Makubwa House

Kenyatta Road, Lamu, Kenya – Excellent location – show map

<p><b>Excellent</b> location – rated 9.1/10! <small>(score from <b>32</b> reviews)</small></p> <p>Real guests • Real stays • Real opinions</p>
a bedroom with a bed with a mosquito net at Makubwa House in Lamu
a view from the top of a building with a ceiling at Makubwa House in Lamu
a living room with a couch and a table at Makubwa House in Lamu
Gallery image of Makubwa House in Lamu
a blue bathroom with a sink and a shower at Makubwa House in Lamu
+34 photos

Makubwa House

Lock in a great price for Makubwa House – rated 9 by recent guests!

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Lock in a great price for Makubwa House – rated 9 by recent guests! to get started.
Scored 9
9.0
Rated wonderful
Wonderful
32 reviews
  • The entire place is yours
  • 5382 ft² size
  • Kitchen
  • Sea view
  • Swimming pool
  • Free Wifi
  • Terrace
  • Balcony
  • Air conditioning
  • Private Bathroom

You might be eligible for a Genius discount at Makubwa House. Sign in to check if a Genius discount is available for your selected dates.

Genius discounts at this property are subject to booking dates, stay dates, and other available deals.

With an indoor pool and a terrace, Makubwa House is a historic vacation home that features accommodations with free Wifi. With sea views, this accommodation provides a balcony. The accommodation offers a shared kitchen and private check-in and check-out for guests. The air-conditioned vacation home consists of 3 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, and 3 bathrooms with a shower and free toiletries. The vacation home offers bed linen, towels, and daily room service. Guests can also relax in the shared lounge area. Popular points of interest near the vacation home include Lamu Museum, Lamu Fort, and 18th Century Swahili House Museum.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.2 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Most popular amenities
  • Indoor swimming pool
  • Free Wifi
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Family rooms

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.1)

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Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

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Accommodation Type
Number of guests
 
Bedroom 1:
1 king bed
Bedroom 2:
1 twin bed
Bedroom 3:
1 queen bed
Living room:
2 sofa beds
Living room:
1 sofa bed
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Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
9.8
Facilities
8.5
Cleanliness
8.8
Comfort
9.0
Value for money
9.1
Location
9.1
Free Wifi
7.5
High score for Lamu
Select topics to read reviews:

Guests who stayed here loved

  • Jo
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    “The staff and manager of the house so helpful. Lots of advice and recommendations where to eat. Also easy to find in the maze of Lamu, close to the jetty but far enough for a peaceful stay”
  • Donna
    United States of America United States of America
    “The architecture of the home is authentic Lamu style, which brings you back in to time to a bygone regal era. And Mr. Zion, the caretaker, took care of us like royalty. We had him prepare a veggie traditional dinner, which was definitely fit for...”
  • Samy_ellouze
    Kenya Kenya
    “It was our first time in Lamu and Alejandra and Zion were great hosts, the communication was easy and they were very supportive. The house is beautiful and very authentic, it gives a very unique Lamu experience. It is located in the center of Lamu...”
  • David
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    “Good location, amazing property and views and helpful staff/host. Good suggestions and good value”
  • Suzanne
    Denmark Denmark
    “The house is extraordinary and beautiful. The "butler" Zion went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable”
  • Jur
    Netherlands Netherlands
    “The house is beautiful and has a lot of character as you would hope/expect when staying in Lamu town. Caretaker Zion is wonderful and arranged everything we wanted. Transportation from/to the airport by Abdul was flawless and with a big smile of...”
  • Nora
    Uganda Uganda
    “Amazing house full of charme and history. We loved the roof top and enjoyed hanging out in the different spaces across the house. The plunge pool was a great plus too and it was easy to spend hours whiling away just reading and taking in the...”
  • Alessia
    Italy Italy
    “Alexandra and Zion were just amazing. You can see the passion of Alexandra about Lamu and about this historical building! It is perfect for a big group, and it's also amazing to work from there. I liked everything of the place, so relaxing and...”
  • Vanessa
    France France
    “Great view and amazing house and service from the owner and the house manager who makes great breakfast”
  • Dee
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    “The location is very central in Lamu Old Town. Close to the port so easy to get to when arriving from Manda airport and anywhere else you might be traveling in from. The property is open and spacious, very clean and Zion was very helpful in...”

