Africa, International Hotels, Kenya, Travel
Msambweni Beach House & Private Villas, Kenya, Africa
Nov
The Kenyan coast south of Mombasa holds beautiful surprises, with immaculate white-sand beaches and turquoise waters stretching all the way to Tanzania, interrupted only by gorgeous coves, coral islands, and fabulous mangrove waterways. This is a genuine Swahili paradise offering memorable Nature reserves, spectacular diving, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing and birdwatching, and an exclusive relaxing hideaway still as pristine as when Nature created it.
Here, 26 miles from Mombasa, looking out over its own secluded palm-fringed private beach lapped by the warm Indian Ocean, the beautiful, dreamy Msambweni Beach House & Private Villas is a luxurious contemporary Swahili mansion, and one of Kenya’s finest hotels. With striking white walls contrasting with the blue sky, blue sea and lush greenery of the gardens, it stands high on a 40ft coral bank in discreet and unspoiled seclusion among 28 acres of private grounds surrounded by a coral wall. Below lies a four-mile stretch of untouched sugar-soft white sands. You can go back in time playing croquet or badminton, go kite-surfing or sailing Hoby Cats, or simply absorb all Kenya has to offer by taking a luxury picnic in a nearby game park to see the antelope and elephant, or visiting a nearby coral island to swim with dolphins and sea turtles.
Msambweni House has just 11 rooms, all large and beautiful, with chic, Swahili-style décor, large canopied beds and cushioned corners and balconies with views towards the gently crashing waves. You can stay in the main house, in one of the Swahili villas, or in a tented cottage. A raised wooden walkway and steps lead to an alfresco beachside lounge and bar. Dinner can be served alongside the pool, which is among the prettiest in Kenya, or in dedicated beauty spots along the beach where they light the scene with flaming torches, or on a private terrace. The House has probably the best infinity pool in Africa (25 metres) and beyond this its winding jetty ends in a perfect sundowner spot on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, where guests enjoy pre-dinner cocktails to the sound of lapping waves. Occasionally, there are musical recitals, entertaining guests before or after dinner.
The attentive Belgian owners—who have their chefs trained by celebrity Belgian chefs and whose diverse cuisine includes the most delicious fresh seafood, Swahili, Belgian and French dishes—are committed to community projects, and guests can tour the local village with a guide or find out how they contribute to development projects. The village tours are fascinating. Here you can immerse yourself in a unique coastal culture as rich and rewarding as the local Swahili cuisine.
As to the coastline here, it is a tropical paradise. Lying off Msambweni is Wasini Island and Kisite Marine Park, filled with coral gardens, some of which are only 300m from the shore. This is one of the best places in the world for snorkelling with sea turtles and swimming with dolphins and tropical reef fish, from large schools of butterfly, parrot and angel fish to manta rays. For sportsmen, this is world-class deep-sea fishing, including marlin, tuna, kingfish, dorado, barracuda, shark and wahoo. You have a better chance of catching a striped marlin here than anywhere else in the world.
For land-based Nature reserves, Kenya of course has it all. You might be planning a safari to the Masai Mara, but nearby Shimba Hills National Reserve boasts the highest density of African elephant in the entire country. Other species include sable antelope (Msambweni means the land of Sable Antelope), black and rufous elephant shrew, bushy-tailed mongoose and a rich variety of birdlife, including brown-headed and malachite kingfishers, lizard buzzards, Zanzibar red bishops and the elusive African firefinch. You might go to Kenya dreaming of nothing other than lions and leopards, but you can easily lose your heart to Msambweni and the Swahili coast.
| Additional Information: Return flights from UK to Mombasa are currently from £541 per person. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2013. 95% Trip Advisor approval: 85% rank ‘Excellent’. |
International Hotel: Msambweni Beach House is an all-inclusive resort. The full-board package includes all meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner), drinks (soft drinks, beers, house wines, house spirits and selection of cocktails), Wifi internet access, an introductory 30-minute massage per person, mountain biking, beach picnic, barbecues. Excludes Champagne, luxury wines and spirits, laundry, Hobie cat sailing, kite surfing, golf, snorkelling, scuba diving, picnics in the Shimba Hills and airport transfers (US$210 return to Mombasa and US$105 return to Ukunda/Diani for up to four people).
The rack rates are from US$350 per person per night for full board, depending on season and choice of room. Our Members receive an exclusive percentage off the best rate available.
We also have an introductory Blue Ribbon rate for the first Members to book seven nights in an idyllic Ocean Suite for two, with panoramic sea view. The rates are usually from US$385 (currently £247) to US$630 (£409) per person per night, full board, but the Blue Ribbon rate is 40% off—giving you an exclusive Club rate of from £148 per person per night plus tax at the current Kenyan rate.
To snap up this one-and-only Blue Ribbon rate, to check on recommended safaris which would work with this resort, for full details and to check availability (including flights). please call Member Services on 020 7399 2960 or follow the link below.
PLEASE READ: CountryClubuk Club Rules and Terms and Conditions