House holiday rentals in Manda Island

Jane was very helpful even before our trip, her house, Jaha is definitely prettier than the pictures. She has done a good job with the interior and she a nice collection of books you can read while relaxing. James the chef made such tasty meals, his soups are a must have 😅 Juma was also very proactive and he helped us around the Island. Jane has done well with her team, including Nasir who picked and dropped us at Manda Airport. We had a such a lovely stay.

Amazing location. The service provided by the staff in the house was impeccable. We will certainly come back. Everyone loved the stay. Worth noting though that it is five stories and the rooms are all split between the different floors so lots of walking in stairs.

Beautiful house, special mention for the rooftop, airy and great to chill at. We had a great stay at Nyota House. Jonny was very responsive and Harrison made our stay super smooth. Very good location too. Definitely recommend!

We had a great time and would come back - the house is an old renovated Swahili house and a not only comfortable and functional, but a monument itself, among the better preserved villas in Lamu. Our days there were like spending time in long lost days. Unique and wonderful. Do come with mosquito repellent, Lamu has a few of these, and try the Kitumba in Mangrove restaurant, wonderful breakfast.

We had a lovely stay, beautiful house close to Shela beach. Raphael and all the staff were great. We loved the pool for cooling down. Lots of low ledges and high drops so be very careful with little ones

The Dunes is a very special and beautiful home. The photos were helpful in our initial booking and on arrival we were in awe with how breathtaking the property is in real life. In particular, we spent many hours in the pool which was kept sparkling for our entire week’s stay. Marianne was a very responsive host, replying to any questions very quickly throughout our time at The Dunes. Abu, the caretaker, was very kind and knowledgeable, organising day trips and a very special sunset dhow experience- nothing was too much trouble. The house is kept spotless by Joyce which was really appreciated and chef Tomick was very flexible with our varied schedules each day. At night, we felt very safe with Muhammad’s unobtrusive presence. I highly recommend you treat yourself with spending time in this amazing property.

We really enjoyed our stay at Tunusuru House. It is just off the beach front in the centre of Shela, meaning everything is within easy walking distance. Chef Robert and his team cooked exceptional food - some of the best fish that we have ever eaten. The rooftop is a particular highlight - stunning views out onto Manda Island and a very welcome breeze. The house were able to organise numerous excursions and all of our water taxis and were incredibly responsive. If I was being picky, although traditionally designed, the house was a little sparse on furnishings (e.g. there could be some bedside tables), but overall this didn’t detract from the enjoyment of our stay. I’d thoroughly recommend Tunusuru House!

The first thing I did when I arrived at Eddy's was facetime my family to give them a tour - the place is absolutely stunning. From the spacious and airy bedrooms to the rooftop terraces, this home is perfectly designed. Moreover, the staff were communicative and ensured our stay was comfortable. I would come back in a heartbeat.

The villa was beautiful . Amazing staff . Levis went above and beyond . He was always happy to help us . The chef Fondo’s food was a brilliant. we enjoy every meal he produced.

The beach cottage was absolutely amazing. My mum and I had an amazing three nights and we loved every second of it. The cottage is right next to the beach but the best beaches are about 10mins walk and another is about 10mins with the uber boats. Julius and Fondo made us delicious Swahili meals and their hospitality was top notch. Lamu is nothing like any other beaches in Kenya…it’s a must visit!

We had a very happy easy time. Lamu was hot and steamy and do the fans and breezes were welcome from the great design of the house. Lawrence the chef, host and general in charge person was a delight as was Philip.

Mauro‘s stay is a wonderful oasis in the midst of Shela. We thoroughly enjoyed the location the picturesque views from the top balcony and the cosy kitchenette on the main floor. The bedrooms were comfortable, clean and spacious en-suite’s. Miss Dama the housekeeper is an excellent cook, we really enjoyed her peppered fried fish and mango avocado salad, very recommendable. Mauro was an excellent host, extremely quick to respond, offering hints, tips and advice for Lamu. I would definitely recommend Mauro‘s stay in Shela!

