Lamu · Kenya
The Majlis Resort
Italian-Swahili design on a quiet Manda Island beach, minutes by dhow from Lamu Town
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The Majlis occupies a stretch of beach on Manda Island, looking across Ras Kitau Bay to Shela and the UNESCO-listed Lamu Old Town. Getting there is part of the appeal: guests arrive by dhow or speedboat, and the resort's isolation from road traffic gives it a stillness that mainland coastal hotels cannot match.
The three buildings are whitewashed and arcaded, blending Swahili coastal architecture with Italian ownership and sensibility - antique doors, Lamu furniture, Persian rugs and a great deal of lime plaster. Rooms are cool and simple, with mosquito nets, air conditioning and sea or garden aspects. The kitchen is a genuine strength, mixing Swahili seafood with wood-fired pizza and properly made Italian dishes.
Days here are unhurried: dhow sailing, snorkelling on the Manda reefs, deep-sea fishing, kitesurfing in season, or an afternoon wandering the alleys of Lamu Town and the dunes behind Shela. Two pools and a beach bar take care of the rest.
At a glance
What to expect
- Two swimming pools
- Private beach on Ras Kitau Bay
- Dhow sailing and snorkelling
- Deep-sea fishing
- Spa treatments
- Air-conditioned rooms
- Italian and Swahili restaurant
- Complimentary airport transfers
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