Jaha House

Jaha House is located at the northern end of Shela, where the houses meet the sea and the ancient craft of dhow building is still practiced with bow drill and traditional hand tools. Walk up the sandy path from the beach shack and in two minutes you will stand before the door of a beautifully plastered house, with the sound of cool splashing water and the scent of delicious herbs and spices filtering from within.

The ground floor houses the fully equipped kitchen and the swimming pool equipped with a counter-current jet and spacious pool deck with sunloungers. The walls of this beautiful space are decorated with the beautiful Swahili niches and alcoves known as Vidaka. There is also one bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. The first floor houses three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and they are elegantly decorated with Swahili stucco, dressing tables and reading lights.

The second floor houses the large dining table and a lovely gourmet kitchen equipped to a semi-professional standard where guests can supplement the menu with their own creations if they wish, or simply mix cocktails to accompany the wonderful food prepared by the staff. The whole floor is in a loft style with a library and scattered Swahili beds. Half of the second floor is under a Makuti - a coconut palm thatch shelter - offering guests an outdoor-indoor living space. On the third floor there is an open terrace with sunbeds and lots of space under the classic Makuti shelter with comfortable baraza beds for moon gazing and sunbathing.

The views of the Lamu Channel and the mangroves of Manda Island are gorgeous, the sunrises and sunsets from the roof terrace are unmissable and the ambience of the house will ease your mind and feed your soul.