Forodhani House

Villa Lamu, Shela Beach
Excellent from 65 reviews
10/10
95% of guests recommend

Description

In the authentic Swahili style, Forodhani House is one of the most beautiful villas in the Lamu archipelago, masterfully combining modernity and architectural tradition. A large whitewashed building, with a unique location directly on the beach, making it the ideal place for family holidays or with friends as it can accommodate up to 10-13 people.

The house was built in accordance with the rules of Swahili architecture, and by Lamu’s best craftsmen. Enjoy the elegance and authenticity of antique furniture, admire the high carved teak front door, or niches and hand-carved friezes that adorn every room. Woven carpets, old chests, unique items from some of antique dealers in, Mombasa, Nairobi and Lamu, all elegantly furnish a refined interior from where one experiences a very real serenity.

Outside in the garden, palm trees, ilangs ylang, frangipani and bougainvillea bring a final touch of vibrant, fluttering, color and fragrance.

Refined elegance, stunning sea views, an ideal setting for a cool and relaxing holiday.

So if you love nature, would like to relax but also occasionally have fun with friends and the truly friendly people here, if you feel inspired by the white sandy beaches and warm seas, the well protected fauna and wild flora, and you are looking for a haven of peace, where you will be surrounded by the exotic, will eat well, and always have activities on hand ... then please accept our heartfelt Welcome to Forodhani House, on the beach of Shella on our island of Lamu, Kenya.

You will without any doubt have a holiday full of exquisite memories.

Availability

  • House (5 bedrooms)
    House (5 bedrooms)
    • 320
    • × 5
    • × 10
    • × 4
    + more info
    Room description

    House has 4 double rooms and 1 single room

    6x6

    Room amenities

Facilities

  • Air conditioning
  • Airport pickup
  • Balcony
  • Beachfront
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Dining area
  • Electric kettle
  • Equipped kitchen
  • Fan
  • Fridge
  • Garden view
  • Mosquito net
  • Ocean view
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Seating area
  • Shower
  • Sofa
  • Towels
  • WiFi
Activities

ON THE BEACH Directly on the beach of Shella, you are well placed to enjoy all the water based activities available during your holiday: swimming, sailing, diving, water skiing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, kite surfing, fishing ... it's right there, on your doorstep, ideal for both adults and children.

We also suggest to go at least once to Manda Island, just opposite on the other side of the water, to see the hatching of baby turtles and watch as the intrepidly entre the sea ... an incredible experience! Overall, you will be amazed by the exuberance of fauna and flora. From September to May, it is just the season to go swimming with dolphins. From July to December, it's time for whales – just amazing! It is also a wonderful fishing spot ... small, at the foot of the house and in the bay off shore: tuna, barracuda and the legendary swordfish!

During your stay, you will dive around the coral island Manda Toto or around the Kinika rock, it’s a great spectacle, thousands of bright fish! You will also embark on a "dhow" right on the beach in front of the house for a wonderful sunset cruise through the maze of mangroves, or you could  leave for the day to sail around Lamu Island by boat with picnic. Relaxation, tranquillity and wonder guaranteed!

Finally, held 5 times a year at least, the famous racing dhows bring together the best yachts and sailors of the archipelago. New Year, for the Festival of Maulidi, Easter, August and the Lamu Festival in end November, it’s a show every time!

SAILING, KITE SURFING, WINDSURFING Whether you head off with Youssouf, Boya, Massiga, Salim, Nawaf, Baba, Captain Babu or Aswif, all the captains here are friends and are competence and kindness personified. Sailing with them, sail or motor, is always a moment of relaxation and pure happiness, to gossip, to laugh a lot too. To repeat often!

FISHING TRIPS Several fishing options are offered from Shella Beach. From small-scale in the "channel" just in front of the house, where the bream get caught with shrimp, up until King Fish, tuna, and the legendary swordfish further out to the ocean. For deep sea fishing, Babu will organize an outing with Nils Korchen on Little Toot, particularly well equipped. Plan to take just a little sun lotion and a camera - as it is often during these fishing trips that the enormous black backed and white bellied whales appear!

DHOW RACING Regularly and a minimum of 5 times a year, take place renowned regattas that bring together the best teams in the archipelago of Lamu. Each time, in an electric atmosphere, sailboats engage in feats of balance and tactics worthy of the best world championships. The whole village celebrates. These races take place during the Maulidi festival, Easter, in August, at the end of November for Cultural Festival, and for New Year. These are beautiful to look at and to shoot!

Internet
  • Wifi is available to our guests for Free
Parking
  • Secure parking space is available not far from the house

Villa policies

Cancellation / Prepayment
  • To book this property 100% prepayment is required
  • Once booked and paid for no refunds will be issued
Children and extra beds
  • Children are very much welcome in our property
Pets
  • Pets of any kind are not allowed
Accepted credit cards
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Mpesa
Check-in time

03:00pm

Check-out time

11:00am

Accommodation review scores and score breakdown

10 / 10

Based on 65 reviews

Guest reviews are written by our customers after their stay at Forodhani House.

Cleanliness
9   
Comfort
9   
Location
9   
Staff
10   
Services
9   
Value for money
9   
Sleep quality
9   
Food quality
9   
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Guest reviews

  • Kevin
    Uganda
    2021-12-06

    We stayed 3 nights here. This is an amazing place and we all loved it. There were eight of us and there was plenty of room for comfort and entertainment. The staff took great care of us and Isabelle was wonderful, making sure that we were taken care of. Our chef worked with us and made wonderful meals (and we are picky).The views were spectacular and I loved waking up in the morning to a cup of coffee looking out over the ocean. The house sits on a corner, so the view extends well beyond 180 degrees. Unlike other amazing places in the world, Lamu is not that crowed (yet) and we loved going to an isolated beach with just our family being there. The people here are friendly, making our stay memorable. The only negative is the house sits next to the water taxi, so the locals that work there can make noise until 10pm sometimes. It wasn't an issue, but should be noted.

  • Mohamed
    Kenya
    2021-12-06

    Great setup, beautiful location, friendly staff. Placed right at the beach, very well for any water sport or sea excursion.Nice arranged space and very well utilised. Super place to relax and forget city.