Villa holiday rentals in Manda Island

House Kiru

THE MOON HOUSES -Betty's suite

Eco-friendly House + Tree House Lamu island

Mkoko House is situated on the edge of the mangroves in a quiet and peaceful setting on Manda Island. The house built on nearly one acre of land set 5 minutes walk from Manda beach was built in a characteristic Lamu coastal style. GETTING AROUND There are no cars on either Lamu or Manda Island leaving donkeys and boats as the main form of transportation by locals and tourists alike. From Manda Beach it takes 5 minutes or less to travel across the channel to Shela village and beach, 15 minutes to Lamu Old Town and 20 minutes to Lamu Airport which is located on the other end of Manda Island and is also reached by boat. You can hire a boat with a captain for the duration of your stay or use a boat for individual trips when you need to. Boat trips (and Dhow trips) can easily be arranged from Mkoko House on request. There are four en-suite double bedrooms with mosquito nets to keep the mosquitoes and other annoyances at bay. As you walk towards the house you are greeted by an outside baraza (seating area) on your right which is shaded by a ceiling of crawling plants. The entrance of the house is a simple but large arch which carries you into the ground floor dining area. To the right is the first en-suite double bedroom (Nyota –Stars- room) and to the left is a living area with a baraza covered in cushions and pillows to relax on. Off this living area, you will find the second en-suite double bedroom (Mbuyu- Baobab- room) with a terrace looking onto the back garden. The kitchen, also on the ground floor, is fully equipped and opens onto an outside cooking area which can also be used for preparing meals. The stairs take you up onto a large open floor (walls built only to one’s hip) with views of the mangroves and the garden. The entire floor is covered by a large Makuti roof (the single most common characteristic of coastal architecture). This open floor is the main living area of the house. There are seating corners, a Lamu bed to nap on, and another dining table to enjoy your meals with the splendid views. Situated on this floor is the third en-suite bedroom (Mkoko- Mangrove- room) which one enters through a carved wooden antique Lamu door. Outside the room, one finds another baraza with cushions. This particular area is roofless and so is a perfect place to sit and enjoy the incredible Manda night skies filled with stars. A second flight of stairs will take you up to the fourth and largest ensuite bedroom final floor. This floor offers the best views in the house and allows one to look across the island’s extensive mangrove ecosystem, the sea, and the plains of acacia and baobab trees. The rate includes a housekeeper who cleans the house on a daily basis, changes sheets and towels, and attends to the garden. A cook is also available so you can enjoy an array of meals cooked to your personal taste. A variety of seafood is available (fish, crabs, prawns, lobster, octopus, etc) depending on the season. Airport pick-up and drop-off can be arranged on request and cost usually less than 10 euro/boat.