The Environment

Manda is an island with no ground water or electricity supply.  Mangrove House is served by solar power and all water comes from rainfall so please use both sparingly! We have this year upgraded the solar system capacity to increase the power available for the fans but we cannot support A/C yet.

All rubbish is disposed of responsibly through Manda residents' beach clean up collective.  Please take your plastic bottles with you if possible when you leave and pick up any rubbish you find washed up on the beach. Single use plastic bags are illegal now in Kenya, which is a step in the right direction.

We ask all guests to the island to be aware of the environment and take care of this beautiful and rare place.

General information

Swahili is the local language but there is a high knowledge of English among the community.

Sim cards are available to buy in Shela and Lamu with both airtime for phone and internet. 

Kenya uses UK type 3 square pin 220/240 volt sockets.  

All beds are protected by mosquito nets - Malaria tablets are recommended but not obligatory.   Do bring your own (preferably natural) mosquito repellents.   Mosquito coils will be provided for free.

There is an overhead fan in the Acacia Room and one overhead fan in the Makuti Room.

eTAs, Visas and at the Airport

You should check online the visa requirements for your country but as of February 2024 the Kenyan governement system has changed from a visa system to eTA - Electronic Travel Authorisation - you can apply online here https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en. There is a processing charge of US$30. You will need all your travel documents to upload in small size files - passport, flight details, photo, accommodation address (Mangrove House, Ras Kitau, Manda Island, Lamu 80500, Kenya). On arrival in Kenya we recommend you get your local cash - Kenyan Shilings, from ATM machines at the airport. You will get denominations of 1000/- from the cash machine - make sure to change for some smaller denominations before you leave Nairobi as taxi drivers etc will say they don’t have change and it’s also recommened to tip the porters who will help carry your bags to the boat when you arrive in Manda.

Negotiate the taxi fare if you are staying the night in Nairobi - this should be approximately 5,000/- from the airport to central Nairobi / Wilson Airport

The Boat ride to Mangrove House

At Lamu airport (on Manda Island) you will be met by a dedicated baggae porter and he/they will transport your luggage to the boat.  The service is free but we recommend you give a minimum gratuity of 250-500 shillings to each person carrying your bags to support local livelihoods, so it is good to carry some change.

Be sure to protect your skin from the sun on the boat ride by wearing a hat or long sleeves- the wind and the fresh air will be envigorating after your long flights but the sun's reflection off the water is deceptive and can cause serious sunburn and you don't want to burn yourself before your holiday has even started!

Food preferences

Fresh groceries can be purchased from the market in Lamu, which is about 30 mins away by boat and meals can be prepared by our House Manager by prior arrangement

Fresh fish and seafood is bought from fisherman as they return from the nights fishing or ordered in Lamu.

Please let us know if you have any allergies or preferences.

Respecting the local culture

Please dress respectfully when visiting Lamu town and other public places.  

Please do not leave rubbish anywhere.  Nairobi has a zero plastic bag policy since August 2017 which is great, so don’t pack anything in plastic bags.  Protect the ocean and if you find plastic on the beach please pick it up and bring it to the house for correct disposal

Be respectful when taking photos, particularly in Lamu town.  Some people, particularly women, will be offended if you try and take a photo of them without asking.