Overview

Kiwayu, is a family owned Lodge, and was established in 1973 by Alfredo and Lisa Pelizzoli. It is situated in a sheltered bay, on the edge of the Indian Ocean in the Kiunga Marine Reserve. The perfect place to disappear into and restore your soul. Miles of deserted beaches with soft white sand and the soothing sound of waves will soon awaken the senses and lead you back to nature’s eternal rhythms.

Across the dunes lie the Dodori and Boni Game Reserves and many miles of unspoiled Africa. For centuries this was a calling point for the arab dhows which traded in ivory, carpets and carved Zanzibar chests between Arabia and Mombasa and on to Zanzibar. Here sailors have always been assured of a warm welcome and a safe anchorage, a tradition that continues to this day.

There are few places in the world which can boast such seclusion. We are visited only by fishermen, the dhows that still come to collect water and the occasional sports fisherman in search of the magnificent marlin, which are then tagged and released back into the sea.

Come with your family or partner and experience this unique place, whether its for enjoying our extensive selection of watersports or just relaxing and switching off from the outside world.

Kiwayu is very conservation orientated and is a member of the East African Wildlife Society, the African Billfish Foundation and the Mkokoni Wildlife Conservation Trust. 

The theme of Kiwayu is informality. A bikini, a kikoi (sarong) and a hat are all you need for a holiday here. You will find no concrete; only thatched bandas (ensuite cottages) which blend into the dunes and sway with the sea breeze.

Your banda (cottage) is one of 18 spread along one kilometer of the sandy shoreline, built with great imagination, in the local Swahili tradition of palm thatch and woven matting floors. The only sound you will hear is the lapping of the sea, the wind in the palms and bird song.

Your banda consists of a suite containing a spacious bedroom, a dressing area with twin basins, a shower with solarheated hot water and bidet. Electrical lights are 24 hours . Each private thatched veranda offers you panoramic views across the lagoon from the comfort of your Swahili bed or hammock… and only a stone’s throw from the water.

Every room is furnished with a super king-size bed surrounded by an ample mosquito net and decorated with local furniture for comfort and relaxation.

Our bandas are designed to blend into the surrounding dunes – no concrete floors,no coral brick walls , nothing to jar the senses. They are within easy distance of the centrally located bar and dining room, also built in the same local tradition.

All this tradtional construction material, the dried palm fronds and mangrove poles, are harvested andproduced by the local Bajuni comummities of Mkokoni , Faza , Kiwayu and Matondoni. The enormous quantites of the hand dried woven palm leaves used on the floor, walls and roof provide a vital income and work for the women of these communities.

Kiwayu´s bandas do not have AC , television or a tiled bathroom or a bath, we have tried to keep the environment and your experience as natural as possible.

For Independent reviews of Kiwayu on TRIP ADVISOR Click Here