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At a glance

  • Miles of palm-fringed sandy beaches lapped by clear warm waters
  • Owner run and managed lodge
  • A 30-minute boat ride from UNESCO-listed Lamu Town, the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa
  • Renowned for its excellent cuisine, using local ingredients and freshly caught seafood
  • Excellent for watersports – snorkelling, kayaking, diving and deep-sea fishing

Overview

Constructed in traditional Swahili style, this isolated resort fronts miles of sandy shoreline, shared only by guests and a few local fishermen. It's the perfect place to step off the treadmill. Accommodation comprises beach cottages cooled by fans and sea breezes, their thatched roofs, straw matting and muted furnishings totally in tune with the surroundings.

When to visit

  • January
    30ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    22ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    55mm
    Average Rainfall
    January is the height of the summer season and falls into the 'short dry season'. At the coast, the Indian Ocean monsoon winds determine the weather. The dry north-east monsoon (Kaskazi) blows in from November through to March, bringing hot humid weather. The sea is at its clearest due to lack of surface run-off, making it one of the best times for snorkelling and diving. Turtles and bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be seen year-round, while spinner dolphins can be seen off the coast from January to April.
  • February
    30ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    23ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    30mm
    Average Rainfall
    February is well into the short dry season with hot, dry and clear days with just the odd shower. At the coast, the Indian Ocean monsoon winds determine the weather. The dry north-east monsoon (Kaskazi) blows in from November through to March, bringing hot humid weather. The sea is at its clearest due to lack of surface run-off, making it one of the best times for snorkelling and diving. Turtles and bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be seen year-round, while spinner dolphins can be seen off the coast from January to April. This is also peak season for whale sharks.
  • March
    30ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    23ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    60mm
    Average Rainfall
    For most of March, days are warm and dry, however Kenya is approaching the 'long rains' so some rain can be expected. At the coast, the Indian Ocean monsoon winds determine the weather. The dry north-east monsoon (Kaskazi) blows in from November through to March, bringing hot humid weather. The sea is at its clearest due to lack of surface run-off, making it one of the best times for snorkelling and diving. Turtles and bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be seen year-round, while spinner dolphins can be seen off the coast from January to April. This is also peak season for whale sharks.
  • April
    29ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    23ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    154mm
    Average Rainfall
    April heralds the start of the green season and the beginning of the “'ong rains, which bring an explosion of greenery and a slight drop in temperatures. At the coast, the Indian Ocean monsoon winds determine the weather. The warm, moist north-east monsoon (Kusi) blows in from April through to October bringing hot temperatures and rain. Turtles and bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be seen year-round, while spinner dolphins can be seen off the coast from January to April.
  • May
    29ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    22ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    180mm
    Average Rainfall
    The weather at the coast is determined by the Indian Ocean monsoon winds. in May the warm, moist north-east monsoon (Kusi) blows in bringing hot temperatures and heavy rains. Turtles and both bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be spotted.
  • June
    28ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    20ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    88mm
    Average Rainfall
    Dry weather for the most part returns to Kenya in June, though at the coast, the warm, moist north-east monsoon (Kusi) blows from April to October, bringing some rain. Humpback whales are first sighted along the coast in early June as they make their annual migration north from Antarctica to breed and calf. Turtles and both bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be spotted.
  • July
    27ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    18ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    60mm
    Average Rainfall
    Winter continues through July with warm days, little rain, lower humidity and slightly cooler evenings. Coastal temperatures are determined by the Indian Ocean monsoon winds. The warm, moist north-east monsoon (Kusi) blows from April to October, bringing rain, however from late June through to October there is much less rain at the coast. Humpback whales can be spotted as they make their annual migration north from Antarctica to breed and calf. Turtles and both bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be spotted.
  • August
    27ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    18ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    60mm
    Average Rainfall
    August is the last month of winter in Kenya, with warm days, little rain, lower humidity and slightly cooler evenings. Coastal temperatures are determined by the Indian Ocean monsoon winds. The warm, moist north-east monsoon (Kusi) blows from April to October, bringing rain, however from late June through to October there is much less rain at the coast. Humpback whales can be spotted as they make their annual migration north from Antarctica to breed and calf. Turtles and both bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be spotted.
  • September
    28ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    20ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    64mm
    Average Rainfall
    Temperatures start to increase as Kenya moves out of its winter, and days are warm and clear with little chance of rain. Coastal temperatures are determined by the Indian Ocean monsoon winds. The warm, moist north-east monsoon (Kusi) blows from April to October, bringing rain, however from late June through to October there is much less rain at the coast. Humpback whales can be spotted as they make their annual migration north from Antarctica to breed and calf. Turtles and both bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be spotted.
  • October
    29ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    21ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    103mm
    Average Rainfall
    October is the last month in the dry season before the short rains start in November. Temperatures are on the rise and days are hot and humid with little chance of rain. Coastal temperatures are determined by the Indian Ocean monsoon winds. The warm, moist north-east monsoon (Kusi) blows from April to October, bringing rain, however from late June through to October there is much less rain at the coast. This is the last month to spot humpback whales and their young off the coast before they start their return journey to Antarctica. Turtles and both bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be spotted.
  • November
    29ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    21ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    105mm
    Average Rainfall
    November sees the start of the short rains and days are hot and humid with warm evenings. Coastal temperatures are determined by the Indian Ocean monsoon winds. The dry north-east monsoon (Kaskazi) blows from late November through to March, bringing hot humid weather, though this is tempered by ocean breezes. Turtles and both bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be spotted.
  • December
    30ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    21ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    75mm
    Average Rainfall
    By December the short rains have ended for the most part. Days are hot and humid and evenings are warm. Coastal temperatures are determined by the Indian Ocean monsoon winds. The dry north-east monsoon (Kaskazi) blows from late November through to March, bringing hot humid weather, though this is tempered by ocean breezes. Turtles and both bottlenose and humpback dolphins can be spotted.

Location

Manda Bay is located on Manda Island in the Lamu archipelago on Kenya’s north coast. Access is either by private charter or commercial scheduled flight. Private charters can fly directly into the lodge airstrip. Scheduled flights fly into Lamu Airport, a 20-minute boat ride from the lodge.