Cottages in Lamu

Wow. Couldn't believe my eyes when I walked in. Umma house is a beautiful swahili-style home right in the center of Lamu old town. The architecture and interior design was just exquisite right down to the details. Justin, the house manager, is a star and made our stay very comfortable. I really recommend Umma house if you want to experience Lamu - skip Shela and head to the heart of the island - you won't regret it.

We loved how it was so easily accessible to Lamu Town and even the shops nearby even at 11pm at night we could get from the house. The house was extremely huge we really loved it that we could move around freely. We could literally stay there forever Lamu is indeed so beautiful 😍 We highly recommend Makubwa House 👌

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.

Everything was great. Beautiful rooms , friendy staff, exceptional place.