Extraordinary Africa>Kenya > Kenya Coast>Manda Bay
If we had to have a candidate for the most fun beach lodge we’ve stayed at, well… anywhere, really, it might well be Manda Bay- a laid-back, rustic spot on Manda Island, a short boat ride from Lamu and just bursting with things to do.
What’s Manda Bay really like?
Manda Bay is very much a natural follow on for guests who love safari, with a really barefoot, back to nature feel to it. All of the rooms at Manda Bay charming, in a low-key, natural style, with woven mats on the floor, high thatched roofs, and a verandah outside where guests can sit and watch the world go by. Smallest and simplest are the Garden Rooms, set back in the gardens and mainly with twin beds. A little bigger, and more expensive are the sea view and beachfront rooms. The main difference between these is how close they are to the water- at high tide you can pretty much step from the beachfront rooms straight into the sea- but both are the same price.
Owners Andy and Caragh are just charming. A huge number of people arrive here as guests, and leave feeling like they’re new members of a big, boisterous, fun family. There’s often a very sociable atmosphere amongst the guests, and we were scooped up into the landrover and swept off for sundowners, with a side order of entertaining jokes and delicious “bitings” to accompany our drinks. And while we would say that the general feeling at Manda is pretty friendly and fun, we also spent a peaceful few hours reading a book and watching the dhows float by. These days they’re joined by rather bigger ships, passing by in the distance to the new port, so there is plenty to entertain boat-spotting geeks. Oh- and we forgot to mention the food, which – unsurprisingly given your location- leans towards seafood and was delicious.
What can I do at Manda Bay?
There is a tremendous amount to do here, and we think it’s a brilliant choice for sporty, active guests who want to really enjoy themselves. There’s kayaking and sailing, windsurfing and stand-up paddle-boarding. For an extra fee you can head out in the boat for deep sea fishing and snorkelling (both of these two really only operate between around November and April), waterskiing and wakeboarding, or take a more gentle potter over to explore Lamu Town. In between times, if you’re taking life at a slower pace, the team at Manda can also help arrange massages for you.
Want to know more? We’ve stayed here, so just
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