Manda Bay

Aerial View of Manda Bay Photo #1 of 13 Manda Island is one of the many unspoiled, idyllic islands of the Lamu archipelago. An exclusive resort, Manda Bay offers beautiful beach front accommodation, informal pampering and barefoot luxury. All the buildings are in keeping with the local landscape and are constructed using palm and driftwood and local building techniques. Photo copyright Manda Bay.

Fly Fishing for Sailfish at Manda Bay

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Overview

Manda Bay Resort is a small, private lodge on Manda Island in northern Kenya's Lamu Kiwayu archipelago. With magnificent coral gardens, empty beaches and indigenous woodlands, Manda Bay Resort is a glorious destination for both active and leisurely holidays. Closed from the middle of April through the middle of July.

The perfect retreat for families and honeymooners alike. The lodge is personally hosted and the management takes every care to cater to your needs. Manda is well known for its excellent cuisine, water sports and deep sea fishing for Marlin and Sailfish. Aside from watching the ebb & flow of the tides, Manda Bay is only a 20 min boat ride to Lamu - the oldest Swahili town of Islamic Culture dating back to the 13th Century and a world Heritage Site. The Manda Settlement, the oldest Ruins recorded on the East African Coast is situated within walking distance of the lodge and surrounded by 100 year old baobab trees. With no threat to the wildlife , bush buck and Cape Buffalo graze in the pastures on the Manda Estate next to the private airfield.

Manda Bay is on the northern most peninsular of Manda Island in the Lamu / Kiwayu archipelago. Shaded by Coconut palms, Acacias and Tamarind trees, Manda Bay overlooks the pure sand beaches and the cerulean blue waters of the Bay.

Small and exclusive, Manda Bay is totally private yet only a 20-minute boat ride from the restaurants and ancient culture of Shela and Lamu Town.

Manda bay is a lodge of exceptional good fortune, not only does it have secluded open beaches that stretch for fourteen kilometers, along with the rich marine life in the sea, Manda also offers an extra bonus of pristine costal bush behind the lodge.

The large area is full of wildlife and thick vegetation where game drives reveal a suprising number of animals and bird-life. These include Buffalo, Bushbuck, Bushpig, the tiny Dikdik and a host of smaller predators like Civets and Mongooses. Birds include Carmine beeaters, Fisheagles, Northern Niccaters, Wimbrills and many others.

Manda offers scenic flights in light aircraft which fly low over areas on the main land across the bay. These areas are stunningly beautiful stretches of uninhabited land where large herds of Buffalo, Hartebeast, Zebra and Eland exist undisturbed.

The bush country here is spotted with an occasional natural sweet water lake full of Hippopotomus and attracts other rarer species like the Lesser Kudu and Hirola Hartebeast.

Manda bay has an open air dining room overlooking the ocean, which we use for breakfast and lunch. Tables are arranged for individual groups or couples as they wish. The informal dining room and sitting rooms are comfortable, open and airy. They enjoy uninterrupted views of Manda Bay whose ever-changing waters attract birds, small local sailing craft and spectacular marine life. All rooms are furnished in vibrant Kenyan fabrics, specially designed to compliment the environment.

All meals are relaxed and casual, served in the dining room, on the beach, or even on Utumaduni our traditional sailing dhow. The availability of wonderful, fresh seafood and tropical fruit dictates most menus but Manda Bay offers wholesome, nutritious home-cooked menus from all over the world to suit any palate. Our Swahili chefs can easily cater to the demands of children and those on special diets.There is a seperate sitting room and bar area on the waterfront which we use mainly during the day and pre-dinner drinks in the evenings. We also have an upstairs comfortable sitting / reading room for adults.

We have an air conditioned Boutique which has many ornamental gifts, clothes, paintings as well as the bare essentials. Lastly, we have a large games room and swimming pool area situated on the beach closeby to all the watersports activities. This is ideal for children and well enough away so not to disturb the other guests.

From hectic lifestyles to demanding Safari routine, we at Manda offer a more relaxed approach to the day. So that you may fit in a little or as much as you like. Activities are organised each evening for the following day. Your hosts will advise you on the best opportunities to suit your needs.

Early morning fishing forays, scenic flight over the Archipelago, a ski down in the calm waters of the mangrove creeks, bird walks, or simply a walk along the beach enables guests to return to the lodge for a well-earned breakfast. Fresh fruit, cereals, yogurt, home baked breads and a full English breakfast are on offer.

The rest of the morning can be spent relaxing in the Lamu swinging beds or by the pool with a book, At low tide and in calm weather, we offer snorkelling off the coral reefs opposite the lodge to see the myriad of small coral fish and marine life., and at high tide, the water sports come out and there is plenty of opportunity to try your hand at some waterskiing or windsurfing, sailing or rides the tubes and banana boating.

Lunch at Manda is served around 1.00pm – a light Buffet lunch with a healthy variety of dishes to suit all palates. Afternoon tea is served in the Tearoom and guests are invited to go for a light walk or sundowner, before returning for hot showers and a candlelit dinner under the stars.

For those wanting a bit more activity, it is worth a visit to Lamu, an ancient Swahili town that emerged over 600 years ago during the trading days of the Omani Arabs to the East African Coast. This can be combined with a visit to Shela, for some retail therapy, a cooling drink and a spot of lunch.