Diani Beach - South Coast of Mombasa, Kenya
Considered by many as some of the finest private villas on the East African Coast, Alfajiri Villas elevated position on Diani Beach along the Indian Ocean ensures privacy and stunning views. The villas are owned by a charming Italian couple, Fabrizio Molinaro and his wife Marika. Marika is a renowned Kenyan style-guru who has been responsible for decorating some of Kenya's most luxurious houses. Her exquisite style is evident at Alfajiri where the decor subtly blends the bright and airy Caribbean flamboyance with the African and the Oriental. The theme is large glass windows, ivory Danish floors, wooden beams, Lamu doors, large wildlife paintings and sketches and impressive artefacts personally sourced by Fabrizio from all over the world. The furniture is hand-made at Marika's workshop on the property and is also exported worldwide. Large pavilions with huge hand carved sofas with cushions dominate the villas.
There are 3 villas available:
Alfajiri Beach Villa overlooks the Indian Ocean and the elevated position ensures privacy and stunning view. The gardens are meticulously maintained and include many palms from the villa's nursery. Diani Beach is considered one of the best in Kenya and it is possible to walk for 5 miles to the north and 5 miles to the south. The concept is as you please! Private dining is a la carte, served al fresco or in your villa - your choice, as too is the cuisine. All meals are included served daily at each villa, and all drinks including local and imported brands of alcohol.
THE TEAM: The house is owned and hosted by Fabrizio Molinaro and his wife Marika. After completing medical school in Italy, Fabrizio has spent the last 22 years in Kenya in the safari business and traveling the world. Marika was in the fashion business for many years and she is now an interior designer for some of Kenya's most luxurious house. The staff of 18 speaks English, French and Italian.
Kenya coast
Kenya's south coast, one of her most popular beach holiday destinations, offers clear blue sea, marine parks, excellent water sports, coral reefs, monsoon winds, numerous hotels and beach resorts, family vacations, sun n sand, cultural and beach travel and more. Close to Mombasa, it is also within easy reach of Malindi, Lamu, Diani and many other popular Kenya safari resort hotels.
Location and seasons
One hour from Mombasa Airport with 10 daily scheduled services from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta and Wilson Airports, (Kenya Airways and Air Kenya). Direct flights from England, Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy in to Mombasa are also available. Five minutes from Ukunda Airstrip, for private charters and a daily service to & from the Maasai Mara.
Diani beach is 25 miles south of Mombasa. Kenya's stunning coastline (485 kms from Nairobi) runs 700 km between the Tanzanian and Somali borders and is renowned for its silken white sandy beaches, coconut palms, sheltered lagoons, pellucid blue waters, remote islands, uncharted mangrove swamps and mysterious Arab and Swahili ruins, many of which date back to the 8th Century AD. An idyllic climate cooled by the monsoon, the Swahili coast offers a daily average of 8 hours of sunshine, and the hot steamy climate is tempered by the monsoon winds: the south-easterly Kusi, which blows from April to October; and the north-easterly Kaskazi which blows from November to March.
The background
Kenya's pristine and well-developed coral reef extends virtually without break from Shimoni in the south to Malindi in the north, some 230 Km in total. The reef is broken only in a few places by river mouths and creeks; and of these the deepest and most sheltered safe channels through the reef are those that lie on either side of Mombasa Island.
Accommodation
Beach Villa: 2 luxuriously appointed double bedrooms with their own bathroom. One of them overlooks the Indian Ocean, and the other the overflowing swimming pool. 2 additional rooms, under the makuti roof, would provide exciting accommodation for children only. Please note there is no bathroom at this level, so children would share one of the 2 bathrooms below. All rooms have mosquito net, the 4 rooms in the Beach Villa have NO air condition.
The Cliff Villa: The crème de la crème of the 3 villas, the Cliff Villa is available on an exclusive basis and consists of four suites (2 doubles, 1 twin and 1 triple), dining room, kitchen, lounge and a large veranda overlooking the Indian Ocean. All rooms are air conditioned with mosquito nets and have en-suite bathrooms. Guests at Alfajiri Cliff Villa have exclusive use of the villa and the pool. No other guest, belonging to another group, will be booked at the same time. Discreet service from experienced staff is on hand as and when required and in 2002 Alfajiri won the Harpers and Queen award for the private villa providing the best service worldwide.
