Kizingoni Beach, Lamu Island - North Kenya Coast
Kizingoni House is one of a group of exclusive and secluded private homes set on Kizingoni Beach, on the beautiful island of Lamu off the Kenyan coast. Each house sleeps at least eight guests and is fully catered. All the houses are characterised by exquisite taste and an outstanding setting, a perfect retreat for total privacy and relaxation for families of groups of friends.
Kizingoni House has been built and positioned to take full advantage of the west facing view for spectacular sunsets and sea views and to catch the sea breezes throughout the year.
The grand entrance steps take you up onto an elevated terrace and into the high ceilinged, white plastered central living/dining room, simply designed in the Swahili style with traditional plasterwork and wooden beams, with a magnificent locally crafted dining table that can easily seat 16 people. The living room has five further doorways: the largest directly onto the pool, through two huge shuttered doors; another leads to the first floor terrace stairs and pool room; into the back courtyard garden; up the stairs to the bedrooms and finally, well concealed behind the beautifully carved plaster ‘niche' wall, the kitchen entrance.
The house has four double bedrooms, all with bathroom en-suite and each with a private balcony with sea views. The large master bedroom faces west with superb sea views framed by coconut palms. Its spacious bathroom has a Swahili style bath and from the bedroom there is direct access to the rooftop patios. The pool has a dining area, baraza and a poolroom. The house is furnished with traditional Swahili items of furniture, locally crafted items and pieces from around Africa and Asia.
The roof terrace, where many meals are eaten, is one of the coolest and most panoramic spots on the beach.
Mature coconut palms, doum palms and many indigenous shrubs and trees grow around the house - many of them rare and unusual. A small coconut plantation of 40 palms has recently been replanted next to the house. In the courtyard garden and close to the house jasmine, frangipani, desert rose, date palms and hibiscus are growing. There are fresh herbs outside the kitchen door.
Facilities
• Double Bedrooms en-suite: 4
• Dining areas: 3
• Baraza areas: 3
• Guest cloakroom/pool room: 1
• Massage table
• Swinging beds: 2
• Pool 8m
• Fully-equipped kitchen
• Large planted garden
• Laundry room
• Beach shower
• Powered by wind turbine and solar panels
• Solar hot water
Location and seasons
The house is on Kizingoni Beach at the southern tip of Lamu Island.
Kenya's north 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.
Beach vacation facts
Hottest time is between November and March, rainy season is May and June (hotel closed 01 May to 15 June); sea weed on beach and strong winds May /August. September to November is cool and pleasant.
Lamu
The Lamu archipelago is a cluster of hot low-lying desert islands, which runs for some 60 km parallel to the coastline of northern Kenya. The last survivor of a one thousand year-old civilization, Lamu was founded by the Arabs in the seventh century and traded for centuries thereafter in ivory, rhino horn and slaves. Today it offers a unique showcase for the traditional Swahili culture, a bustling historic town and some of the most pristine beaches in Africa.
The most famous in the archipelago, measuring about 16 km by 7km, Lamu resembles a smaller version of Zanzibar. Here, however, transport is by foot, donkey or dhow - there are no cars on the island. A magnificent Swahili settlement and a World Heritage Site, Lamu Town is a maze of winding streets and intricately carved doorways, which lies to the north-east of the island. The fishing village of Shela lies to the south (with a 12 km beach), while Kipungani is the local centre for dhow-building and palm-mat weaving. Transfers to Lamu take around 10 minutes by boat from Manda Island.
Lamu town
The oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa, Lamu is a centre for the study of Swahili culture. Although founded in the 13th century, the majority of buildings date from the 18th century. Today the town is a living monument to its past. The old houses, built with coral walls two-feet thick are built with a series of alcoves rather than rooms, whose size is decided by the length of the ten-foot mangrove poles that are used for both floors and ceiling.
Many are three-storeys high and feature winding staircases, vast carved doors, intricate fret-work screens, balconies and flat roofs. In the winding streets, the majority of women are black-veiled, while the men wear traditional Swahili dress. The majority of the population are Muslims; and the town echoes to the call of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer at the 23 mosques of the town. Lamu also hosts the important Maulidi Muslim Festival.
Accommodation
The house has four double bedrooms, all with bathroom en-suite and each with a private balcony with sea views. The large master bedroom faces west with superb sea views framed by coconut palms. Its spacious bathroom has a Swahili style bath and from the bedroom there is direct access to the rooftop patios. The pool has a dining area, baraza and a poolroom. The house is furnished with traditional Swahili items of furniture, locally crafted items and pieces from around Africa and Asia.
Dining and bars
The house offers a number of dining spaces including the roof top terrace, around the pool and in the gardens. The services of an accomplished chef are included in the cost. Drinks can be taken around the pool, on the roof-top or in the garden. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars in Lamu Town.
Child-friendly
The house is exceptionally child-friendly and baby-sitting is available.
What to see and do
Facilities: Swimming pool, private boat
Free activities: Swimming, water-skiing, swimming with dolphins, fishing trips, wake boarding, trips to Lamu Town, picnic lunches on deserted beaches, sunset cruises on dhows. Fuel for the boat is charged additionally
Paid activities: Deep-sea fishing, spa treatments, massage, boat fuel
Turtles lay their eggs on the beach where long walks are a joy. 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.
Kizingoni House - Lamu Island | Kenya Coast Beach Hotels & Resorts
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