Finest Lodges

Description & Location

The Majlis is a privately owned resort set on Manda Island in the Lamu archipelago off Kenya´s north coast. The Hotel is elegantly desined and boasts the best views of the Ras Kitau bay. Only a 10 minutes boat ride to Lamu town, the hotel reflects Lamu´s traditional heritage with its subtle fusion of Swahili, Arabic and Indian architectural influences.

The beach hotel facing Lamu Islands comprises 25 superbly-appointed Superior and Deluxe rooms, Junior and Royal suites divided into 3 villas. Each villa opens onto the white sand beach and boasts a private veranda with panoramic sea views.
The rooms at the Majlis are spacious with traditionally high, beamed ceilings, large windows and terraces with spectacular views of the beach, garden, swimming pools and Indian Ocean. Each villa was constructed making use of the archipelago’s natural resources, combining white coral blocks with hand-carved timber.

The story begins in 2000, when an Italian gentleman known as ‘Nanni’ and his wife Elena were on a global quest to find the perfect place to escape from the cold European winters. Having travelled extensively, they realised that Africa held a special place in their hearts. They had journeyed its length and breadth, exploring its remote wildernesses and delighting in the diversity of its people. For many years they had owned a textile factory in Ethiopia, so now, in the twilight years of their lives, they wondered if Kenya may offer the haven they sought.

Built from local bleached-white coral blocks, and delicately styled to reflect a fusion of Italian style and Swahili culture, the villa rose elegantly above the silver sands. Inside, Nanni and his interior designer Armando Tanzini filled the rooms with delicate Swahili niches, intricate fretwork, luscious rugs, hand-made furniture and an eclectic collection of art, sculpture and carvings.

Friends came from all over the world to stay. One of them, the artist and film director Julian Schnabel, provided the inspiration for certain architectural elements of the villa. Schnabel also used local dhow sails, faded by the wind and sun, to act as canvasses for his flamboyant paintings, which now hang on the pure white walls of the central drawing room, alongside the work of a myriad of local artists, Swahili craftsmen and internationally recognised artists.

Highlights

Hotel:

• officially opened in 2009
• 3 Villas complex
• 25 air conditioned rooms
• exlusive villa rental for 8-10 persons
  
• Family managed boutique hotel
  
• Lamu archipelago off Kenya's north coast
• best views of the breathtaking Ras Kitau bay
• the hotel reflects Lamu's traditional heritage
  
• 25 rooms and suites
  
• two pools with panoramic views
• Kid´s Club
• Wellness center
• Fitness center
• Boat excursions
• Watersports
• Cultural excursions

Rooms & Suites:

• 25 rooms & suites
• 3 Villas
  
• a large bedroom area with a king-size bed draped with highest-quality linen bedding and roll-down netting
• a generous en-suite bathroom
• a private veranda
• Each room is also fitted with air conditioning
  
• Wireless internet access is available
• The en-suite bathrooms feature a hot and cold water shower and a classic “baraza” seating area covered in cushions.
  
• high beamed ceilings
• large windows
• room service
• same day laundry service

Location and Travel

The Lamu Archipelago is a small group of islands situated on Kenya’s northern coast line. It is made up of Lamu Island, Manda island , Pate island and Kiwayu Island.

Lamu Town is the headquarters of Lamu District, one of the six districts of Kenya’s Coastal Province, which borders the Indian Ocean to the east, the Tana River District to the south-west and the Garissa District to the north.

Lamu Town is the oldest living Swahili town in Kenya, comparable to Zanzibar in Tanzania. The town dates back to the 12th century. Due to its unique location along Arabic, Indian and African trade routes, Lamu Kenya flourished as a maritime hub whose main population, the Swahili, engaged in international trade, fishing and farming. The architecture of Lamu in Kenya is uniquely Swahili, with its narrow streets, storied buildings, intricately carved wooden doors and numerous mosques.

The ‘Old Town’ is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its cultural significance. Lamu Old Town’s museums and fort are maintained and managed by the National Museums of Kenya. These include the Lamu Museum, known for its exquisite Swahili ethnography exhibits; the Swahili House Museum, a restored 18th century house, reflecting the life of privileged Lamu Swahilis; the Lamu Fort, built in 1814 by Bwana Zeid Ngumi, the last Sultan of Lamu; and the German Post Office Museum, showing the post office when it was operational in the late 19-20th century. You can visit these places during your Kenya all inclusive holidays.

• 15 minutes boat trip from Manda Airport
• 20 minutes flight from Malindi
• 40 minutes flight from Mombasa
• 1h 30 minutes flight from Nairobi

 

The Majlis Hotel – Lamu, Kenya 

Chengo
Ras Kitau Bay, Manda Island
Lamu, 80500 Kenya

40.9222 -2.2993