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4.5
#4 of 5 B&Bs in Lamu Island
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Amu House is a fully restored 16th century Swahili house with 7 comfortable, self contained guest rooms each with its own veranda on the two upper floors. We serve a full breakfast downstairs in the historic original Swahili house, and have a beautiful breezy rooftop with a hammock and day beds for all our guests to enjoy. Conveniently located just a minute's walk from the jetty and the seafront, Amu House is perfectly situated. A quiet, private home in the middle of a historic paradise! Our historic 16th century house has been operating as a Bed and Breakfast for many years. You have to option of renting the entire house for a large gathering of family and friends, or you can rent a private bedroom and meet others also traveling in the area. There are many common spaces available through out the house, in addition to 7 large, comfortable bedrooms with their own verandah space. Feel free to close yourself in or intermingle with others. Breakfast is served in a common space downstairs, between 8 and 10am. Dinner can be arranged in advance tho we encourage our guests to sample the many incredible restaurants on the island. We have a very welcoming manager at Amu House named Kesh. He can help arrange and guide our visitors as they make plans to enjoy their holiday. You will start your day with a full, healthy breakfast, and then let your adventures begin! We encourage our guests to explore the island, and will help support you with ideas and recommendations through out your stay. There is always a person on site at Amu House, available day and night to help with any questions or concerns. You can arrive in Lamu by plane or by bus. Flying to Lamu from Malindi or Nairobi, you will land on nearby Manda Island where our Manager Kesh will come meet you. Additionally you can come by bus or private car, arriving in Mokowe, where we will also come meet you. Either way, you always make the last leg of your trip to the island by boat, a prefect way to begin your holiday! Please let us know if you would like assistance in planing your arrival. We are happy to help! Amu House on Lamu Island is located off the coast of Northern Kenya. The breezes of the Indian Ocean and the islands of the Lamu Archipelago offer many beautiful places to visit. Sailing is a big part of our culture, and we recommend that our guests explore the area by land as well as by sea. Perhaps a simple day trip to one of our incredible nearby beaches may be the perfect way to relax on your holiday. Or take a sailing trip to snorkel and/or fish with lunch included; enjoy a beautiful sunset cruise with drumming and singing on board, or take the time to explore the nearby islands as we can take you on a variety of exciting sea adventures! And if you prefer to stay on land, relaxing on the rooftop and enjoying the breezes in the hammock may be the perfect way to spend your afternoon after getting "lost" in the maze of Lamu's streets. With no cars or vehicles, only donkeys for transport, spend the morning winding through our historic town, stumbling across pieces of an ancient culture meeting the modern day. Lamu Town is a place history can come alive in your imagination. Feel the ancient times that passed by.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Amu house is the perfect place to stay when visiting the ancient historic town of Lamu. It is situated a minutes walk to the seafront as well as the town square, where there is always something interesting happening. For being so close to the action it is still a quiet and relaxing place to rest. It simply doesn't get better than hanging out on the rooftop of Amu house and looking out over the town and water. There is also great star gazing from the roof. The rooms are very clean and well ventilated with comfy beds. The owner Mary is very knowledgeable about all things to do with Lamu, past and present. She is passionate and cares deeply about Lamu town/island and it's unique swahili culture. She is always on top of current events often being directly involved in them herself, especially when it comes to community based and environmental initiatives. This provides a unique opportunity for guests to learn a lot about the history as well as the current status of this special place. Very importantly staying here is an opportunity for guests to travel responsibly since Amu house and its staff are an environmentally conscious business, working towards keeping the town and its island ecosystem clean and healthy. Also, did I mention that it is a gorgeous, historic swahili style house? If you have the chance to stay here, do it! Highly recommended!!
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Mary Stone, Owner at Amu House
Responded 08 Dec 2022
Karibu tena! Thank you Wystan for being such an awesome guest and supporting our community initiatives. I defiantly look forward to your return again some day. Lamu misses you
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Amu House is very aesthetically pleasing with consideration given to this Traditional Swahili home . It has a fantastic roof top terrace with a great swinging couch . The downside is the lack of hot water as one of the owners feels that paying guests will waste it . Granted we are in a very hot location but on occasions the water was ice cold for a shower . There’s also a lack of niceties - no shower gel or hand towels just a minisucule imperial leather miniture soap. It would be nice to have a mini fridge in the room as no matter how wide the windows are open and the fans are on full swing the rooms seem to trap the heat . Lack of storage for clothes is also disappointing.The extra breakfast is nice and the staff friendly and for the area it’s great value - but I’d pay a little more for access to hot water.
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Hot water not provided
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Mary Stone, Owner at Amu House
Responded 08 May 2024
Thank you for staying with us and also thank you for your feedback. I’m sorry for the lack of hot water and no mini fridge in the rooms. We are a relatively low priced establishment (you did give us 5 stars for value!🙏🏼) . We are trying to grow our business and provide some of these extra comforts you found missing. We had been experiencing a nationwide black out followed by no electricity for two days due to flooding while you were here so yes, I agree, it was unusually uncomfortable sleeping as there was no electricity anywhere in the county during your stay. The overhead fans make a huge difference to sleeping comfort and we know your suffered without them. Unfortunately it was beyond our control. As we discussed together, we are looking for appropriate solar hot water heaters as the on demand electric ones aren’t good and also wouldn’t have worked during your stay due to the power outage. We appreciate your feedback and will be trying our best to bring hot water in the near future! Thanks for staying with us at Amu House. I’m glad you enjoyed your time in Lamu
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Amu House is a beautiful and historic home, one of the oldest in Lamu. The space is lovely and Mary was a generous and knowledgeable host, she provided tips, recommendations and also had great stories of her time living in Lamu. Isaac who works at Amu House was also very helpful and kind. It’s conveniently located, great coffee at La Dulce Toro is a short walk away.
