The Majlis

It’s hard to believe looking at it today, but The Majlis was never meant to be a resort. A private African home away-from-home, it was built as a family retreat from the pressures of the world…… a place to spend precious time with friends.

The story begins in 2000, when an Italian gentleman known as ‘Nanni’ and his wife Elena were on a global quest to find the perfect place to escape from the cold European winters. When setting foot on Lamu they knew they found that place. Over the years the property was slowly designed and developed to offer an African ‘home-from-home’ for all who visit. The Majlis was built with love and finished in beauty, not intended as a hotel, it still isn’t one, it’s simply a very special place in which honoured guests can feel absolutely at home.

The boutique hotel offers 39 exquisite deluxe rooms and suites divided into beachfront villas. Each villa was constructed making use of the archipelago’s natural resources, combining white coral blocks with hand-carved timber. The rooms, all presented in timelessly elegant Lamu style, are very spacious with traditionally high, beamed ceilings, large windows and spectacular views of the beach, garden, swimming pools and the endless Indian Ocean. Air conditioning, highest-quality linen bedding, roll-down netting, a generous en-suite bathroom, a private veranda, electric fans and a safe complete the luxurious accommodation.

When it comes to indulging your palate, The Majlis restaurant will not fail to impress. Set on an open plan veranda with a panoramic view of the bay, it offers the finest cuisine from the freshest catch of the day prepared with spices and herbs to delectable international dishes, as well as a sushi bar. The restaurant is built using local materials – casuarinas, mangrove poles and a thatched ‘makuti’ ceiling. Offering the finest cuisine in the Lamu archipelago, The Majlis Restaurant serves the very best, including exotic fresh fruits, home baked breads, pastries, and a selection of warm fare for breakfast.

Additional state-of-the-art facilities include two bars, two swimming pools and an activity centre, which co-ordinates the wide variety of activities on offer. These include all sorts of water sports, snorkelling and boat excursions, as well as a series of full day and half day experiences which focus on wellness, Swahili culture, sports and arts.

The Majlis is a child-friendly hotel with children’s areas supervised by dedicated nannies, family-friendly room layouts and delicious kid-friendly meals. Children can also safely swim in the sea or in the pools with pool attendants on duty all day long.

Lamu can be reached by air from Kenya’s most important airports: Nairobi (JKIA), Mombasa and Malindi. All flights land on the airstrip in Manda Island, just across the channel from Lamu. You’ll be escorted to the main jetty and then to our own motorboat for a 10-minute cruise to the resort.