Life. Love. Food

The Lamu Moon Houses- Enchanting Kiwandani House

If you are like me, a trip is always made 100 times more exciting once you know where you are going to be staying. For Onja Food bloggers and myself, this was exactly the case. Our three day attendance of Lamu food festival was made better by being accommodated at Kiwandani house. Kiwandani house is located at Shella beach in Lamu and it is one of 8 moon houses. The moon houses are given that name due to their white glistening at night, just like the moon. You can check out the other houses here.This post is a full review of our stay at Kiwandani house.

affordable accomodation in Lamu_Lamu bed and breakfast_Lamu food festival_kaluhiskitchen.com

Ease of access

Kiwandani house is located right at the beach where most boats and dhows stop. This makes it easy for all residents to get a ride to Lamu town whenever need arises. It takes roughly 7-10 minutes from the airport to Kiwandani via boat ride. You arrive at Manda and within 10 minutes, you are already taking in the breathtaking view of the vast ocean and beautiful beaches. I wish everyday life in Nairobi was this smooth.

Top kenyan lifestyle blogger jayson mbogo of jaytake a pic at lamu food festival 2016_

Jayson Mbogo | www.jaytakeapic.com

sea shells collected along the coast of Lamu are used by locals for soapdishes which gives various abodes warm rustic feel_kiwandani house_lamu moon houses

Facilities and decor

Kiwandani house has 3 double rooms and all rooms en suite. The rooms are very spacious, decorated in minimalist style with plenty of pieces that have that have very strong coastal influence, intricate design and historical value.

kiwandani house offers the best accomodation at the coast for a bed and breakfast at quite affordable prices_moon houses lamu_kaluhiskitchen.com

bathrooms at kiwandani house have a strong coastal feel and have the marble finishing and plaster unique to Lamu

www.kaluhiskitchen.comaccomodation at Kiwandani house in Lamus shella beach

Morning ocean view from one of the rooms. Paradise!

kiwandani house; one of the lamu moon houses situated along the lamu sea front on shella beach_lamu food festival

the moon houses Lamu_Kiwandani house_bead and breakfasts at the Kenyan coast_Lamu food festival

bed and breakfasts at the coast of Kenya_affordable accomodation in Lamu_Kiwandani house_kaluhiskitchen.com

Kenyan food bloggers at the lamu food festival hosted in kiwandani house which is one of the five moon houses

kiwandani house_lamu moon houses_kaluhiskitchen.com

Food

Kiwandani house is a bed and breakfast; the best bed and breakfast I have ever been to personally. This means, you are entitled to receive only breakfast while lunch and dinner are totally up to you to  find. Food in Lamu can be found in various eateries so that is not much of a challenge. However, if you feel like you do not want to venture out and want to eat at Kiwandani, a chef is always at standby and they can prepare what you want upon request.

For our first breakfast at Kiwandani, we were pretty much underwhelmed by what we received. The food was not prepared by the chef, but bought outside and roughly served to us. We had chapati, mahamri and viazi karai. We expected to have an elaborate coastal style breakfast with plenty of fresh fruit but that was absent.

chapati is for breakfast at the kenyan coast_lamu food festival__kaluhiskitchen.com

mahamri served at the kenyan coast which is the Lamu Kiwandani House_kaluhiskitchen.com

fresh mango juice served at kiwandani house as part of the breakfast_affordable accomodation at Lamu_Lamu Food Festival

The chefs made it up to us the following day and gave us a more filling breakfast, but still, only after we had requested. In my opinion, this is an area Kiwandani house needs to work on. Food is a big deal anywhere you go whether you are a foodie or not.

Service

The staff at Kiwandani house are so kind and  always ready to help out. Majority are men since culturally, women are not allowed to work. When we arrived, our host, Nina told us that we need not worry about our possessions since no one will steal them. Being form Nairobi, I was a bit skeptical about that. But to my surprise, truly our belongings were always left untouched. That is one thing I will always love about Lamu.

Beach bum friendly

Kiwandani house is not necessarily located right at the beach though you still get treated to fantastic oceanic views from nearly each room. The beach is however 30 seconds away as there is a passage that directly connects the house to the beach. So do not feel shy about dipping in the ocean.

best bloggers in kenya 2016 kaluhi adagala of kaluhiskitchen.com and lyra aoko lyraoko.com_lamu food festival

Gorgeous lifestyle blogger Lyra Aoko (www.lyraoko.om) and I

kaluhi adagala_kenyan food blogger_kaluhiskitchen.com_kiwandani house

kaluhi adagalakenyan food bloggers_kenyan food blogger at kaluhiskitchen.com_kiwandani house

Just to note, Lamu is a conservative town, whose majority population are Muslim, so you cannot walk around with super short shorts. However, at the beach it is totally ok to dress down and enjoy the ocean in whatever swimming attaire you choose. So don’t be afraid to let loose and let everything hang!

Cheers to the good life!

-K


19 Comments

  1. Olivia

    Nice review with coolest images. That juice though….*love*

    http://www.kayiniafrika.com

    • kaluhiskitchen

      The juices were really really refreshing.I love mangoes but my fave juice was the lime juice! too good!!

  2. jayson Mbogo

    GORGEOUS!!! Also lol I love my picture

    http://www.jaytakeapic.com

    • kaluhiskitchen

      You make a perfect muse!

  3. Sheena's Kitchen

    I love the pics…and yes, beautiful shot of the juice. I love the pic where you are jumping, so carefree and *enchating* see what i did there;-) Anyway great post the house looks breath takingly beautiful:-)

    • kaluhiskitchen

      I hope we get a chance to go back to Kiwandani house the entire Onja team! And thank you so much :))

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    The Kiwandani house looks unusual, thanks for sharing! I wish I could be there, fully engulfed its incredible beauty.

    • kaluhiskitchen

      <3 <3 <3

  5. This landscape is entrancing and the chapel is amazing. I am very grateful for the photos you made! They are gorgeous. I want to be there one day.

    • kaluhiskitchen

      You should make a point of visiting! Truly unforgettable place! <3

  6. I would with great pleasure rest in such a beautiful house with a thoughtful and concise interior.

    • kaluhiskitchen

      <3 <3 <3

  7. The house is gorgeous and that would be so nice to appear there and enjoy all the views like that.

    • kaluhiskitchen

      <3

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    I like how you spent time with your friend and day. I think it was a bright vacation, which I want to extend

    • kaluhiskitchen

      <3 <3 <3

  9. you are so merry immediately wanted to sing and dance, very bright photos, I hope I will have the same today

  10. AndrewCox

    Thank you

    • kaluhiskitchen

      Welcome!

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