A 39-room and suite resort on its own peninsula on Manda Island, with Swahili and Italian design, a ten minute boat ride from Lamu Old Town, and views across Ras Kitau Bay.
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The Majlis Resort sits on the tip of Manda Island, directly across Ras Kitau Bay from Shela Village and the Lamu Old Town, on Kenya’s northern coast. The resort began life in 2000 as a private family retreat built by an Italian couple, before developing into the 39 rooms and suites property that exists today.
Construction draws on the natural resources of the archipelago, with white coral blocks and hand carved timber forming beachfront villas in a style that blends Italian design with Swahili tradition. High beamed ceilings, large windows, and wide verandas look out across the bay toward the dhows that sail the channel between Manda Island and Lamu Town.
The Majlis sits on its own private peninsula, which gives it a degree of seclusion that properties directly within Lamu Old Town cannot offer, while remaining a short boat ride from the UNESCO World Heritage Site itself. Two swimming pools, an activity centre, and a private fleet of motor boats and dhows support a programme built around the rhythm of the archipelago rather than a fixed schedule.
The main restaurant sits on an open plan veranda with a panoramic view of the bay, serving international, Italian, and Swahili dishes alongside fresh seafood and a sushi bar. The building is constructed from local materials, including casuarina and mangrove poles beneath a thatched makuti ceiling.
Breakfast includes fresh fruit, home baked breads, and pastries. Two bars serve snacks and light meals throughout the day, and boat transfers to restaurants in Shela, including Peponi, can be arranged on request.
The Majlis has a dedicated wellness centre offering Swedish massages, deep tissue massages, aromatherapy, and body scrubs. An indoor gym and an outdoor gym are both available, and yoga sessions can be arranged through the activity centre. Two swimming pools sit within the property, both within reach of the pool bar.
The activity centre coordinates a wide range of full day and half day excursions. Kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, and canoeing are available directly from the resort. A sunset dhow cruise through the mangrove channels of Ras Kitau Bay is a signature experience, with dhows sailing out to watch the sun set over the water.
The resort’s motor boat fleet runs transfers to Shela and Lamu Town, alongside half day and full day excursions around Lamu Island and snorkelling trips to Manda Toto and Kinika Island. Deep sea fishing and mountain biking on Manda Island and Lamu Island are also available.
Guided tours of Lamu Old Town cover the museum, the historic streets, the fort, and the markets, with the Takwa Ruins on Manda Island accessible by boat
The Garden Rooms sit on the ground floor with a private terrace looking onto the gardens, while the Sea View Rooms occupy the second floor with a terrace or veranda facing Ras Kitau Bay. Both share the same size and finish, built from coral block with hand carved timber detailing and high beamed ceilings characteristic of Lamu style architecture.
Each includes air conditioning, ceiling fans, a minibar, a safe, and mosquito netting draped over the bed. Family configurations connect either two Garden Rooms or two Sea View Rooms through an intermediate door, suited to families who want adjoining but separate spaces within the same booking.
The Junior Suite sits on the upper floor and builds on the standard room with the addition of a lounge area, giving guests a separate living space alongside the bedroom. The same coral block and timber construction, high ceilings, and panoramic views over the bay carry through, with air conditioning, a minibar, and a safe included as standard.
The Royal Suite combines two Junior Suites into a single 260 square meter unit, the largest accommodation at the resort. The layout gives a family or group a fully connected private space with two separate bedroom and lounge configurations joined together, suited to those who want the scale of a private residence within the resort.
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