Forodhani House

Set directly on the sand at Shela, Forodhani House looks out across the channel toward Manda island and the old town of Lamu beyond. The whitewashed villa was built by local craftsmen following Swahili architectural tradition, with a carved teak front door, hand-carved friezes, and wall niches worked into every room. Sea views reach 270 degrees from the terraces. Five en-suite bedrooms sleep up to 13 guests, making the house suited to two or three families travelling together or one large group. A 10-metre pool sits in the garden among palms, ylang ylang, and bougainvillea. Meals are taken by the pool, in the garden, or on the roof terrace after dark. Five staff run the house, among them a cook trained in Swahili and international dishes, plus daily housekeeping and pool maintenance. Guests can arrange yoga, massage, or excursions through the house team, including dhow sailing, deep sea fishing, and snorkelling at Manda Toto. Lamu Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lies five minutes away by boat. The beach at Shela runs 12 km, mostly empty past the house. Bookings can include airport transfer and babysitting on request.