MANDA BAY RESORT
Manda Bay Resort is a small private lodge on Manda Island in northern Kenya’s Lamu Kiwayu archipelago. : Its hidden away on this peaceful island close to Lamu, on Kenya's north coast. Amongst the tropical vegetation and swaying palms, the club is surrounded by a beautiful stretch of empty beach. Manda Bay offers relaxation, watersports, dhow safaris and luxurious pampering throughout your stay. Small and exclusive, Manda Bay is totally private yet only a 20-minute boat ride from the restaurants and ancient culture of Shela and Lamu Town. Formerly the Blue Safari Club, Manda Bay has been renovated and reopened under new management.

OFFICIAL CATEGORY (Ministry of Tourism classification): Exclusive
The location of the Manda Bay Resort on the goole map.

View Larger Map 

LOCATION: Manda Bay Resort on the northern Kenyan coast. An exclusive resort, Manda Bay Resort is on a secluded peninsular, close to ancient Lamu Town and neighboring Shela but far enough away from the bustle to enjoy total privacy. It has its own airstrip and there are three scheduled flights daily to Lamu from Nairobi and Mombasa, any other access is only by boat thus reinforcing its exclusive atmosphere.

NUMBER OF ROOMS: There are ten cottages with a choice of double or twin beds, surrounded by large flowing mosquito nets and cooled by overhead fans. In keeping with the local landscape and artisans the accommodation is constructed from local materials.

Room Décor AND Amenities: All the buildings are constructed with local materials in traditional coastal style, with palm thatch roofs and woven matting covering the floors. The cottages are spacious and comfortable with their own Ensuite bathrooms, hot water and flush toilets; they are specially sited to catch the cooling sea breezes and all have verandas and are delightfully decorated in local fabrics. Five rooms are set right on the seafront and five are set in-between and slightly behind on higher ground. With five doubles and five twins, families can also utilize two of these rooms adapting them to a comfortable triple layout. All the rooms have large ceiling fans and ensuite bathrooms. There is a central dining room and bar area featuring locally crafted Lamu furniture and overlooking the bay a separate secluded lounge area perfect for unwinding over an ocean sundowner.
Having its own private, fully fitted 60foot traditional dhow –Utamaduni– it’s possible to arrange longer 2/3 day cruises exploring the uninhabited islands of this fascinating archipelago. Utamaduni was built by Lamu’s master-boat builders in the time-honoured style of the East African coast. She is one of the two biggest dhows now operating on the East African coast and has the largest sail of any dhow in Kenya.
She has three spacious guest cabins below deck, a regular flush toilet and fresh water showers. Guests may sleep in the cabins or under the stars on deck where comfortable bedding is laid out at night after dinner.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE FACILITIES: The informal dining room and sitting rooms are comfortable, open and airy. They enjoy uninterrupted views of Manda Bay whose ever-changing waters attract birds, small local sailing craft and spectacular marine life. All rooms are furnished in vibrant Kenyan fabrics, specially designed to compliment the environment.

All meals are relaxed and casual, served in the dining room, on the beach, or even on Utumaduni, A traditional sailing dhow.
The availability of wonderful, fresh seafood and tropical fruit dictates most menus but Manda Bay offers wholesome, nutritious home-cooked menus from all over the world to suit any palate. The Italian trained Swahili chef can easily cater to the demands of children and those on special diets.

GENERAL FACILITIES: Modern communications like email and telephone access are available, Laundry is also available on request.

Power
A 240 volt generator supplies MANDA BAY’S electricity. The power is off at certain times of the day, but on for most of the night.
Water
Water is drawn from wells on the property and passed through a desalination and ultra-violet plant. There is also bottled water provided for guests. Hot water is available 24hrs a day.
Credit cards
Mastercard and Visa are accepted.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:
One of the best ways to explore this incredible archipelago is under sail on Utamaduni, Manda bays beautiful 62 foot sailing dhow. Utamaduni is a Kiswahili word meaning way of life or culture.
Utamaduni carries a full compliment of eight experienced crew who operate the ship under sail through waters which were opened to world trade by the invention of the dhow and its unique lateen rig.
Utamaduni is fully-equipped with the latest navigation and communication equipment including a satellite telephone and all the necessary safety kit. She also has a large diesel engine, a generator, deep freeze fridge and all the comforts of a modern day cruiser but no air conditioning.
MANDA BAY is a water sports paradise. Its sheltered mangrove creek and the calm waters are ideal for water skiing. Guests can ski at high tide, yet just outside the creek there is generally enough breeze for sailing, wind-surfing and kite-surfing.
MANDA BAY has two ski boats and a large selection of skis and other equipment, including an eight-man ocean rider (Banana), air chairs, doughnuts, kneeboards and wake boards.
For keen sailors they have a variety of wind-surfers, a Topper and two Lasers; they also have a 22-foot traditional wooden jahazi. For those that have never sailed before our staff are always ready to assist with a few easy lessons.
Manda bay also have a fleet of five motorboats to take guests out sight seeing, bird watching or snorkeling in the rich coral gardens close to the lodge. Manda’s coral reefs are a lure to divers and snorkellers. For more experienced divers we have a wide selection of scuba equipment and a range of fantastic dive-sites.

