Highlights
- Private Houses
- Fantastic Location
- Swahili architecture
- Shela Village
Start planning your tailor-made trip by calling one of our specialists on 855 686 7694
EnquireThe Full Moon Houses are a collection of privately owned homes primarily set in a fantastic location in the heart of Shela Village. Each house is unique and elegantly decorated in a very evocative Swahili style.
Several (but not all of the properties) have private or shared pools and likewise for sea views. For families, Kiwandini House and Full Moon are lovely three bedroom houses set either end of an elegant shared pool. Mama Daktari (2 br + sea views from bedroom), whilst Betty’s Suite (1br + private pool + sea front) is perfect for couples.
Each house comes with a cook and a room steward / waiter. As with most private house rentals in Lamu, guests can select their meals from a guideline menu. Your cook will do all food errands (buying fresh ingredients locally each day) and will prepare all meals to your choice. Meals are usually served in a private dining area or on a terrace. Food ingredients and drinks are charged at cost and recorded in a book of accounts payable locally.
Lamu is a beautiful sleepy idyllic archipelago on the Northern Kenyan Coast with pristine beaches, strong Swahili aesthetic and cultural identity. Lamu Town itself is a bustling UNESCO World Heritage town and well worth a visit, but Shela Village, Manda Island or remote beach locations are the best places to stay. Shela Village boasts the iconic Peponi Hotel and restaurant, several guesthouses and a number of stunning private staffed houses available to rent. It is a small village with no cars and frontage to a small (relatively) busy channel beach. Most choose not to swim off the beach in Shela itself due to the frequent coming and going of dhows and small craft, but you only need to walk 5-10 minutes along the beach to find a pristine spot. There is also a lovely beach just across the channel on Manda Island. Day trips to Lamu Town, Dhow sailing, snorkelling and visits to old ruins in the area can all be easily arranged through most accommodation options. One advantage of Lamu over the Southern Kenya Coast around Diani Beach etc. is that there are far fewer beach boys, meaning you can relax on a beach with very little hassle.
For families, renting a private house with staff is a compelling option on the Coast and offers good value compared to hotel options. Whilst those looking for resort style amenities would be better served in the Diani Beach area, we feel Lamu is far better suited to those who like a bit of character and culture in addition to idyllic beaches.
Hi Lisa
It was a fantastic experience, thanks very much. All the arrangements were seamless and our guiding/support team were excellent, if there is a way for you to formally commend the team to your ground operators then I would be grateful if you could do that, they really were brilliant.
Many thanks for your help in arranging the trip, and for your patience during the multiple re-arrangements over the past couple of years.
Kind regards, John
John B
reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek
on 14 November 2022
We had the most incredible time thank you. We loved Karen Blixen camp and felt part of a family there, it was incredibly special. And Breezes was very relaxing.
We can't fault all the transfers and the moment we were greeted on the tarmac at Nairobi airport we knew we were going to be well cared for.Thank you so much to you and all the Tourdust team for making it such a happy and memorable trip.
Zoe A
reviewing Masai Mara Safari & Kenya Beach
on 27 August 2019
We had an amazing trip. Everything was well thought out and so much fun. What a great way to truly see the country and learn the culture.
Joseph was the perfect guide. Very kind, professional, knowledgeable and patient. The kids loved Joseph and keep asking when will they meet him again. He found the Big 5 for us which was unforgettable! Please pass along our appreciation to Joseph.
Maji Moto was also another incredible experience. They had great customer service and we loved experiencing their culture.
Sunbird was absolutely beautiful and I wish we had more time there. We loved the view of the lake!
One suggestion to make the trip even better for other guests in the future would be to have a cooler with drinks and snacks in the Jeep at all times because a ton of driving is involved and it would be helpful to have a cold drink and snacks during the long trip.
Thanks again for organizing this experience of a lifetime for us!
Brandon H
reviewing Maasai Family Adventure
on 12 June 2019