rack rates for rooms at the Baitil Aman Guest House are 180 USD per night in the high season for a double room (120 in mid season and 100 in low season), but you can negotiate at 15% discount when booking. Laundry is free.
Kijani House Hotel in Lamu
Kijani House Hotel
Address: P.O.Box 266, Lamu, Kenya
Phone: +254-42-4633235
Kijani House Hotel in Shela is one of the best hotels in Lamu.
The Kijani House Hotel is nestled among 3,000 square metres of lush gardens and features two swimming pools and a path to the sea.
Owner Pierre Oberson created the Kijani House Hotel to resemble a traditional Swahili stone house. As such, all 10 rooms at the hotel feature private balconies, beautiful dark wood furniture, and local and international antiques.
Food at the Kijani House Hotel is cooked fresh daily with local fish and fruits and vegetables from Kijani’s own farm in the centre of Lamu. Most meals at the hotel feature seafood, Swahili dishes or Italian cuisine.
Room rates at the Kijani House Hotel in Lamu range from 125 to 290 euros per night, depending on the type of room you select and whether you choose a meal plan or not. Airport boat transfers are included in all room rates.
Peponi Hotel in Lamu
Peponi Hotel
Address: P.O. Box 24 80500 Lamu Kenya
Phone: +254 (0)42 4633421/2/3
The Peponi Hotel is one of the best hotels in Lamu, Kenya.
The Peponi Hotel is located in Shela, a beach town just a few kilometers from Lamu Town, the island’s main port. The hotel is run by the Korschen family, who opened the hotel in the 1960’s.
The 24 rooms at the Peponi Hotel all feature ocean views, mosquito nets, ensuite bathrooms, and ceiling fans. Superior rooms at the Peponi Hotel have private balconies.
The Peponi Hotel has a restaurant that has been written up in the New York Times for its outstanding cuisine. It also features the most popular beach front bar in Lamu, which serves alcholic beverages (a rarity in Lamu). The bar is a great place to have a sunset cocktail on the beach, but make sure to stay on the non-guest side of the bar if you’re not staying at the hotel. Staff at the Peponi can be quite hostile to visitors that stray into the guest-only area.
An ocean front pool and lush gardens round out the Peponi Hotel’s offerings, and make it one of the best hotels in Lamu.
Rooms at the Peponi Hotel start at 200 euros per night for a standard room (breakfast included). The hotel is closed in May and June, which is the low season in Lamu.
Msafini Hotel in Lamu
Msafini Hotel
Address: P.O BOX 226 Shella, Lamu, KENYA
Phone: +254 720223043
The recently opened Msafini Hotel in Shella on Lamu island, Kenya is one of the best mid range hotels in Lamu.
Msafini Hotel features large, spacious guest rooms, a beautiful pool, a balcony on every room, sea views, a relaxing rooftop lounge, and great food.
Msafini Hotel has great staff that are friendly and helpful. Rama and Faraj are particularly commendable for their great service and welcoming attitudes.
Room rates at Msafini Hotel in Lamu are flexible, so negotiate if you are going to stay more than one night. Breakfast is included in the room rate.
