Overview
This stunning Swahili style house for nine to ten (9 to 10) people is designed around an open courtyard with a tall central Pemba Island palm tree. The living and dining areas look onto the courtyard and another small tropical side garden with a royal palm and white thunbergia. It is spacious, yet compact with two doubles and one triple bedroom on the first floor, all ensuite with private balconies.
The second floor with an open terrace and three sun beds, leads to a small covered baraza area in front of the fourth bedroom. This master bedroom has a Lamu four-poster bed and balconies on two sides. Like all the Shela houses, there is a panoramic view from the covered rooftop, with a bar, sun beds and baraza lounging area.
The house is a two minute long walk away from the seafront and a five minute walk away from Shela beach.
Shela village is a tangle of narrow sandy lanes, tall stone houses, some smaller thatched dwellings, mosques, ruins and a spacious square ringed with a few market stalls. This is where you will find our four houses.
Staff
Our resident manageress will ensure you have everything you need, assist you with menus and also help organise local excursions together will our local meet & greet person.
Each house has a cook, steward, waiter and a shared launderer. Beach House has two cooks, a steward, waiter, pool attendant, launderer and other personnel.
Full board
The house cook will do all your catering. He will bake bread, suggest menus and cook excellent international cuisine and Swahili fish dishes. Basic foodstuffs, fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit are available in the local Lamu market, while other supplies are flown down from Nairobi. Fish, lobster, crab and fresh oysters will be sold by our local fishermen at your door or can be ordered.
While your personal laundry is included in the full board price, non alcoholic beverages are not. A limited variety of alcohol is locally available on Lamu.
Wedding receptions and large parties can be catered for on request.
Self catering
The house staff are there to ensure you have everything you need, when you need it. Your cook will keep an account for you in an expenditure book, do your food shopping with cash funds provided by you and prepare your meals.
Sodas and beer can be bought locally, we recommend you bring your own wine and spirits. Private laundry service is available against charge.
Water
There is a good supply of fresh water from the house well for showers. We have a water purifying plant which supplies clean water to all the kitchens and carafes are supplied in the bathrooms. Commercial bottled water is also available.
Mosquito nets
No anti-malaria drugs are 100% effective and we suggest that you should seek professional advice before travel. Protection from being bitten by mosquitoes is the first line of defence against malaria. We provide treated nets on all beds.
Linen and laundry
Bed linen, mosquito nets and house towels are supplied. A full laundry service is provided but there are no dry cleaning services available.
Telecommunication
The central office has internet, wireless and mobile phone connection. All our properties have Safaricom WiMax internet access.
Music
We provide CD Players and a selection of CDs in all houses. You are invited to bring your own music or your iPod and cable along and plug it in.
