Samaki House
Bed and Breakfast in Lamu
3-Star Hotel
Reasons to book
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Includes essentialsGarden, Pool, Internet / Wifi and more
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About this bed and breakfast
Providing garden views, a garden and free WiFi, Samaki House provides accommodation well located in Lamu, within a short distance of 18th Century Swahili House Museum, Lamu Museum and Lamu Fort.
Amenities
Pool
Internet / Wifi
Balcony or Patio
TV
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Lamu
Available Rooms
1 Double • 172 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
1 Double • 215 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
1 King • 322 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Booking.com for availability & pricing
$$$$
Ratings and reviews
100% verified reviews
8.0 / 10.0
It is a truly beautiful swahili building, with wonderful staff. Lamu is an exceptional cultural experience, and the house is right in the centre of it. The rooftop is a wonderful place to relax, with views of the town, and a good respite from the heat.
The breakfast was really good, you won't get a typical "continental" breakfast anywhere in Lamu, but you can expect fresh fruit, good plunger coffee and some eggs & toast, prepared by the staff with such love and care.
One of the mosques is pretty much next door - the prayers are a wonderful cultural component of Lamu and absolutely expected whereve you stay - but unfortunately this particular Imam sang for a good 2-3 hours, loudly, from 4am. Apparently this only happens on Thursdays - the locals have complained and written letters about it. We embraced the experience, but it was a bit of a shock to the system.
10.0 / 10.0
I appreciated a lot staying in Samaki house; everything was perfect & I felt like home. I warmly recommend!
anything
3.0 / 10.0
Location
To basic for the money
1.0 / 10.0
Nothing
Everything. My arrival was anything but welcoming or professional. I waited outside to be let in while calls to the owner went answered. I was not offered to be met at the waterfront like the guests who checked in a little after me. My room was mouldy, it got flooded when it rained. The breakfast is sub standard. No wi-fi in the bedrooms. The dining area was dusty. A dodgy experience that made me leave after one night. OH! It’s so dark and dingy in the rooms, barely any light. The toilet was dirty, had dark stains
9.0 / 10.0
Wonderful place,unique location, a full swahili immersion. Moses is a wonderful host.
9.0 / 10.0
James was an excellent host. He made the best Spanish omelets ever and let us have breakfast whenever we wanted. There was a nice relaxing terrace with a hammock and an amazing view where James would bring us our breakfasts.
It was a bit noisy, as people would be playing music on the street below our room. It was also sometimes a bit smokey around our room as some people were burning stuff nearby.
8.0 / 10.0
Moses was the sweetest. So accommodating and friendly. The rooms were a bit dark so I would recommend extra lights. WiFi didn’t work. Otherwise such a divine stay - highly recommend. Moses cooked us corn he grew from his farm. So yum!
9.0 / 10.0
Such a beautiful property. Moses was really helpful and the hosts were very flexible changing our booking last minute. Very good location close to the peer. Would definitely recommend.
Breakfast was good but not much variety. Very load in the mornings.
2.0 / 10.0
Location
8.0 / 10.0
Very delicious breakfast, friendly staff, perfect location and beatiful local architecture.
Family room was not ready (specifically bed for child and no mosquito net).
Little renovation needed
7.0 / 10.0
The location is great and the rooms and the hotel itself is beautiful.
It was hot during the night (june) and there is no AC, only a ventilator that wasnt providing much fresh air
9.0 / 10.0
The place was great...clean, comfortable, beautifully designed, good food, nice staff.
Loved everything
10.0 / 10.0
An absolute dream of a hotel; beautiful architecture, in walking distance of all the sights in Lamu old town, and a roof top terrace that will blow your mind.
10.0 / 10.0
A wonderful stay in a beautifully decorated house in the heart of Lamu. Brian the owner was incredibly accomodating and helpful, Moses was a the perfect host and available for any queries. The rooftop is very much appreciated in the evenings after a hot day, and the breakfast was great! The best place to stay in Lamu, excellent value for money and stunning rooms. Thank you for everything! We will come again.
9.0 / 10.0
style and vibe
all good
8.0 / 10.0
Moses is very friendly and helpful
breakfast is lovely, lots of fresh fruit
rooms are clean
accommodation is safe
house could use a bit of TLC and maintenance
ground floor room is not as nice as the other ones, could be offered at a different price
Lamu is very noisy, although I think everywhere has this problem
5.0 / 10.0
The interior was very tasteful and the room very spacious, Moses was very kind and the breakfast healthy with lots of fruits
You will wake up every night between 4am - 5am because there is a mosque right next to the apartment and the Muezin will basically scream in your ear.
9.0 / 10.0
Nice location, Moses (staff) was very kind, the room very nice
1. There is no sign, you can’t find the hotel because there is no sign nowhere. We were out of the hotel and we didn’t knock the door because we thought it’s a house.