Absolutely beautiful place, super responsive host, and very helpful staff! Because of the rain (and therefore needed plastic to cover windows) the bedrooms were quite hot even during the night, as the plastic used to protect from rain blocked air to enter the bedrooms properly. The fans help, but don’t fully do the job. I’m guessing this is only a temporary solution though :)

Camilla’s place is absolutely stunning. Tucked away in a sand dune within sight and sound of the ocean. The tide is wide and creates a sandy expanse at low, and a choppy sea at high The open living space is spacious with high cathedral roof and a large sitting area with a kitchen area large enough for all four of us to prepare meals. The dining table is big and sturdy. The bedrooms are also spacious with king beds and full square mosquito nets. The bathrooms are large and open. The house staff, Baraka and Salma welcomed us on the beach as we arrived and to tote our bags to the house. They are discreet and let us be independent with cooking and cleaning. They offered to wash laundry, made beds, and Baraka even helped us find wine at a local shop. Truly one of a kind. Thank you Camilla and team.

The stay at Papaya House was fantastic. Nina was an amazing host and made sure all was going smoothly during our time there. The staff, Daniel and Safari, have been more than helpful and pleasant to be around. The food was delicious and the place was spotless. Shela is a cozy little town and from the house everything is walkable easily. The house itself is just gorgeous- the beautiful garden, the interior design and more than plenty of space to hang out or enjoy the stars at night. We hope to come back one day!

The first thing I did when I arrived at Eddy's was facetime my family to give them a tour - the place is absolutely stunning. From the spacious and airy bedrooms to the rooftop terraces, this home is perfectly designed. Moreover, the staff were communicative and ensured our stay was comfortable. I would come back in a heartbeat.

The villa was beautiful . Amazing staff . Levis went above and beyond . He was always happy to help us . The chef Fondo’s food was a brilliant. we enjoy every meal he produced.

The beach cottage was absolutely amazing. My mum and I had an amazing three nights and we loved every second of it. The cottage is right next to the beach but the best beaches are about 10mins walk and another is about 10mins with the uber boats. Julius and Fondo made us delicious Swahili meals and their hospitality was top notch. Lamu is nothing like any other beaches in Kenya…it’s a must visit!

We had a very happy easy time. Lamu was hot and steamy and do the fans and breezes were welcome from the great design of the house. Lawrence the chef, host and general in charge person was a delight as was Philip.

Mauro‘s stay is a wonderful oasis in the midst of Shela. We thoroughly enjoyed the location the picturesque views from the top balcony and the cosy kitchenette on the main floor. The bedrooms were comfortable, clean and spacious en-suite’s. Miss Dama the housekeeper is an excellent cook, we really enjoyed her peppered fried fish and mango avocado salad, very recommendable. Mauro was an excellent host, extremely quick to respond, offering hints, tips and advice for Lamu. I would definitely recommend Mauro‘s stay in Shela!

Absolutely beautiful place, super responsive host, and very helpful staff! Because of the rain (and therefore needed plastic to cover windows) the bedrooms were quite hot even during the night, as the plastic used to protect from rain blocked air to enter the bedrooms properly. The fans help, but don’t fully do the job. I’m guessing this is only a temporary solution though :)

Camilla’s place is absolutely stunning. Tucked away in a sand dune within sight and sound of the ocean. The tide is wide and creates a sandy expanse at low, and a choppy sea at high The open living space is spacious with high cathedral roof and a large sitting area with a kitchen area large enough for all four of us to prepare meals. The dining table is big and sturdy. The bedrooms are also spacious with king beds and full square mosquito nets. The bathrooms are large and open. The house staff, Baraka and Salma welcomed us on the beach as we arrived and to tote our bags to the house. They are discreet and let us be independent with cooking and cleaning. They offered to wash laundry, made beds, and Baraka even helped us find wine at a local shop. Truly one of a kind. Thank you Camilla and team.

The stay at Papaya House was fantastic. Nina was an amazing host and made sure all was going smoothly during our time there. The staff, Daniel and Safari, have been more than helpful and pleasant to be around. The food was delicious and the place was spotless. Shela is a cozy little town and from the house everything is walkable easily. The house itself is just gorgeous- the beautiful garden, the interior design and more than plenty of space to hang out or enjoy the stars at night. We hope to come back one day!