Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers

I stayed at this eco lodge in Kilifi with a friend and had a wonderful experience. We chose a private room with an en-suite shower, which was very comfortable. There are also different accommodation options available, including tents, a hostel-style dorm with around 8 beds, and larger private rooms. Shared bathrooms and showers are available as well, and they were always super clean. The staff provided excellent service — the waiters were friendly, welcoming, and extremely kind, which made us feel at home. There is a beautiful swimming pool where you can swim at any time, and direct access to a small, lovely beach. The on-site restaurant is another highlight, offering great food with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Highly recommended — a perfect place to relax and enjoy Kilifi!

Great place to stay. It’s incredible how nature and facilities blend in together here. You can literally walk to the Creek Beach from the back door which is fascinating. But since it’s so much into the nature, there’s nothing nearby unless you go to the city which which is a bit far and not walking distance so basically you’re locked into eating here at their restaurant. While quality of the food is decent, it’s isn’t really budget friendly for backpackers and options are very limited.

A must of you are visiting the Kenyan Kilifi County coast, and even if you live in the area like I do, this is a great Staycation. thurs nights are super cool with Jam nights, featuring creative, authentic African music - always different as its improv. The forest location is so relaxing, artwork adorns the property and great food too. rooms are basic but fine, with a shared toilet block, so good value as one isn't in the room much anyway. Great for digital nomads, and there is even a private quiet meeting room for remote meetings. Great vibes in a fun and multi cultural setting!

Distant relatives felt like a home away from home, so much attention to detail for a super comfortable stay, cold water, key cards for the hostel room, comfortable bedding, nice seating, clean bathrooms & more. A special mention must go out to the wonderful people who work there, Beth, Rose, Steve, Mohammed & all the others I didn’t sadly get to know by name. Thank you for creating such a warm, welcoming atmosphere and for all the recommendations and assistance. I would definitely stay again in a heartbeat, and hope to be back soon. I must mention that while it is very easy to get around via Boda Boda ( costs about 150 to the main road), expect to be set off from the main strip of killifi in a lovely, quiet village. You can walk to the main road, although sometimes a bit difficult & long in a hot heat. Just thought I’d add in case useful for anyone. Thanks for everything distant relatives team - Sasha & johan :))

This is hostel / glamping is a compound so even though you have to take a motorbike to leave DR (Distant Relatives), the lodge has a BEACH, restaurant, and bar. Food: good quality but maybe around a 3.5-4 star. It’s not amazing but you’ll enjoy it and it’s convenient to eat here. I had the margarita pizza for dinner and the veggie wrap for lunch made with chipati. The wrap was mildly tough to chew through (but some ppl like this style) bc they press it with an ironer and ends up being tough. Ingredients were great including avocado and mango so that’s a plus. Pizza was fine, maybe 3.5 star bc I had some worse and better pizzas in Kenya. The milkshake are both good — 4 star for both flavors I ordered. The one with mango is thick but still delicious at 4.5 star. The macchiato was solid for Kenya coffee so 4 star (majority of places use instant coffee). The living arrangements? Very cool. Cold showers (or room temp). I had a tent but was upgraded when my friend couldn’t make it so they bumped me up to a private Banda with compost toilet, urinal, and shower. There was a bunk bed and a queen size bed with mosquito nets. I got bit several times in the middle of the night so maybe their bugs are navy seals. Overall, it’s like glamping -- fancy camping. WiFi works throughout the area so that’s a huge plus bc many places in Kenya have weak WiFi (or no WiFi in the rooms). Despite some minor hurdles, I still like this place quite a bit and recommend it. 5 star.

The backpackers is set beautifully among the trees. I stayed in a private room which was lovely-en suite shower but no toilet. Most of the staff were really lovely and friendly bar one lady who, on request for a kettle in the communal kitchen, told me to boil water in a pot-she was standing right next to an electric kettle at the bar. I am not above boiling water in a pot but the communal kitchen is pretty grimy, along with the sparse cooking utensils. If you cant help out a customer with some boiling water, perhaps hospitality is not your calling. A lot of my groceries were also stolen out of the kitchen. I was also only told upon checking out that my accommodation included breakfast-not so helpful. Otherwise a lovely place to chill

Setting is lovely, most of the staff are really friendly, bar one. There was no kettle (electric or gas) in the communal kitchen so I was told to ask for boiling water at the bar. When I did one of the staff told me to boil water in a pot in the kitchen. I am not above boiling water in a pot but a) the pots and sparse utensils in the rather grimy kitchen were, well grimy and b) she was standing right next to an electric kettle when she told me this. She clearly just didnt want to help me. Thankfully one of her colleagues was really helpful and gave me a cup of boiling water. Another complaint is that most of my groceries were stolen out of the cupboard in the kitchen-yogurt, eggs, nuts, biscuits etc. You cant keep food in your room because of monkeys so seems like youre damned if you do, damned if you dont. Final complaint-I was only told on checking out that breakfast was included in my stay. This would have been helpful to know when I checked in rather. Other than that, was a great stay. Not sure Id come back but ja.

Great place to relax and enjoy the nature. It's a bit out of Kilifi so for anything you'll have to take transport (5minutes) and it feels like most of the people staying in the hotel never touch the town. We stayed at a house and it was spacious and comfortable. Everything was clean.