Peponi Hotel

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.

I decided to join my husband on a week’s salt water fly fishing expedition, except I cannot fly fish. So I indulged in a week long culinary experience literally trying every fish dish on a rather extensive menu. Chef Ray is amazing! The food is world class and to think that all supplies are bussed in or flown in with a short water transfer to the hotel. The hotel is perfectly situated on the beach and has very comfortable rooms with WiFi. The pool area is just beautiful and one can easily spend all day in the water admiring the view. A subset cruise in a traditional dhow is a must as is a massage with Mercy - the best I have ever had! Proprietor Carol is a fountain of local knowledge and so accommodating. The staff are attentive and the cocktails kept on flowing! I am about to enjoy my last pot of Kenya Gold tea on my veranda….. and hope to be back next year!

Words can not describe my love for this special place. The energy was pure. Inviting. True hospitality. The staff was delightful. The food delicious. The property is so charming and unique and so special. It’s got its own vibe. Carol was beyond a gem. Can not thank her enough for her kindness.

I loved the hotel except the shopping of one of your stores in the Village I came home and checked my Credit Card and I suggest cash so they don't over charge you and then there isn't a thing you can do. Me and my daughter went into a store with beautiful dresses and we were ready to leave and we found a scarf and asked the price, The sales lady quoted us $45, My Daughter asked if I was comfortable using my Credit Card. I said yeas because I seen other receipt next to the register. When I got home there was a charge for $990 and I called my credit card to dispute. What happened I didn't look at the charge when I sign it because they were all in shillings and I didn't know being from the USA! They said I signed it so they said they won't refund my money even if I send the scarf back. This is just a warning to make sure your guest don't get scammed like I did!

Had a magnificent stay at Peponi visiting for my 50th birthday with friends. The hotel is luxurious whilst keeping with the Swahili heritage, loved the minimalist decor and personal touches in the rooms, the view are to die for. The hotel manager and the owner gave us a warm welcome and throughout our stay made sure that we were well taken care of, from suggesting activities to connecting us to service providers…the staff was attentive and accommodating of our request. They made me the best lemon flavour birthday cake 🎂🎂and their the staff sang happy birthday and danced with us…would love to come back!

Our stay at Peponi was like something out of a movie scene. The rooms were clean, beds comfortable, ablution facilities pristine The quality of service and the attention to detail was superb. The team went out of their way to ensure that we had everything we needed and more. Displaying what good hospitality is. With Lamu being an island, waterfront hotels would be the norm, Peponi’s access to the private beach make our stay extra special. We are grateful to the team at Peponi for making our trip magical and memorable. This one was for the books.

Our journey in Peponi Hotel has been amazing!! The food was delicious and all the staff was extremely kind. The owner and her daughter gave us many helpful recommendations and were always there for anything we needed. This hotel is absolutely the best place to stay in Shela. I hope we could comeback in a future.

Seven of us had a two week safari throughout Kenya and came to Peponi to relax for three nights before heading back to the States. What an experience! We loved every moment from the second we got off the plane and were whisked away on a boat and deposited into paradise. We were welcomed with open arms, treated to a welcome drink and were escorted to our beautiful rooms. When we left on Saturday our last comments were, "Can't we stay one more day?" Thank you, thank you for such a wonderful time! We loved the food. Loved the accommodations, and the cats, including Charlie. The dogs, turtles, donkeys and a visit from your camels. My offer still stands to be your daughter's assistant and work in the gift shop!

From the moment you step onto the Lamu jetty after the seven-minute speedboat ride from the airport you are transported into a world of tranquil calm and an oasis of beauty with a cultural experience like no other. Arriving at the Peponi Mother Carol and daughter Kaila welcome you to their home, yes that’s how it feels. This quirky historical hotel is the perfect place to relax and really go with the flow after a busy few days in Nairobi and the Masai Mara. The staff are very friendly and attentive providing a great service and are clearly treated by the owners as an extension of their own family and with the colourful locals often seen popping in and enjoying the hospitality, recognise the scene? The food is the highlight of the hotel. It is exceptional with such a wide variety. I would recommend the Swahili dinner, bring a torch as you would not want to miss what you are eating! Take a wander behind the hotel up the hill to the cute village of Shela and do take the guided tour to Lamu Town under Carols clear direction for a cultural experience. The sunset sail is also a mast (see what I did there). So imagine a beautiful Island experience in a quality quirky hotel run by a mother and daughter with many characters appearing you have the ideal holiday destination. Whilst we were quietly pleased the Piers Brosnan lookalike didn’t suddenly appear and burst into song, this place will have you singing and dancing on the awesome beach. Oh, and yes, there are also Donkeys, lots of them!