Peponi Hotel, Lamu Island, Kenya
Peponi Hotel
A small and intimate hotel on the exotic Lamu Island, Peponi Hotel is beaming with character and charm, run by the family that first opened it in 1967. This hotel has grown here, from just a few rooms to 24, with the help of its popularity with both guests and the local people.
Peponi is not only great for a relaxing beach holiday but also for getting to know the villagers and exploring island life. The island is small, with just one car and streets just wide enough for a working donkey to pass through…
- 24 Rooms
- Swimming pool
- Children welcome
- Great for honeymooners and families
Style: A family run intimate hotel on a secluded beach.
Setting: Peponi is located on the 12km long Shela Beach, bordered by natural sand dunes on Lamu Island, the root of Swahili culture.
Accommodation & Facilities: The 24 rooms are divided into superior and standard, differentiated by location and size. Superior rooms are right on the beach and slightly larger with a private outside area complete with a swing bed. The standard rooms still have ocean and garden views, decorated in a Swahili style. All rooms have mosquito nets, showers, fans and personal safes; you will also find some fresh flowers waiting for you.
The bar is a favourite with the island locals, a place where they come to have a chat and share the stories of the day, like a social hub. Fresh juices, exotic cocktails and cold beers are served. There is a fresh water, free form swimming pool with swinging hammocks nestled under two giant baobab trees for the use of guests and the beautiful gardens have a striking variation of tropical palms and exotic plants.
Dining: Food is exquisite and makes good use of the local resources, using fresh ingredients and seafood such as giant prawns and succulent crab. Meals can be consumed where you fancy, in your room, outside at the grill, on the terrace or under the bougainvillea on the sand. You could even order from the Swahili menu and eat on the floor around a large brass platter!
Activities: Take a trip in a traditional Lamu or Mozambican dhow to visit the Takwa ruins or just for a relaxing sundowner. Peponi Hotel has its very own fishing boat called "Little Toot" which is great for sport fishing, or you could go fishing from a speed boat or from a dhow with a hand line. If you fancy getting in the water, a swim from the beach is fantastic. There is a massive variety of fish and live coral to explore if you want to go snorkelling, and there are stunning reefs at Manda Toto and Kiniyka to explore.
There are water sports instructors around and a variety of equipment for hire, including kayaks, body boards and wake boards and guests can also try windsurfing. The instructors cater for people of all ages and abilities.
Child Policy: Children welcome.
Responsible Tourism: Peponi Hotel created the Lamu Marine Conservation Trust in 1992 in order to protect turtle nests by relocating them. Since then it has expanded to help with issues such as education, doctors and wildlife.
