Places to Stay in Shela

Margot Spain

Beautiful house, centric and very clean. Jamuhuri, the beat thing of the stay.

Richard New Zealand

Totally wonderful, exquisitely-maintained centuries-old Swahili house.

Ladislav Slovakia

The highlight of our stat in Jambo House is Arnold, its owner. He is doing a great job, responds quickly, provides airport pickup, shares a map with all the useful tips and nice places to eat and is at your service if you need to book any kind of trip around Lamu. Furthermore, the breakfast here are lovely and for a bargain price, so definitely don't miss out on them ! In the room, we had all we needed, and it was very quiet, so we slept very well! We will be back!

Docktor Kenya

This place never disappoints. This was my second time staying here and it still exceeded my expectations. The flat I stayed in was spacious and thoughtfully designed with some artful collections of antique Swahili style furniture. There was access to a private fully equipped kitchenette with an adjacent outdoor dining/ lounging area. The room was airy and well ventilated and also had a very spacious bathroom that had great shower pressure! Joshua is an exceptional host, responsive, warm and welcoming and very attentive. He has even made provisions for Solar lights in case of power outages which were infrequent during my stay and only lasted a few minutes at a time. The Wilderbeeste provides all the comforts and necessities of a home away from home yet its quirky and historical design provides a sense of adventure and novelty needed for a retreat! Can't wait to return for a longer stay!

Prisca Kenya

Jamala Guesthouse, nestled in the heart of Lamu Old Town, was an absolute delight for us first-time visitors to Lamu. It provided a unique opportunity to deeply immerse ourselves in the local culture and connect with the welcoming people. The early morning calls to prayer from the surrounding mosques, for instance, became an integral part of the immersive experience. It is located just a short walk from the boat jetty which is super convenient! The host, Baji, was not only highly responsive but also incredibly helpful. Right from the moment we made our booking, he was readily available to provide us with all the information we needed. Baji even arranged a boat pick-up for us and an enriching Old Town Tour with Abu, who was an absolute delight to be around. The rooms at Jamala were both spacious and well-equipped with all the essentials, making it excellent value for money. The breakfast was also nice and balanced, with the option of tea/coffee, bread, eggs and fruit. There is also a kitchen available complete with a fridge that is available for guests to use. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely stay at Jamala again! Thank you to the team for making our inaugural visit to Lamu very memorable!😊😊

Witold Poland

What a heavenly place. You will be staying in a house built in early 19th century by the governor appointed by the Sultan of Zanzibar alongside the fort of Lamu that's 5 meters away from the guesthouse (literally in the second most valuable building of the Lamu Town UNESCO site). The guesthouse has been renovated and meticulously filled with local hand-made furniture and decorations. You really can't take enough pictures of the place. It's like from 1001 nights. Just by staying there you are already experiencing Lamu to the fullest. The staff is friendly and smiling, including the Swedish host who may make you feel like you are her actual guest, not a client. The breakfast consists in half of products grown in an eco-farm 3 km away, owned by the same person, and in half of products sourced locally from other farmers. The host can organise a trip to the farm for you free of charge (she'll only ask you to tip the staff member who'll guide you). Out of all the places I have stayed in throughout my life, this one most deserves the title "exceptional".