Did you know that Kenya boasts the world’s largest continuous fringing reef stretching from Msambweni to Malindi? Msambweni beach, my destination last weekend, is one of Kenya’s more unspoiled beaches.
Msambweni is a small fishing town in Kwale County. Since I will be working over the Christmas holiday, I decided to treat my wife to a little rest and recreation.
Our flight to Ukunda took about one hour with several airlines plying the route. After touching down at the strip at noon, we caught our transfer vehicle for a 35-minute ride to the aptly named Msambweni Beach House and private villas.
The Titanium plant is your landmark but make sure not to go on to the Ramisi sugar-processing factory. Access to Msambweni house is a left turn off onto a cabro-paved track that switches to a coral track through typical coastal coconut plantations and small villages.
This all en suite boutique hotel is designed in Lamu style with white-washed intricate features, high beamed ceilings, makuti wood roofs, locally hand carved furniture, large open spaces and beautiful decorative touches. It is run and managed by Frederik Vanderhoeven, who previously ran the family’s sister private property Villa Val des Roses in Cap d’Antibes, South of France.
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The first awe-striking feature that meets us is the 50-metre infinity edged pool that seems to extend into the blue ocean. The Beach House sits on a cliff lending a stunning view that’s reputed to be the best on the Kenyan coast. The sandy beach is surrounded by 28 acres of natural land.
The property has 700 feet of private stretch of the coastline with palm trees offering peace and tranquillity where guests can enjoy some privacy and commune with nature. The main house has three luxurious suites with private verandas. The veranda in suite 3, where we put up, has three sitting areas.
The fare
We were spoilt for choice of foods ranging from Swahili, Belgium and French Cuisines. We were informed that if we wanted, lunch and dinner could be served in a special private setting of our choice.
Our first dinner was a romantic candle-lit affair. Served in the Ocean Suite, we had a swell time listening to whispers of the breeze and swooning over a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean.
Lazy days on the beach were interspersed with diving excursions in the famous Kisite Marine Park and safaris to Shimba Hills. On a beautiful morning, we enjoyed bike rides and I taught the missus to cycle.
Hoping the lessons stuck. We also wanted to see the famous sea turtles and luckily, we managed to squeeze in a trip to Funzi Island world famous for being a nesting site for a variety of sea turtles, some endangered.
