KIZINGO - LAMU ISLAND
Kizingois a small lodge with just 8 beach front bandas on Lamu Island, off the Kenyan coast. Built from local materials – mangrove, mkuti and mkeka – by local islanders, each banda is as extravagantly large as it is simple, beautiful and natural.
LOCATION
Lamu Island off the coast of Kenya
LODGE
There are eight spacious and light ensuite Bandas that sit on the edge of a stunning 9 mile stretch of beach. All Banda’s are set apart from each other giving you maximum privacy and each room has a spectacular view looking out across the Indian Ocean teaming with wonderful natural sea life.
In each Banda you will find a king sized bed romantically draped with mosquito netting and there is locally handmade table and chairs for you to sit and enjoy the stunning views. Hammocks are beautifully placed to make the most of your own private shaded terrace and enjoy the stunning views and the terrace also has a further handcrafted seating area and table where you can enjoy the serenity, a good book and a cool drink in the heat of the day.
Kizingo is very eco-friendly and all en-suites provide hot water directly from solar power. The Bandas have been crafted by local tradesmen and all materials have been sourced in and around Lamu itself. Most of the materials used are from the Kipungani village using coconut fonds called Makuti and Makeka.
ACTIVITIES
All activities can be booked and paid for at the lodge:
Swimming with wild dolphins – Kizingo offers this activity between the November and April monsoon. Louis has been going out swim with dolphins for many years and has become friendly with a number of local pods. On a good day, and when the dolphins are in the mood to play, you can spend ages in the water swimming and being observed by them. There is a small coral island where you see the dolphins called Kynika Rock which has excellent snorkelling and lots of colourful fish. The trip leaves at 9am and returns around 12 noon.
Piki Piki Safari to lake Kenyatta (Moterbike ride) - the trip starts with a short boat ride to the mainland where the trip starts. You can ride though rural small farmlands to Lake Kenyatta where you can see lots of hippo and an incredible abundance of bird life. You then head to Mpekatoni town for an ice cold drink at a local bar before heading home.
Sunset Dune Walk - behind Kizingo the sand dunes rise high up above the lodge and from the top offer an incredible 360 degree views of the whole island. It is a good 45 minute walk through the sand and helps work up a thirst for a sundowner at the top.
Historic Lamu Town Tour - Lamu old town is the oldest and best preserved Swahai settlement in east Africa and has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Lamu is one of the few old historical towns of the word that is still fully functioning in the way that it has done for hundreds of years. The lodge can arrange a boat trip to take you to the town leaving at around 9 am before it gets to hot and you will be back at lunch time. The tour lasts about 2 hours.
Water Skiing and Wake Boarding
Dhow Boat Sailing - hire a local sailing Dhow to take you on a day trip around the islands or for a sunset sail