2. During the night Imamis (the Muslim priest) was announced sermon twice and the loudspeaker was net to the room….. very annoying
8.0 / 10.0
wow! really exceeded my expectations. beautiful swahili chic architecture and interiors. Moses was also great!
7.0 / 10.0
Great breakfast with fresh passion juice, fresh tropical fruits, great coffee & tchai.
Moses was very helpful whenever we needed him.
Very nice rooftop/chill hammock area.
Low quantities of butter/jam/sugar. Maybe could also offer some honey ?
Bed linens could be upgraded and bathroom low standard.
Loud mosque chanting @ 4 am but it's all over Lamu, you eventually get used to it and go back to sleep. :)
7.0 / 10.0
Hotel is located close to the Lamu Town center, so it's convenient to walk into town. It's a small one with 4 or 5 rooms, and the local guy managing the hotel is just great and try to be helpful in any possible way. The house is a typical swahili, so lots of stairs but also nice rooftop terrace. The breakfast was good for Kenya standard, with options for western taste - lor of fruit, toast bread and and coffee.
The room was ground floor and very humid, there was a ceiling fan but was not really enough. Another problem of this room is that it had both windows at the sidewalk level, hence even small kids could look inside, zero privacy and that was especially a problem in the night as we had to keep the windows closed for that reason, and it was hot. The local manager upon request put some curtains, but still they were blocking all the breeze so was like staying with winodws closed - not his fault but just bad room design, too humid, too dark, zero privacy, I hated spending time in the room so I only used it to crash to bed in the evning.
8.0 / 10.0
Our host was super friendly and additionally organized the Sunset Dhow for us. Breakfast was included in the price and was super delicious. There was fresh fruit, Juice and Swahili tea every morning which was a new culinary experience for me. The Samaki house is even nicer than the pictures and super clean. I immediately felt at home and the people were friendly and very helpful. The restaurants and market were right outside the door and you could have a nice street food experience.
9.0 / 10.0
if you want to experience a real atmosphere Swaili Samaki house is perfect. Brian and his staff are perfect especially Moses. Thank you guys
10.0 / 10.0
Moses is a wonderful person, who made us enjoy our stay to a maximum. He made our laundry, on demand he prepared a very delicious dinner with fresh seafood he bought in the market etc. Our fantastic family room and the hotel with its huge and nice common areas on the roof top are nicely designed and furnitured in the typical Suaheli style. Nevertheless they are yet not as new as they appear on the fotographs.
in Lamu you have to expect the morning calls at +- 5.00 from the everywhere nearby mosques
10.0 / 10.0
We stayed two nights the whole family (5 persons) and we loved the house from the first minute. It was very clean and in perfect conditions of use. The decoration and distribution is really nice. The bath rooms in perfect conditions and very comfortable, also the bedrooms (the family room is incredible).
But the best of all is Moses, who is very friendly and helpful and prepares amazing breakfast. And helped us to contact captain Bubu, who brought us in his dhow between the islands.
Very recomendable if you go to Lamu.
Nothing
10.0 / 10.0
Great swahili house experience.
9.0 / 10.0
The breakfast was sufficient. This home is a beautiful Swahili gem with so much obvious thought and care put into furnishings.
The homes is quite dusty, the garden unkept, & the kitchen needs a deep clean.
9.0 / 10.0
Since it was low season, the house was all for us. We enjoyed most the terrace. Also it was very quiet, ideal for resting.
Too much flies during breakfast.
8.0 / 10.0
Lovely accommodation in a heritage building just off the center of Lamu Town. Very close to and easy to find from the pier but phone and they will pick you up at the pier. The terraces and rooftops are wonderful. Staff and owner very friendly and helpful. Lovely breakfast in the mornings. Would stay again.
Nothing, wonderful stay.
10.0 / 10.0
We were the only guests. We had our own beautiful Swahili house for our visit to the Swahili Coast. The (one) staff was helpful in every way.
Mosquitos. How did they get in the net?
7.0 / 10.0
The muezzin singing at 4AM
8.0 / 10.0
The experience of sleeping in a Swahili house is incredible, Moses is always there if you need something (just notice that he does not always have his phone available because of network - which is absolutely fine), the breakfast in the nice dining room is a pleasure and the rooftop for chilling /enjoy the view is very comfy.
no plug next to the bed - ask for an extension !
FAQs
How much does this bed and breakfast cost compared to others in Lamu?
The average price for a rental in Lamu is $40 per night. This rental is $0 above the average.
Is parking included with this bed and breakfast?
Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Samaki House. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this bed and breakfast?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Samaki House. Enjoy the water!
Is Samaki House pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this bed and breakfast is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Samaki House?
We found 6 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, internet / wifi, balcony or patio, tv, and garden.
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