Popular Places in Lamu
Shela Village: Tonic in Relaxed Living
2 km south of Lamu town brings you to one of Kenya’s coast great experiences, at Shela. Diani could be said to be Kenya’s finest beach, and for those who haven’t seen Shela and Kiwayu this is probably true. Shela is as salubrious as any of best in Africa, backdropped by dunes bent by the feat of the north-east monsoon that blows between November and February. The village itself, inhabited by about six hundred, offers a unique experience, living among the locals in intermixed hotels. Each passing moment, through the events of the day, is vivid. Roused from a deep sleep by the voice of the muadhin reciting the pre-dawn Fajar prayer, the quiet sunrise is suffused with sultry tunes of birds imbuing life to the new tropical day.
This is followed by morning greetings, shared over walls and sometimes across houses, and erelong, by pre arrangement, with the school bell and return of the boats and anglers to the comely channel, Shela comes to life. From photography, delicious food, sun and sand, the day is concatenated by calls to the noon Dhuhur, late afternoon Asr, and sunset Magrib prayers. Isha prayer, in the early evening, on the other side of the day, ushers in music and stories into the night. Shela comes to life very early in the morning, succumbs to the Swahili equivalent of siesta – when even the avaricious shopkeepers close their portals – and revives again after the evening prayers. A few days stay at Shela is a tonic in relaxed living!
The picturesque and indulgent Shela Village is probably over 500 years old and it reached its pinnacle in the middle of the last century. Impressively, the street facades are uniform and, except for entry doors openings, opaque. Many front doors are endowed with embellishment as to make them unique components and to restore the identity of the house in the setting of the standardized facades. The plan of the Swahili stone house gives maximum length to communication lines between rooms; a similar quality is achieved in the streets by staggering the front doors on plan; both devices are brought about by considerations of privacy.
Most existing houses in Shela are at-least double storeyed, sometimes with more floors and penthouses but keeping to the same style of build. Most of the houses are enliven with porch madaka, door carvings, Kuranic inscriptions and geometric patterns. With great regularity, the houses face south, offering two contrasting experiences at sunrise and sunset. There are plenty of hotels and villas catering to various types of guests and needs, among these include the Moon Houses (Full Moon, Kiwandani, Mama Daktari, Betty’s Suite, Garden House, New Moon and Shela Sea Suq) which are privately owned villas built in the pukka Swahili design.
The zen at the open, roofed penthouses found in most houses at Shela caps the peace with which Lamu is filled. They offer a pleasurable view in a fairytale surrounding that consumes visitors for hours on end, especially where lounge chairs, a swinging bed or a hammock are provided, proving a difficult setting to pull away from. The factor of time seems trivial and irrelevant. Altogether it is a scene of entrancing beauty. It peers out to clusters of graceful palm bristles, swaying in the balmy breeze off the shore, and a profusion of tropical plants.
The air is laden with the aroma of exotic flowers. Bougainvillea and hibiscus, of which on the island there are several varieties, fill the gardens. The incredible blue ocean surrounding Shela village stretches away to the horizon on one end and across the channel to Manda on the other. In the morning hours, with the surge out, Fishermen sail gracefully on daus and varying outrigger canoes. In the pace of modern life, with its acceleration of pace, the zen at the penthouses is admittedly of transcendental importance to healing the soul. Anyone who has been to Shela Village will openly admit that this simple beyond-money encounter is shrined in their memory as a cherished paradise to which the mind returns to find peace.
It’s easy to explore somewhere new in Kenya and stay in memorable hotels and resorts with a long-standing history of excellence. Making the best of Kenya’s diverse landscapes, wildlife, beautiful coastlines and healthful highlands, these popular resort around Kenya are a guaranteed success for the traveller.