All guests are welcome to take a rod and try their luck with some creek fishing. Trivially, king fish and barracuda are all plentiful in the creek around the lodge

CONFERENCE FACILITIES: TBA

CLIMATE: For nine months of the year Manda Bay enjoys spectacular sunshine. In May, June and July however, the Kenya Coast is generally overcast and wet so Manda Bay is closed. The two monsoons “Kaskazi” from the North East and “Kusi” from the South East determine the weather and are almost always predictable. At Sea level Altitude, The climate on Lamu island is very mild tropic climate.

MUKUTAN RETREAT

OFFICIAL CATEGORY (MINISTRY OF TOURISM CLASSIFICATION):

LOCATION: The Retreat is a unique refuge overlooking the spectacular Mukutan Gorge on the edge of the Great Rift Valley of Kenya.

It is situated on the extreme west of the region of Laikipia, the gem of the East African Highlands, on the ranch of Ol Ari Nyiro
Ol Ari Nyiro - The place of Dark Waters in Maasai language - is a 100,000 acre ranch where conservationist and author Kuki Gallmann's haunting autobiography, 'I Dreamed of Africa' is based.

DESCRIPTION: Mukutan means 'The Meeting' and it is here that the fingers of the surrounding hills meet. The Retreat is perched on the cliffs overlooking the gorge, its waterfalls, palm trees and extraordinary thermal Hot Springs.
The unique setting, the silence and the evocative sounds of Africa, make of the Mukutan Retreat an exclusive hideaway for discriminate travelers, who wish to find a total communion with nature in simple yet sophisticated comfort.
The paradox of the Retreat is that it remains exquisitely civilized, yet it is the very antithesis of civilization. There is no electricity in the Mukutan; the obtrusive hum of an electric generator is forbidden. Power is collected by solar panels, although most illumination is by candlelight.
In fact, upon reaching the Retreat the last several hundred meters are covered on foot to eliminate the sound of vehicles and preserve the ancient silence of the Mukutan Gorge. The bellhops are camels, carrying luggage to the cottage doors. Mukutan proprietor, Kuki Gallmann, has painstakingly modeled the Retreat to be the penultimate African destination. Every object is a hand-selected part of a perfect puzzle that delivers the Africa of lore.

NUMBER OF ROOMS: A stunning resort for 12/14 people, Lodging is provided by three traditional dwellings, perched at the edge of the gorge and patterned after native African rondavels..

ROOM DÉCOR: Each is dressed with Swahili and Lamu furniture and built of local stone, papyrus and native woods.

ROOM AMENITIES: Each hut offers luxurious accommodations with double beds, a fireplace and a private veranda overlooking the cliffs. The six enormous tents, three with two large queen beds each, and three with
romantic four-poster beds, are sheltered by a sloping tent -like roof and erected on red cedar terraces.

SPECIAL FEATURE: Very recently Stone Age and Iron Age archaeological remains of
immense potential value which have now been officially investigated by The
National Museums of Kenya- have been discovered in Ol Ari Nyiro. Makena's Hills and the Mukutan Retreat in Ol Ari Nyiro have both been awarded a green tick by the Green Globe Award organization in recognition of environmentally responsible activities and eco-tourism.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE FACILITIES: From fresh, organic ingredients all locally grown on the ranch, and fish from our lakes, guests will have a choice of famous Italian cuisine and Indian /Chinese spicy vegetarian and evocative food prepared by our trained chefs. All food is organically grown in the estate gardens.

GENERAL FACILITIES:
A satellite telephone is available for guests at a charge of $6 per minute.
Power at the retreat is supplied by solar panels and batteries. Guests can recharge batteries for video equipment with a 220-240 volt transformer.

RECREATION ACTIVITIES
• A private herd of 100 camels.
A central large reception area with two giant fireplaces, vast front terrace where a fire is lit every night for a stunning campfire effect, dining rooms and bar, a shop with a selection of rare local crafts, a panoramic swimming pool, and secluded viewpoints amongst clumps of trees for sundowners, meditation, yoga and relaxation are all part of the layout
• Special yoga and holistic stress healing sessions are offered to interested guests in addition to horse riding, camel walks, fishing and the most extraordinary scenic game drives and walks in Kenya.
• Sight seeing: The forest of Enghelesha, the only indigenous and protected forest in the area, home to the last remaining troupes of the rare and endangered Colobus monkey. Endless hills covered in wild sage -leleshwa- whose leaves produce an exceptional healing essential oil, locally extracted. An extraordinary series of dramatic ridges, steep gorges and open savannah, valleys and plains.
• Natural springs and waterfalls, including natural thermal Hot Springs, whose water has unusual deep blue and golden reflections. Mysterious ancient caves and a sacred red hill of Ochre, Mlima Ndongo, where since time immemorial pilgrimages to collect the holy ochre were made.
• Amazing wildlife: Elephant, the largest population of Cape buffalo on private land in Kenya, Eland, Waterbuck, Lion, Leopard and Cheetah and over 400 species of birds makes of Ol Ari Nyiro a rare and extraordinary place.
Over thirty horses, with riding equipment and syces.

CONFERENCE FACILITIES: Not available.

CLIMATE: The retreat lies roughly 6,200 feet above sea level, resulting in warm days and cool nights. May through September is the coolest time of year; November through March is the warmest.

Nairobi Hotels l Mombasa Hotels l Maasai Mara Hotels and Lodges