The rooftop has a beautiful view and the breeze feels so good in the heat. The bedrooms are beautifully furnished. I really appreciated the quiet and peace I had at Amu. Thank you Mary and hope to be back soon.
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The lady host was super nice and friendly. Mohamed was super helpful with directions and local information. I had an issue with towels and soap not being provided but that was rectified very quickly. I wish the management would have informed me that there was no hot water provision. Overall not a bad experience but needs more focus on improvement to the better offers and value for money from their competitors
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My parents and I had a lovely stay at Amu House. It was just as described and much more. Kesh and Samuel, who take care of the house, made sure we were comfortable in every respect and nothing was too much to ask for! They helped with everything and arranged for us an unforgettable sunset boat trip. I highly recommend Amu House to anyone wishing to visit beautiful Lamu.
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Date of stay: April 2017
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was travelling with with four other women, we ranged in age from our 40s to late 60s. We stayed here for 3 nights , sharing 2 rooms at the end of a 3 week stay in Kenya. The value for money was excellent. We paid less than $25 US a night each. Breakfast (traditional or English) was included - eggs to order, fresh fruit and juice, tea, coffee or chai. The wifi, available on the top terrace, was excellent and never had an issue and the roof is an awesome place to hangout with day beds, lovely breezes and interesting views. The staff - Bakari and Hammerton , were attentive, helpful and very responsive. Is an amazing building. Beautiful details . Stairs only , steep and 3 stories. The amenities are good but basic, as you would expect. As with elsewhere bottled water is a must but here is not supplied in the rooms. Water is very easily available from venders on the dock a few steps away and cheap. There are western bathrooms in the rooms but no hot water. It was not needed or missed. Mosquito nets and very comfortable beds made sleeping comfortable. There are ceiling fans in the rooms to help cool but remember to close all shutters in the rooms during the day to help keep room cooler for evening. Power is available 24/7. The staff made several arrangements for us - picked us up at the airport and went back with us - helped with luggage, arranged the boat to Lamu, a guide to provide a tour of the old city including its history, massages to be done on premise and a henna artist. All were interesting and nice experiences. make sure you wander the markets and stores at the first opportunity to get both a ‘lay of the land’ and an idea of prices and where you should start bargaining and where not. The museum is a must. There are only a couple of restaurants where alcohol is available.
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Date of stay: July 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We traveled to Lamu with friends and loved the house. It is sparkling clean and beautiful. Mohammed is a great story teller. He ensured everything ran smoothly. Bakari took care of us in ways we can't explain. We are grateful. I highly recommend it!
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Date of stay: February 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Mary S, Owner at Amu House
Responded 24 May 2019
Thank you for choosing Amu House! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and that Mahmoud and Bakari were entertaining and helpful! Karibu tena! Welcome back again
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One probably shouldn't even mention it here, but the centuries-old Swahili town of Lamu is something of a hidden gem on the Kenya coast. I found Amu House a close-to-perfect place to stay, absolutely in tune with its surroundings. It's a beautifully converted old Swahili house, all open courtyards, airy passageways, wooden door frames and a beautiful rooftop terrace. Rooms are simple (no aircon, no tea/coffee maker, no WiFi, no fuss), but very cozy and clean. Lamu is a very hot place, so I was really glad that the fan worked reliably. Location is ace - in the center of the old town, yet quiet, and just a three-minute walk from the waterfront and boat jetty. Breakfast is very good, and overall there's a convivial, friendly, peaceful vibe. Best of all, though, was the manager, Samuel, a witty, warm, hospitable and very helpful man, who really makes one feel at home. All in all, highly recommended.
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Date of stay: November 2018
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My 16th time here and all I can do is say a big thanks to Kesh, Samuel and Belvin for the tremendous hospitality and care they showed my friends and I. My friends who are first timers here give it a glowing recommendation as well. We’ll all be back very soon!
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Date of stay: April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We travelled as a large group of 14 and booked the entire house for our three week stay in Lamu. Our liaison with the owners prior to the trip was easy and they were responsive to our questions. On arrival we were warmly greeted by Kesh at the airport and Samuel at the house. Our stay was comfortable and our breakfast varied and delicious. The layout of the house allowed us to find some quiet time or get together and enjoy the afternoon breezes on the balconies and rooftop. The location is ideal, close to the main street and beachfront. It was an absolute pleasure to stay at Amu House and would recommend it to any tourists visiting Lamu Island
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Date of stay: January 2018
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Mary S, Owner at Amu House
Responded 27 Mar 2018
Thank you Angela! It was a pleasure to host you and your extended family for such an important reunion! We welcome you back any time.
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There are more places to choose from in the Lamu Island area.
PRICE RANGE
R 803 - R 981 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
KenyaCoast ProvinceLamu Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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