Index of Popular Resorts & Lodges Around Kenya
Baringo County - Lake Bogoria Spa Resort, Soi Safari Lodge, Bomet County - Fair Hills Hotel, Sahara Gardens Hotel, The Willis Hotel, Busia County - Che's Bay Resort, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Kerio View Hotel, Samich Resort, Embu County - Izaak Walton Inn, Garissa County - Almond Resort, Homa Bay County - Rusinga Island Lodge, Takawiri Island Lodge, Isiolo County - Shaba Game Lodge, Samburu Simba Lodge, Kakamega County - Rondo Retreat, Golf Hotel, Kisii County - Kamel Park Hotel, Itibo Resort, Kilifi County - Distant Relatives Lodge, Kwale County - Baobab Beach Resort, Kimerimeta Lodge, Shimba Hills Lodge, Lamu County - Manda Bay Lodge, Shela, Forodhani House, Machakos County - Oldonyo Sapuk Resort, Kitonga Garden Resort, Makueni County - Hunter's Lodge, Kusyombunguo Hotel, Tsavo Safari Camp, Mandera County - The Red Sea Resort, Meru County - Rhino River Camp, Alba Hotel, Migori County - Treat House Resort, Muranga County - Sagana Getaway Hotel, Stanley's Haven, The Tetura Luxury Camp, Nairobi County - The Boma, Eka Hotel, Narok County - Muthu Keekorok Lodge, Nyandarua County - Tafaria Castle, Elmer Resort & Spa, Cedar Retreat, Nyeri County - White Rhino Hotel, Outspan Hotel, The Ark, Treetops Lodge, Samburu County - Ashnil Samburu Camp, Sopa Lodge, Samburu Intrepids Camp, Ngari Hill Eco-Lodge, Maralal Safari Lodge, Taita Taveta County - Kilaguni Serena G. Lodge, Ngulia Safari Lodge, Salt Lick Game Lodge, Voyager Ziwani Camp, Taita Hills Game Lodge, Voi Wildlife Lodge, Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Zomeni Lion Hill Safari Lodge, Tharaka Nithi County - The Pacha Waterfront Resort, Hidden Treasure, Trans Nzoia County - Cranes Haven, Mount Elgon Guesthouse, Vihiga County - Roddy's Green Lounge, Magnum Resort, Sosa Cottages, Turaco Intercounty Resort, Wajir County - The Grand Oasis Hotel, Wajir Palace Hotel
outlook
Lamu County is one of Kenya’s most unique and enchanting regions, known for its rich Swahili culture, pristine beaches, and UNESCO-listed heritage. Located on the northern coast of Kenya, it consists of a group of islands (Lamu, Manda, Pate, and Kiwayu) and a stretch of mainland coastline. Lamu Island in particular is more than just a destination—it’s a living piece of Swahili history and coastal paradise.
You Are Here: Shela Village
Where to Next?
Explore Destinations Nearby Shela Village
A Guide to Lamu County
A Summa Digest of Lamu
About Lamu Way Back When
70 Destinations in Lamu County, arranged as one would visit these - west, south, north then west - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Delta Dunes Lodge, Lake Moa, Old Town Witu, Witu Forest Reserve, Pangani Swamp, Lake Kiboko, Amu Ranch, Lake Amu, Kipini Conservancy, Lake Kenyatta, Amu Baharini Beach, Kizuke Beach, Lamu (Manda) Port, Red Pepper House, Lamu Island, Matondoni Dau Workshop, Matondoni Ruins, Tusitiri Dhow, Kipungani Ruins, Kizingoni Beach, Old Town Lamu, Lamu World Heritage Sector, Lamu Museum, The Swahili House Museum, German Post Office Museum, Lamu Fort, Lamu Market, Masjid Khoja Ithnasheri, Masjid Riyadha, House of Habib Swaleh, The Mosque College Lamu, Lamu Catholic Church, Tamarind Tree Cafe, Donkey Sanctuary, The Floating Bar, Boat Rides, MaraRaha, Kijani Hotel, Shela Village, Friday Masjid, Forodhani House, Peponi Hotel, Shela Beach, Bahari Restaurant, Fort at Shela, Ras Kitau, Diamond Village, The Maljis, Takwa Ruins, Manda Island, Manda Lodge, Manda Toto, Manda Coral Quarry, Nabahani Ruins, Pate Island, Shanga Ruins, Siyu Fort, Shindamweh, Atu Ruins, Chundwa Ruins, Faza Village, Lamu Monuments, Mangrove Forests, Dodori National Reserve, Kiunga Marine N. Reserve, Kiwayu Island, Ashuwei, Boni Forest National Reserve, Ishakani Ruins, Lamu Festivals
Know More About Lamu County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Lamu County lies along the Equatorial Climate System, enjoying two rainy seasons and temperatures between 24°C and 30°C year round – Hottest in December & April. Expect warm temperatures year-round, high humidity, and distinct wet and dry seasons – monsoon winds.
Lamu is composed of a coastal zone of 65 islands, vast creeks, bays, sand bars and mangrove. Among these, Lamu Island, hosting Lamu Town, is the bussiest. The mainland is flat to undulating.