Peponi Hotel

Peaking out from a crowd of beautiful bougainvilleas, Peponi is right on the water’s edge, making for a very stylish entrance via motor boat from the airport! Rather traditional on the outside (cream walls, carved Swahili doors, intricate archways), it’s incredibly stylish on the inside and the grounds are beautiful - a reason that many locals flock for dinners and sundowners. There’s a beautiful terrace with incredible views of the ocean, a cosy indoor bar, a restaurant and dining room, and a shady courtyard for breakfast and lazy lunches. Overlooking the ocean, the swimming pool is also very pretty and a dreamy spot for a quiet read and a dip.

Uniquely decorated with their own individual flair and stylish decorative Swahili accents and beautiful exposed wooden beams. With just 28 rooms divided into suites, superior and standard rooms there is never a sense of overcrowding. Each room boasts ocean views and are comfortable and light, with billowing mosquito nets and fresh, crisp linen. The superior and suites have outside balconies with comfortable swing chairs and larger private outside spaces. Five have their own verandahs overlooking the ocean.

There is plenty to explore in Lamu and Shela village, a world heritage site and home to the oldest inhabited Swahili settlement south of the Sahara. Sail by sunset on traditional dhows, visit the Takwa ruins or make use of Peponis' boat to try fishing, snorkelling or diving on the archipelago reefs. If you are around on New Years day, assist in the biannual dhow race, a unique spectacular. There are also wake boards, water skis and body boards for hire.