An idyllic island escape with watersports and seclusion
The perfect combination of deserted beaches, vibrant culture and just the right amount of luxury, ideal for families
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.

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When to go to Kenya
Find out the best time to visit Kenya with our month by month guide.
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
January
January is a great time for wildlife viewing. The landscapes are lush and green after the 'short rains' and newborn animals can been seen. It is hot, but brief afternoon or evening showers cool things down, without compromising your safari. Over on the coast the sea is clear, making it ideal for diving and snorkelling, and the days are warm and bright.
February
February is an ideal time to visit Kenya, and great for game viewing. The landscapes are green and thriving thanks to the short rains, and newborn animals will be hopping around the plains. There maybe a few afternoon showers which are welcome in the heat, and don't impact on wildlife viewing. Water clarify is excellent at the moment, which is good news for watersports enthusiasts. And if you want to spot a whale shark, now is the time to try.
March
Still a good option for wildlife viewing and diving, although with the 'long rains' just around the corner, expect wetter and hotter weather.
April
April brings the start of the 'long rains' which means game reserves and national parks become muddy and harder to drive around. Over on the coast it's hot and wet, so it isn't the best time of year to travel. Some camps and lodges close during this period.
May
The 'long rains' continue into May, making park tracks difficult to navigate in the mud, and the coast very warm and wet. There will be less accommodation choice at this time as several lodges and camps during this period.
June
June is a beautiful time of year to visit Kenya, with the rains receding to just light showers, and the long dry season not far ahead. The high grasses can sometimes make it more of a challenge to spot game, but the landscapes are lush and some animals may begin arriving early for the migration. At altitude nights can be cool, but elsewhere the temperature is pleasant.
July
July marks the beginning of the great migration into the Masai Mara, and with warm and generally dry weather, this is a great time of year to visit. Days are sunny, skies are blue and there isn't too much dust around, so it's a great time for photography.
August
The migration is now in full swing in the Masai Mara, with lots of river crossing action, so if you want to see those massive herds of wildebeest and zebra, now is the time to come. Game viewing in general is excellent and it's one of the most popular times of year to visit, so some of the main parks do become crowded. Temperatures are warm and dry.
September
Game viewing continues to be excellent, and the weather is generally dry so this is another ideal month to visit Kenya's parks. The bush is less dense and as animals gather around waterholes and rivers it makes wildlife spotting much easier.
October
October is a great time if you want to avoid the crowds and don't mind the temperature slowly starting to rise. There may be a few short showers, but game viewing remains excellent with the end of the migration, and it's a good time to holiday anywhere in Kenya.
November
November heralds the start of the 'short rains' and with hotter temperatures some camps are closed. The Mara however is still open, and despite sometimes stormy skies, game viewing is still good. Fewer crowds and lower prices make this an attractive month to visit. Over on the coast water clarify is good for snorkelling and diving.
December
The 'short rains' are bringing the landscapes back to life, and as the plains start to become green again, wildlife viewing remains good, and it's a great time for birding. Some camps are closed (mainly in the north of Kenya) but many others remain open. The showers tend to fall in the afternoons and don't impact greatly on a safari. Take advantage of reduced visitor numbers and lower prices.
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