Peponi Hotel

Nicest hotel and restaurant in Shela on Lamu island. Haven't stayed there but have frequently eaten there. It is in a perfect situation on the sea, very busy over Christmas and New Year but otherwise a wonderful place to appreciate all that Shela has to offer.

Its a really great place to stay. The staff is exceptionally friendly and go out of your way to make you feel at home. The food was so good. Please try the biryani and mahamri! Lots of warmth, kindness, homeliness at Peponi. Strongly recommend

This hotel is steeped in history of this laid back island. It has one of the best locations with the sea lapping up to the edge of the property. Sit under the ancient magnificent white bougenvila canopy with a cocktail and watch the dhows float by. This is by far the best place to eating Shele. The food is some of the tastiest I have ever had all fresh ingredients perfectly blended.

Peponi has something quite elusive and rare in travel, which is difficult to describe. All of the hotel staff and the owners really care which creates a wonderful old school charm, while still keeping a modern buzz to it. The food and drinks were wonderful and well priced - I normally bore of a hotel menu but never at Peponi. The hotel has good relationships with the local tour guides so guests are well looked after, and the dhow captains frequently pop into the bar for a drink and chat. As a solo traveller, the hotel had a very sociable atmosphere, and it was easy to fall into conversations with other guests at the bar and pool. I don’t think the hotel would be for everyone as the rooms are simple with no air con, although there’s a real charm to the simplicity. There’s a lot of building work in the village behind the hotel (which didn’t create any disruption at the hotel) so I just hope Lamu doesn’t change too quickly!

1. The location on the beautiful beach is superb. 2. Our room was very nice, and had two large decks. But instead of installing screens on the windows, there is a heavy thick net around the bed which serves admirably to keep insects out, but is so thick, with only one opening at the foot of the king-sized bed, that it may keep you out. Or in, when you have to get up in the dark to use the toilet. 3. The restaurant food at dinner was good, but every bite was a surprise! The only light was a candle set in the table which was below the rim of some of the dishes. So while faces were illuminated, the food remained in the dark. Imagine extracting the meat from a large crab with your eyes closed. 4. Returning to your room after dark requires a flashlight, since the installed lights are far apart and occasionally located around a corner as the path weaves through the beautiful flowers. (Many people complain about the overly-litigious customs in some countries, such as my own, but I wonder how many broken bones would have been spared here if Kenya had a little more tort law.) 5. The staff were very friendly and helpful. 6. There is a large baobab tree by the swimming pool. 7. They raise endangered tortoises on the grounds for release into the wild. 😀

We honestly thought we had died and gone to heaven: The spacious and beautiful rooms, the friendly and accommodating staff, the gourmet food and the friendliness of the owners created a wonderful experience we will never forget. We would not hesitate to recommend this to our friends.