Beach Villa: The beach Villa boasts 2 luxuriously appointed double bedrooms with their own bathroom. One of them overlooks the Indian Ocean and the other the overflowing swimming pool. 2 additional rooms, under the makuti roof, can provide exciting accommodation for children only. There is no bathroom at this level so children would share one of the 2 bathrooms below. All rooms have mosquito net but none of the 4 rooms have air-conditioning. Golf is not included.
Garden Villa: The garden Villa has 4 large luxuriously appointed double bedrooms each with their own large bathrooms. All the rooms overlook the Indian Ocean and are air-conditioned with split-level units and have mosquito nets. All rooms have varying interior decoration with the furniture and artifacts collected from different countries around the world as well as the local workshop. Golf is not included.
Service: Discreet service from 25 experienced staff as and when required. Alfajiri won the 2002 Harpers and Queen award for the private villa providing the best service worldwide.
What is included
Full board accommodation, imported wines, beers, imported spirits, soft drinks, airstrip transfers, and laundry. Golf, snorkeling, wind surfing, massages, vehicle, with driver, available for the Diani area.
Gym sauna and steam bath also available at a nearby property.
What is excluded
Health insurance, gratuities, champagne & specific spirits and wines, deep-sea fishing, diving and diving courses, safari and excursions and guide accommodation
Dining and bars
Private dining is a la carte, served al fresco or in your villa - your choice, as too is the cuisine. All meals are included served daily at each villa, and all drinks including local and imported brands of alcohol. Fresh seafood is brought daily to order from the beach and includes some of the best crab, prawns, lobsters, octopus and sea fish available. Our menus have a Mediterranean influence, olive oils, Parma ham and some cheeses are flown in weekly from Europe. The salads and fresh vegetables come daily from local farms and the fruit is handpicked from trees and bushes around Diani. The Molinaro's will adapt menus to suit the guests. Wines: A choice of good quality South African and Italian wine available.
Child-friendly
The Molinaro have two young girls and the house has been designed with children in mind. Two ayahs (nannies), who both speak English, are available 24 hours a day. Plenty of games are available and a TV and video if needed. Alfajiri Beach Villa is the perfect place for families with small children who are looking for a relaxing time and to have their children well looked after, all in absolute privacy.
What to see and do
The activities on offer include swimming, snorkeling, 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
Your stay at the villa includes snorkeling to the coral reef with local fishermen, using a traditional African boat, massages and reflexology, vehicle for local excursions within Diani, sport activities (golf, tennis, squash and a gym at a nearby property). Several optional activities are also available at extra cost including diving, water sport and excursions to nearby game and marine preserves. However the best activities here are surely the relaxation and food.
Communications:
Alfajiri is equipped with reliable telephones, a facsimile machine and e-mail facilities
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.
Golf: An 18-hole championship golf course is ideally located less than two minutes away from Alfajiri Cliff Villa. Home to the Diani Beach Masters, this is recognized as one of the most exciting golf courses in East Africa. Fully irrigated fairways run through Palm, Cashew nut and Casuarinas Pine trees
The par 72 and 6084-meter course has 85 bunkers and a large lake, which guarantees a challenging and exciting game of golf. The golf course also plays host to abundant bird-life and several species of monkey.
Activities included:
• Snorkeling using a local African boat to the coral reef
• Massage
• Vehicle with driver at disposal within Diani Beach area
• Health club at a nearby property
• Golf inclusive of green fees, caddies fees and clubs
Activities excluded:
There are various activities that are easily arranged locally:
• Diving and Diving courses PADI
• Kite Surfing
• Horse Riding
• Jet Sky Dolphin Safari and mangrove bird watching.
• Deep-sea fishing (marlin, sailfish, shark, tuna etc.) World record marlin can be sought in the Pemba Channel some 45 km away.
• Safaris can be organized from Alfajiri Villas. Close proximity to Tsavo East National Park. Exclusive walking safaris can be organized at Galdessa Camp.
• Excursions to the nearby Kisite Marine National Park and to Funzi Island.
Alfajiri Villas - Diani Beach • Kenya South Coast Hotels • Indian Ocean Beach Hotels & Resorts
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