Kinondo Kwetu

Kinondo Kwetu offers a full Kenya coast experience. During my stay I loved the fact that the property is so large with a lot of shade and many comfortable sitting posts to relax on while you look out at the Indian Ocean. They have a library in the main lodge where you are free to borrow any books you want during your stay. They also have two speed boats that can be used for wake boarding, skiing and snorkelling trip excursions. The two pools on the property are wonderful, one being for adults only and one being for all ages. The horse stables are located on the property and you can do horse back rides if you please. Kinondo Kwetu is suitable for all types of people and well equipped for families. This property is completely unique and you are sure to have best time on the Kenya coast.

Following a few exciting and very busy days in the Maasai Mara, Kinondo Kwetu came as a more than welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of safari. A direct flight into Ukunda, followed by a short drive to this welcoming lodge, and the shoes were off, fresh fruit punch in hand and Indian Ocean lapping at the feet. Bliss! Kinondo Kwetu is about 20 minutes south of Diani and as you move away from the coastal town the vegetation gets thicker and the signposts of the larger resorts disappear. There are no signposts here, just a discreet wooden gate set in a coral brick wall. This epitomises Kinondo Kwetu, it is discreet, private and away from it all. The owners, Ida and Filip Andersson, moved from their native Sweden eight years ago, they planned to stay a year, but quickly fell in love with Kinondo, and have since married and have two young children. Their welcome is warm and their enthusiasm for this special corner of the Kenyan coast is infectious.

The property is bordered by thick coastal forest on either side, and the beach is as close to private as you can get in Kenya, with no risk of the constant annoyance of beach boys peddling their wares as on other stretches of this coastline. The Indian Ocean here is tidal, but a jetty and floating pontoon ensures swimming can be enjoyed at all times of the day.

Ida and Filip have created an oasis where honeymooners can be as comfortable as families. There are more than enough accommodation combinations and the grounds of the property are large enough, with strategically places sun traps, for everyone staying to enjoy themselves undisturbed.

One of the great attractions of Kinondo Kwetu is the range of activities on offer: there are specialised diving and sea fishing boats, an inhouse PADI dive master, paddle boards, kayaks, windsurfers, snorkel equipment, even a floodlit tennis court, and, to top it off, a stables offering the only beach riding along this section of the coast. Trips to the Shimba Hills Game Reserve (for those who haven't got their fix in the Mara) and nearby beaches are easily organised with Kinondo's own vehicles, air conditioned 4x4s or an open safari vehicle.

The food's great too!

Kinondo Kwetu was wonderful. The place had so much charm and beautiful African style and our Honeymoon Suite was stunning. It bizarrely turned out we have mutual old friends with Penny and Johnny who were managing the property along with Ida and Philip. All of them were lovely and again - the staff couldn't have been more delightful. Special mentions go to Rose, Dixon, Ruben, Albert, Lucas and Henry amongst others.

The place was brilliantly run, the food was excellent and there were great imaginative touches like locating you in different lovely spots for dinner (including at the top of the water tower - our favourite!).

After a rather stuffy flight direct from the Maasai Mara it was a relief to disembark at Ukunda and know that we had only a 20-minute drive to our resort. It was mostly a bumpy ride along an unmade road but that only made jumping into the vast pool even more enjoyable. After our journey, we felt we deserved a beer too and these were happily on hand in a cool box by the pool house. We felt immediately at home.

Kinondo Kwetu is perfect for those looking for a home-away-from-home on the beach and welcomes couples and families of all ages. There is lots of space around the two pools, on the beach, your own balcony and elsewhere so that guests can easily find a private spot but it is also a very relaxed and sociable place. The Mama Taa Villa, which contains most of the rooms, has the feel of a large private house with a central, double-height drawing room filled with fascinating bits of Africana as well as a large terrace on each floor.

Our Swedish hosts, Ida and Phillip, could not have been more charming and joined us for pre-dinner drinks and Phillip was more than eager to take a couple of us snorkelling the following morning. Having young children themselves they are extremely welcoming of families but active couples will also find this a lovely place to relax by the beach and certainly won't feel overrun by younger guests.