Mangrove House Guesthouse is located on Ras Kitau, Manda Island, part of the Lamu archipelago, and sits just 2 degrees below the Equator.
Our guesthouse is positioned as close to the beach and Indian ocean as is possible while maintaining privacy. The house is designed to be secluded and yet have an open view to the ocean. The trees have been cultured to provide shade but to allow for sunbathing as well. Everything is designed for outdoor living and being near the ocean but being in the shade at the same time.
There are two terraces which can be used for relaxing and sunbathing during the day and which become magical places for dinner under a starlit sky or a full moon.
You can watch the sunset every evening over the Indian Ocean and sometimes catch an orange coloured moon rise over the mangroves at the rear.
In the morning you can run straight into the ocean or go for a long walk or run, along Manda beach.

Two ancient baobab trees flank the property, their ancient trunks like old elephant skin. We serve fresh nutritious baobab juice when their pod like fruits are available.

There are many birds - you may see fork-tailed drongos, woodpeckers, northern carmine bee-eaters, cordon bleus, amyethyst sunbirds, emerald-spotted wood doves, common bulbul, great egrets (in the mangrove behind) and many weaver birds.

The house is comprised of 2 guest bedrooms with capacity for up to 4 guests - one king (downstairs at garden/beach level) and one double (upstairs) - there are 3 terraces outside to enjoy and a covered hammock area.
Guests will have full access to the garden and beach which lies directly in front of the Guesthouse. There is free wi-fi available at the house but be aware that being on the Kenyan coast sometimes the speed is not very fast.
We specify children over the age of 13 years as the upstairs room has open window spaces. For young babies and children we can provide a cot which will be installed in the Acacia Room downstairs.
We have mosquito nets, organic shower gel and hand wash, desks, bedside plugs with USB sockets for phone charging, fans and small safes in both bedrooms.

We are well positioned for visits to Shela, beach and village, Lamu town, Manda Bay and Kizingoni beach. All transport is by boat and we can arrange day trips or just a boat to go for dinner at the renowned Peponi Restaurant in Shela which is right opposite Mangrove House.

5 minutes up the beach is Majlis Hotel where you can have a quiet sundowner or evening supper. They also have a spa and water sports centre.

Sailing and snorkelling trips can also be arranged. There are also opportunities for yoga and sound healing. Massages can also be arranged at the property.

Once you know your flight details we arrange for a boat captain to collect you from Manda airport at a cost of 3000/- (about £17.50) one way, inclusive of all guests, which you pay directly to the captain.

There is no electricity grid supply or ground water on Manda island so please note that everything at Mangrove House is served by solar power, rain catchment and water piped from the dunes on Lamu Island. This means we cannot offer air-conditioning or hair dryers. We also want to keep the place quiet and peaceful. We do have fans in both rooms and are just in the process of installing a fridge as we await delivery of more solar batteries.
The shower pressure is not strong, and although we have solar heating for the water tank, if it's cloudy the water may not heat up so efficiently but it is never truly cold here!