Hosted by Abdalla Ahmed

9.8
9.8
Host Review Score
Host Review Score
Abdalla Ahmed
Immerse yourself in the Swahili culture when stepping into Makubwa House. A great location, situated in a quiet street just two minutes off the seafront and a three-minute walk to the Old Fort, our home is an ideal retreat for your stay in the mystical island of Lamu. Makubwa House was built in the 1850’s for a Patrician family with all the characteristics of the traditional architecture, at times it hosted up to 3 or 4 generations simultaneously that were living in the different floors. After a careful restoration loads of the original features such as the original courtyard, carved doors, mangrove beams and thatched roofs were maintained so that it would not lose the feeling of a real Lamu House with the Arab, Persian and Indian influences that distinguished the intricated and mesmerizing Swahili architecture. Our home consists of 3 levels: at the bottom a traditional entrance with a classic baraza leading to the courtyard with your private plunge pool. On the second floor you will find one double bedroom and a single bedroom both of these have fans, 3 beds in the gallery, the dining area and our equipped kitchen which you are free to use during your stay. And on the roof area you can find the airconditioned room and a cozy rooftop.
My name is Abdalla although everyone knows me as Dula. I was born and raised in Lamu where I met my beautiful wife. We both moved to Germany where we are raising our two kids. I do love swimming and interacting with people so if I am in Lamu I will be more than happy to walk with you to the market and share some of the stories of my youth in the Island.
In Lamu you will feel like living in the 19th Century. The small alleys, traditional carved doors, Swahili architecture, street market and the charming people of the island will make you immerse yourself in a completely different world. You are strategically located close to all amenities in town. Just 2 minutes to the seafront where you can catch a boat to Shela or Manda beach which is just 10 minutes from Lamu town. The market is just a 3 minute walk from the house where you can find fresh produce, there are loads of little shops around town where you can find what you need, alternatively let us do it for you!
Language spoken: English

Area info

Amenities of Makubwa House
Great facilities! Review score, 8.5

Most popular amenities
  • Indoor swimming pool
  • Free Wifi
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Family rooms
Parking
No parking available.
Internet
Wifi is available in public areas and is free of charge.
Kitchen
  • Shared kitchen
  • Dining table
  • Cleaning products
  • Oven
  • Kitchenware
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchenette
Bedroom
  • Linens
  • Wardrobe or closet
Bathroom
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Shared toilet
  • Private Bathroom
  • Toilet
  • Free toiletries
  • Shower
Living Area
  • Dining area
  • Sofa
  • Sitting area
  • Desk
Media & Technology
  • Radio
Room Amenities
  • Clothes rack
  • Mosquito net
  • Private entrance
  • Fan
  • Iron
Accessibility
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Outdoors
  • Private pool
  • Balcony
  • Terrace
Common Areas
  • Shared lounge/TV area
Indoor swimming pool
Free!
  • Open all year
  • All ages welcome
Food & Drink
  • Grocery deliveries
    Additional charge
Activities
  • Themed dinners
    Additional chargeOff-site
  • Bike tours
    Additional charge
  • Walking tours
    Additional charge
  • Movie nights
    Additional chargeOff-site
  • Snorkeling
    Additional chargeOff-site
  • Canoeing
    Additional chargeOff-site
  • Fishing
    Additional chargeOff-site
Outdoor & View
  • Inner courtyard view
  • Sea view
  • View
Transportation
  • Shuttle service
    Additional charge
Front Desk Services
  • Invoice provided
  • Private check-in/out
Entertainment & Family Services
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Babysitting/Child services
    Additional charge
Cleaning Services
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ironing service
    Additional charge
  • Laundry
    Additional charge
Miscellaneous
  • Air conditioning
  • Family rooms
  • Non-smoking rooms
Languages Spoken
  • English

House rules
Makubwa House takes special requests – add in the next step!

Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancelation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Enter your stay dates and check the conditions of your selected option.
Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

0+ years
Extra bed upon request
Free

The number of extra beds allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

There are no cribs available at this property.

All extra beds are subject to availability.

No age restriction
There's no age requirement for check-in
Cash only
This property only accepts cash payments.
Pets
Pets are not allowed.

The fine print
Must-know information for guests at this property

Please inform Makubwa House of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Payment before arrival by bank transfer is required. The property will contact you after you book to provide instructions.

FAQs about Makubwa House

  • Yes, there's a private pool. You can find out more about this and the other facilities at Makubwa House on this page.

  • Makubwa House can accommodate this group size:

    • 8 guests

    For more detailed info, check the accommodation option(s) breakdown on this page.

  • Yes, this hotel has a pool. See details about the pool and other facilities on this page.

  • Yes, there are options at this property that have a balcony. You can find out more about this and the other facilities at Makubwa House on this page.

  • The prices at Makubwa House may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

  • Yes, Makubwa House is popular with guests booking family stays.

  • Yes, there are options at this property that have a terrace. You can find out more about this and the other facilities at Makubwa House on this page.

  • Makubwa House is 1,300 feet from the center of Lamu. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

  • Makubwa House offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

    • Snorkeling
    • Fishing
    • Canoeing
    • Walking tours
    • Movie nights
    • Themed dinners
    • Bike tours
    • Swimming pool

  • Makubwa House has the following number of bedrooms:

    • 3 bedrooms

    For more detailed info, check the accommodation option(s) breakdown on this page.