Kuni Jogoo House

My perfect ingredients for a Kenya family holiday include deserted beaches, safe swimming, lots of watersports, culture, a swimming pool, warm weather, and a little bit of spoiling luxury. Kuni Jogoo hits the spot with all of these, and a stay here is about as good as it gets. In fact we've been twice in the past two years and can't wait to return.

The property itself is a stunning 5 bedroom private beach house overlooking a secluded stretch of beach at Kizingoni in Lamu. Just a 20 minute speedboat journey from the airport, Kuni Jogoo has been cleverly built in a U shape with a swimming pool and gardens in the middle. This means that from almost everywhere in the house, including the swimming pool, you can enjoy 180 degree sea views, with a completely deserted beach in between. This is what paradise feels like, Kenya style.

There aren't many holiday houses that come with their very own whale skeleton, but here in Lamu this is all part of the Kuni Jogoo experience. The unusually spacious communal areas are also tastefully furnished with antique wooden chests, ornately carved doors and other intriguing art. The five well ventilated bedrooms are all ensuite and have traditional swahili four poster beds, bright kikoy fabrics and lovely views of either the pool and garden, or out to sea.

There's plenty of space for larger families or groups of up to 10, or even 12 guests. Four bedrooms are on the ground floor, each with their own veranda and stunning sea views, whilst two staircases lead up to the grand mirrored master suite. If you want to be lords of your own manor for a few days then this is the place. The dining terrace has both covered and uncovered eating areas, and a central internal baraza space with a large teak dining table looks out across the veranda towards the ocean. It's a great place to relax over a meal whilst enjoying the sea breezes and debating who can spot the most dhows passing by. The bar, soft music and heaps of brightly coloured cushions really bring this central space to life. In front of the house, the beach is accessed by your very own private coral staircase, through an old Lamu door set in a coral studded wall. Perfect for exploring the beach and getting to know the ocean on your doorstep.

Kuni Jogoo comes with a staff that includes two housekeepers, a brilliant chef called Jonson, and Swaleh the boat captain. He can take you out in a small tender to explore the local shoreline, or a larger boat that can be used for deep sea fishing (which is included apart from the fuel which you'll need to pay locally) and watersports. There's a good flat water area in the channel near Kuni Jogoo that is ideal for wakeboarding and waterskiing, whilst kitesurfers will find themselves in seventh heaven with the wind, waves and blissfully warm water all in plentiful supply. Other activities include fishing, snorkelling and kayaking, and we’d recommend a visit to Lamu Town for a day soaking up the culture of this interesting UNESCO World Heritage site. A visit to Shela Villlage for some shopping and a drink at the famous bar at Peponi’s should also be high on your to do list. All these can be organised locally by the Kuni Jogoo house manager and team.

Lamu holidays are all about mixing deserted beaches with a vibrant and interesting culture, and if you want it, a large slice of luxury. For me, Kuni Jogoo could not epitomize this perfect combination any better... definitely in my ‘Kenya family holiday’ top 10!

Ben Morison.

A note on the price: the per person per night guide price of £225 is based on a family of 5.