Cottages in Lamu

We had a truly memorable and amazing experience staying 4 nights & 5 days at Umma house. We had a warm and welcoming greeting from the staff Zeinab and Farid who were amazing. Zeinab stayed in contact the whole time and she booked all of our activities for us. We gave her a budget and what we wanted and she made sure everything was organised and that our stay was stress free so we could just focus on enjoying Lamu. On our last day she let us check out later at 1pm because our flight was at 2:55 which was amazing so we could enjoy our final houra. Farid is the young house keeper and he was exceptional. He did all of the house work including laundry, dishes, ironing, cleaning the house and pool everyday and he even went out to the markets to get our groceries. He was so friendly and we were able to go with him to the markets and he showed us around and was helpful with anything we needed. If he is there you can ask him to show you around and he is very enthusiastic to do whatever you need to make the most of your stay in Lamu. The house itself is beautiful and we spent a lot of time in the pool and on the rooftops for sunset drinks. There are lots of different areas in the house to relax including 3 different balconies / roof tops. The best bedroom in the house is located on the top floor which has a lot of stairs so may not be suitable for elderly or people who struggle getting up stairs. This didnt bother us though and we got used to it quickly, it is so worth it for the amazing big bedroom! Umma house is located in Lamu old town so you are bound to hear the mosques and prayers but it is a beautiful way to experience the true essence and culture of Lamu and the prayers only last 5-10 minutes at most. If you are easily disturbed by loud noises then maybe bring ear plugs but if you are genuinely interested in the rich culture of Lamu then it should not be a problem.

Alexandra and Zion were just amazing. You can see the passion of Alexandra about Lamu and about this historical building! It is perfect for a big group, and it's also amazing to work from there. I liked everything of the place, so relaxing and such a relaxed atmosphere!

Perfect quiet oasis to relax, to discover Shela village, to explore the beach with helpful and friendly staff

This house is palatial - It is vast with loads of lovely chill-out spaces, every room is spacious, all the bedrooms have massive en-suites, and everything is spotless and incredibly comfortable. It is a new brand build but it has been done in a tasteful traditional Swahili style (but with all mod cons). The pool was great - it has a shallow end where you can sit and cool off and a deep section where you can dive. It was extremely hot in Shela in Jan so I would say a pool was essential for a comfortable holiday at that time of year. There is a vast roof terrace where we star gazed and chatted at night. The kids had movie nights on the smart TV which meant we could relax and chat elsewhere. We were two families (4 adults and 4 kids) and we didn't even use one of the bedrooms as the place is so big. The staff were very helpful and kept the place tidy and clean at all times. We hired a chef during the visit at a very reasonable rate - we ate breakfast and dinner at home and ate out during the day - he cooked everything we requested very well and the meals were all delicious. He also did all our food shopping which was very helpful. I liked staying in the dunes behind Shela (you get to see a bit of real Shela life on the way) but it is worth knowing that the house is not right on the seafront. It takes about 10 mins to walk to the sea/cafes. However, the location is reflected in the price - it was extremely good value indeed considering it was such an amazing house.

We stayed at Ttunu House in January 2025, and it was simply incredible! The house is beautiful, lovingly restored, and tastefully furnished. There is truly not a single thing to complain about! The Ttunu House team—Cornelius, Stephen, and Jackson—did everything to make our stay perfect and unforgettable. Stephen cooks whatever guests desire, with only the cost of groceries charged, while the service itself is included. Upon request, we had the best tuna steaks of our lives, served with grilled vegetables and Kachumbari (a Kenyan tomato salad). For those looking for an extraordinary vacation far from tourist hotspots but without sacrificing luxury, Ttunu House is the perfect choice! We would love to come back.

We liked the traditional style and especially the small splash pool, to cool off in. The location at the heart of Lamu town was really special.