Bembea House, Shela, Lamu
An airy and atmospheric multi-story mansion designed and built in traditional Swahili style, Bembea House enjoys lovely views over sand dunes and village rooftops and is just moments away from the Shela seafront, Peponi Hotel and the island’s wonderful 8-mile beach.Hotel,
Summary
- A sophisticated sanctuary in one of the nicest locations in sought-after Shela
- Decorated and furnished throughout in cool and harmonious style
- Uncluttered but maximalist decor – filled with intricate plasterwork, woodwork and African artifacts
- Dramatic double-height pillared entrance hall with zidaka wall niches
- Elegant third floor living and dining room, spacious eat-in first floor kitchen
- Scenic top floor terraces – part open, part makuti-thatched – with lounging, dining, bar and sunbathing areas
- Situated on the southern fringes of Shela village – just 150 metres from Peponi and the beach
- Accommodates up to 6 guests in 3 ensuite double/twin bedrooms
- Stays from $500 per night for up to 6 guests ‘self-catering’ with chef and staff
Location
Bembea House sits less than 150 metres from the seafront in Shela Village, close to the eastern tip of Lamu Island. The island’s main beach is just a few minutes’ stroll from the house, as are Peponi Hotel and the other attractions of the village. Lamu Town is two miles north of Shela, and Manda Island and its airport are just a short boat ride away across the Lamu channel.
Detailed Information
Accommodation and facilities
- Wi-fi internet
- Good cellphone signal
- Battery inverter power back-up system
Ground Floor
- Entrance hall
- Large open-plan living and dining room
- Lounging area with baraza seating
- Dining table for 10
- Additional dining/study table
- Bar area with fridges
- Kitchen, dhobi and stores
- Bedroom 1 – Double bedroom with private front veranda, ensuite bathroom
- Guest cloakroom
First Floor
- Bedroom 2 – Double bedroom with private front veranda, ensuite bathroom
- Bedroom 3 – Double bedroom, centrally located, ensuite bathroom
- Bedroom 4 – Double bedroom with front veranda, ensuite bathroom
- Bedroom 5 – Twin bedroom connecting to Bedroom 4 and its bathroom
- All bedrooms have ample wardrobe space and dressing areas
- All bedrooms have overhead fan, mosquito net and dressing table/desk
- Spacious central living area with extensive built-in sofas
- Drinks fridge and games etc
- Front veranda with relaxing Lamu beds
- Raised study area with desk and internet booster
Guest Cottage
Ground floor
- Living room and front veranda
- Bathroom and kitchenette
First Floor
- Bedroom areas with 1 double and 2 single beds
Outside
- Swimming/plunge pool 1 – 5 x 3.5 m
- Swimming pool 2 – 14 x 8 m (at widest and longest points)
- Poolside beach shower
- Outside sitting and lounging areas
- Sunbeds
- 2 acres of gardens
- Direct access to beach
- Beach view seating
How to get there
Lamu is best accessed by air and there are several scheduled flights per day to and from Nairobi. Some flights also arrive or depart via Malindi. Airlines serving Lamu include :
- Safarilink (from Wilson Airport) www.flysafarilink.com
- Jambo Jet (from JKIA) www.jambojet.com
- Skwyard Express (from Wilson Airport) www.skywardexpress.co.ke
Lamu Airstrip is situated on the next door Manda Island which is just a few minutes by boat from Lamu Town and Shela Village.
Visitors Book
“We had such a fantastic time; I’m so pleased we chose Bembea over the other couple of options—what luck! We absolutely loved the house from the moment we stepped through the door, the look and feel of it, and the team. It blew away all expectations. So well located too.”
Rates
Standard rates for up to 6 guests—$500 per night
Minimum stay—3 nights
Christmas & New Year rates—please contact us.
Minimum stay over the festive season—7 nights
Stays are on a ‘self-catering’ basis, including the services of the chef and team of staff.
Maximum occupancy—6 guests. Check-in from 3 pm, check-out by 10 am.
These rates and terms and conditions are valid for stays up until 10th January 2027
The owners require all adult guests to sign an indemnity/disclaimer form on arrival.
The property features open-roofed terraces, balconies, and steep staircases. Children must be closely supervised by an adult guest and should never be left unattended in any part of the property at any time.
Please contact us to make a booking.
Please familiarize yourself with all the terms & conditions on our website when making a booking. ng
Bookings can only be confirmed upon receipt of payment. Until a booking is confirmed, availability is subject to change without notice.
“We had such a fantastic time; I’m so pleased we chose Bembea over the other couple of options—what luck! We absolutely loved the house from the moment we stepped in the door, the look and feel of it, and the team. It blew away all expectations. So well located too.”
A little bit about Bembea—from its owner
The large and lofty entrance hall is decorated in traditional Swahili style with a zidaka wall—an intricate art that has been perfected over centuries by local craftsmen—and hung with two large Arab lanterns. Its size ensures that it remains cool throughout the whole day. Leading from this is a bedroom with two single beds and an ensuite bathroom.
The First Floor has a large, well-equipped, European-style kitchen and dining area. It is one of the areas where meals can be served as an alternative to the more formal area on the third floor or on the top floor roof terrace.
The second floor has two large bedrooms, both with ensuite bathrooms, each with two washbasins and a solar-powered hot shower. The beds are raised and Emperor-sized. One can be split to create two single four-poster beds. Both overlook the dunes, a great deal of which are covered in green vegetation.
The third floor has the master bedroom with an emperor-sized raised four-poster bed, an ensuite bathroom, and the same outlook as those on the floor below.
All bedrooms have ample hanging space, shelves for clothes, a writing desk, and a combination safe. They are equipped with ceiling fans and mosquito nets. Each has Zidaka artwork on one wall.
On the third floor, opposite the master bedroom, is a large sitting room with a dining table for eight people. There are large, shuttered windows on every wall, plenty of comfortable seating, and the room is decorated with pieces of African art.
The top floor is completely open under a beautiful, newly constructed makuti roof. The area is naturally divided by the central staircase, allowing for two separate seating areas, both with large sofas. One is constructed to allow for sunbeds, the other for a dining table. There is a minibar with a fridge and a writing desk with a lamp.
During your stay, you will have access to the entire house and to the services of the staff, who will also guide and help you with the many activities available during your time at Bembea, from water sports and fishing to a massage in your room or sunset sail on a dhow.
You will be able to relax from the moment your plane lands at Lamu Airport on Manda Island. Your luggage will be carried to the waiting boat captained by Nasir, who will ferry you to the jetty in Shela. There you will be met by the staff who will take you and your luggage to the house.
