A luxurious eco-house with sunset views to the horizon over a tropical lagoon, set in a tranquil spot amongst the trees, birds & villages.
The house has four-bedrooms (sleeps 10), with 3 permanent staff (cook, cleaner etc) set in tropical gardens with coconuts, cashews and mango trees, overlooking Mida Creek (a tropical lagoon), minutes drive from one of the best beaches in Kenya.
This is a magical house in one of the nicest, most peaceful spots on the coast.
The house is the culmination of a lifelong dream - to build a tropical, sustainable, paradisiacal retreat in this part of the world. At night, you won't see a single other artificial light as you drift off to sleep.
The house overlooks the waters of Mida Creek – a huge, stunning mangrove-fronted lagoon where you can swim, watch local fisherfolk, take dugout canoe trips (the house has its own), watch ospreys, flamingos, hawks and other wildlife, go fishing, or just listen to the sounds of the local people who have been living in the same way for thousands of years. There's nowhere else quite like it.
The house is set in a 5.2 acre fenced plot filled with cashew nut trees and a number of other smaller trees. The plot is nestled among local villages, palms and lush vegetation. It feels like it is in the bush (that’s a good thing!), although it is only a 10-minute drive from half a dozen excellent, lively restaurants and bars in Watamu, a 25-minute drive from Malindi airport and a 2-hour drive from bustling Mombasa. We can arrange for you to hire a car if needed.
The house consists of a large open building, which has two large bedrooms - the upstairs room (bedroom 3) has 2 double beds (one perched in the roof and one kingsize), and the downstairs room (bedroom 4), which is completely netted can be used either as a chill-out room or a bedroom with 2 double beds (see photos). In the remainder of this bit of the house there is a large living area and dining table in which to chill and relax - with fitted sofas, a hanging chair, and hammock - in addition to a kitchen, storeroom and a toilet / shower.
Right next to the main building there is a 10-meter high 'tower' building with a funky spiral staircase that consists of an open chill-out area downstairs and two bedrooms (both kind-sized double beds and ensuite bathrooms) with amazing views the higher you go, and a flat roof, with a panoramic view over the whole creek and to the horizon beyond, which is a perfect place for sunbathing, yoga, beers or evening dinner. The sun sets on the other side of the creek in the evening - this is unique to this house as most of the other houses in the region have eastward views.
We've taken pains to try to reduce the impact on the local environment with the house. That doesn't mean it's not effortlessly luxurious – it is, but we are not fans of air-conditioning and swimming pools. All rooms have excellent ventilation and fans, if needed. For us, taking a sunset dip in the creek in the evening as the sun goes down is way better than chlorine and pumps.
The beach is a 10-minute drive away and you can also swim in front of the house around high tide (2x per day).
There is also internet and mobile access at the house if you buy a dongle locally. We've also left a Bose stereo for ipods/iphones and computers and all linen and towels as well as cleaning etc is included. There is also a karum board, backgammon, some DVDs if you have a computer/player and a number of books.
The staff members who look after the house full-time are Joseph – an excellent cook who has been preparing food for foreign visitors for more than 30 years - Morris, the cleaner, caretaker and gardener, and David who's on hand at night. There is no extra cost for these guys, although they appreciate a tip (NB: groceries shall be paid at cost by guests). Joseph can cook a huge number of different types of food from vegetarian pies to meat and super-fresh seafood feasts, as well as baking his own bread. He is happy to go and do the shopping for you, if that's easier. Morris will help you with anything you need, from cleaning to babysitting to fetching coconuts from the trees for you for a midday cocktail.
Quite simply, it's one of the most relaxed and peaceful places on earth. Enjoy!