Manda Bay is definitely up there with the best (but also the most expensive) of the luxury beach properties on the Kenya Coast. Set a mere 20 minute boat ride from Lamu Island, the lodge is set on the west side of Manda Island which gives it a protected outlook onto the inner waterways that run between the islands. This is both a blessing and a drawback in our book.
The blessing is that it does not suffer from the trade winds that can blow fairly heavily up and down the coast, and it gives the lodge access to one of the best water skiing areas I have seen! The drawback is that, where Kiwayu has idyllic white sand for the beach, Manda have more of a yellow sand beach…but this is not much of a drawback. The communal area is one of our favourites of any lodge.
The blessing is that it does not suffer from the trade winds that can blow fairly heavily up and down the coast, and it gives the lodge access to one of the best water skiing areas I have seen! The drawback is that, where Kiwayu has idyllic white sand for the beach, Manda have more of a yellow sand beach…but this is not much of a drawback. The communal area is one of our favourites of any lodge.
Manda Bay - The Details
Billed as an exclusive resort, the lodge consists of 20 large bandas all with en-suite bathrooms and beautifully tailored interiors, each with a stunning veranda and hammock from which to enjoy the 180° views. The onus here is simply to relax, be that by doing one of the many water sports on offer (from water skiing to deep sea fishing) or just kicking back with a backgammon board and a cocktail.
Manda Bay is located on the North-western tip of Manda Island, one of the many unspoiled, idyllic islands of the Lamu archipelago. An exclusive resort, Manda Bay offers relaxation, water sports, dhow safaris and luxurious pampering throughout your stay. Surrounded by miles of soft white sand, Manda Bay is the perfect retreat for families and honeymooners.
The cottages are in keeping with the local landscape and were constructed using local materials. All of the cottages have large ceiling fans, en-suite bathrooms, and their own private verandas overlooking the Indian Ocean. There is a choice of double or twin beds, surrounded by large flowing mosquito nets. Modern Satellite communications and good cell phone coverage, allows email and telephone access to the outside world, if required.
The informal dining room and sitting rooms enjoy uninterrupted views of Manda Bay whose ever-changing waters attract birds, small local sailing craft and spectacular marine life. All rooms are furnished in vibrant Kenyan fabrics, specially designed to compliment the environment. All meals are relaxed and casual, served in the dining room, on the beach, or even on Utumaduni, Manda Bays' traditional sailing dhow. Activities include snorkeling, dhow trips to nearby Lamu, waterskiing, windsurfing, saltwater fly fishing and deep sea fishing amongst others.
