Manda Bay Lodge

Just flew back to the US after 5 glorious days at Manda Bay, and re-entry to the real world is ROUGH after Manda! We had a group of 16 friends celebrating a big birthday, and the folks at Manda bent over backwards to make us feel at home and to celebrate. This is a place to go if you want to experience the coast of Kenya and to relax - especially nice after a busy safari itinerary. Endless beaches. World-class fishing (take a day or half-day aboard Cheza to chase marlin and then get Saidi to take you out reef fishing for GTs. We did well on a fly rod and spin rod alike.) A day in Lamu and Stella is a must - amazing culture (and shopping!). And take a day to learn about their conservation partnerships on the island and their reef restoration project - then go snorkeling to appreciate their work even more. But most of all, it's a place to relax. You can stay there for one or two nights but I recommend a minimum of 4 to experience all they have to offer. Great for families, couples, or a big group of friends - they can throw a heck of a party. Oh and we were especially impressed with the food, and an amazing lunch program -- not sure who is cooking for them but it's world-class!|A special thanks to Mwezi and Nicki, bartenders Titus and Saidi, and Caragh and Andy Roberts for all of their gracious hospitality!! Amazing trip! THANK YOU

We had a fabulous five night stay at this exceptional place following our Kenyan safari. It is almost impossibly picturesque and peaceful. The sea to one side and the creek to the other allows for excellent watersports and sea swimming. The sandy beach literally runs for miles and we walked along it for 2 hours one morning without seeing another person. The thatched cottages are spacious, private and ours fronted the sea with a furnished verandah and views out over the ocean. The communal lodge areas, beach hammocks/loungers and swimming pool provide ample space for everyone to be comfortable and have privacy if required but there is also opportunity to socialise with other guests at the bar. The food (vast majority fresh fish) is absolutely delicious and dinner tables are laid out on the beach with romantic lighting. We had a great deep sea fishing trip catching Wahu (cooked for dinner) and sail fish and an absolute highlight was kayaking along the creek at sunset. Activities also include: game drive with sundowner, dhow trips, snorkelling, paddle boarding, visits to Lamu, massages, a gym etc. The owner, Andy, and host, Mwezi, are totally charming and really looked after us. It seemed that nothing is too much trouble here. We have travelled extensively in Kenya and have spent many years looking for an ideal coastal spot - we now believe we have found it and will definitely return.

A unique desert island, up market 5*. Robinson Crusoe experience. Fantastically comfortable bedrooms the size of our london flat ! Super comfy beds and luxurious linen overlooking the beach. Lovely for early morning walks before breakfast in complete solitude. The food is exceptional and healthy. Lots of salads and fresh fish. Top of the list on our travels. Andy, Caragh, Mwezi, Nicky and Tim. Thank you. We enjoyed every minute (and the sunset cocktails on the game drive)!! Coming back next year !

I simply could not pass an opportunity to tell everyone about this paradise Robinson Crusoe Island. Nothing had prepared me for this little gem palm island just across from Lamu. It is heaven on earth in every sense .. the beautiful beach bungalows with the rustic plantation decor , the outstanding ottolengi style food , the creek paddling , no shoes necessary - phenomenal massages with Mercy - and run by the quite incredible Mwessi and her team who make this island so special !! The bar is the hub in the evening where all the guests meet and bond! We cannot wait to come back here with our grown up kids asap .|Thank you to everyone who made it such a memorable trip we feel blessed to have stayed with you 10/10 6Stars

A truly fabulous find. Beautiful, chilled, wonderful team, great fishing and water sports. ( kite, sail boats, windsurfing, waterskiing ). A must for those who like the desert island feel with five star service and comfort.| If you like fishing the trips out on the skiffs produce every time… GT, yellow fin, groupa, and more! …. Just fabulous!

Fabulous stay in June.||We were recommended by our planner to stay here and it was an excellent stay.||A lovely welcome awaited after the speed boat trip from the airport, through the mangroves, to the private island and Manda Bay.||We had a welcome drink and a chat about things, it was all very relaxed.||The ladies and all the staff members were friendly and accommodating and it really was very relaxing and calm throughout our stay.||We had a lovely beachfront room that had all you needed it to have including shower gel, water, mosquito cream/spray and insect net around the bed.||We used the holiday week here to relax but there were various boating and fishing activities you could partake in and things like paddle boarding and kayaking which we tried, the latter free of charge. ||Tea and coffee was served outside your room early in the morning with cookies and whilst there were set mealtimes, it was all very relaxed.||The food was superb all week - lots of fish, fresh crab, huge prawns, pasta, salads and soup. Everything freshly prepared by a long serving chef. The breakfasts had lots of choice and the homemade granola was an item of food beauty ! Delicious. We could only eat toast and fruit beyond that, despite comments of is that all you are having! ||Afternoon tea had a home made cake daily with tea or coffee. Delicious each day !||The walks on the sand were lovely, with ghost crabs and other creatures around all the time, lovely to see. ||The hotel had a pool which was nice, and a yoga area, table tennis which we played and lots of sitting areas and books to borrow.||A slight gripe was that there was no real gym - weights, bikes, rowers and the like would have been nice to work off the food!||The hotel had a shop with local goods in it which was nice and we bought some goods from there. The WiFi was strong in the central area but non existent in our room which you could say was a good thing !||We also had a drive around the area on a sundowner evening and it’s was fascinating to hear about the history of the island, seeing the baobab trees, the baboons and water buffalo, as well as hearing of the plans to reintroduce some animals back to the island. Having a beer as the sun went down looking over the trees was lovely.||The bar staff were great, there was a daily cocktail to try and the prices weren’t ridiculous considering the location of the place. We had water bottles filled regularly with ice so the water was cold to drink. We brought these from the safari and something like this in the room would be really useful.||We really enjoyed the peace and quiet, the walks and the fabulous food here. The lady managers are always on hand if we needed anything and there is very little we would change. A brilliant experience.

Manda Bay is heavenly! The food was amazing - I’m a fussy eater but adored everything- the prawn pasta was a highlight. The beach is beautiful, the palms are beautiful and so are the rooms. ||Room 7 is great for four people as it’s two massive bedrooms with two lovely bathrooms. The sea is visible and there is a lovely breeze! ||Mwezi took amazing care of us, really made us feel at home. She catered for our every needs! Julius made great cocktails and Saidi made watersports really fun! The room boys were very nice and make up your room every morning and evening, all the staff ALWAYS have a smile on their face.||I hope to return to this beautiful island and see all the lovely staff again! If your thinking about booking it- DO IT!!!!|| Thank you Manda Team!!

Perfect, idyllic getaway, even if for a couple of days. Caragh and her whole team were amazing. Staff are so friendly, knowledgeable and professional. They made every bit of the stay as comfortably a possible, and they were all especially friendly and helpful to my pup who enjoyed the stay and adventure immensely. The place is simply stunning and they have designed it so well to enhance the natural features of the island and not go overboard with anything. Subtle or quiet luxury - not for everyone, but if you know what i mean, you will absolutely love this place!|Attention to detail, location, staff, beautiful spacious rooms and pup-friendly were some of my top reasons to definitely visit Manda Bay resort! Thank you for a memorable stay! I hope to be back again