Fishbone House

Fishbone House is located in the heart of Shela which is one of the loveliest small villages of Africa’s East Coast. Fishbone House is located a few minutes off the seven-mile stretch of Shela Beach. A few footsteps from the house will take you down to Fisherman Beach where the ancient dhow building is still active.

The cosy two-bedroom house is ideal for one or two couples and a perfect choice for honeymooners. The whole house is covered by coral stones and it features the beautiful Swahili architecture with its minimalistic elements of design. It is decorated with some unique pieces of nature such as whale bones, driftwood and artefacts such as paintings and assemblages or rudders of old dhows. The house has a small courtyard with palm trees and sandy ground.

The living room, dining room and kitchen overlook the courtyard and another small side garden with a fountain made from coral stones. The living area, covered by a huge Makuti roof, has Swahili beds for relaxation and gathering. The dining area is located next to the living room with a dining table that seats eight guests. The kitchen is fully equipped with a cooker, fridge-freezer and all necessary utensils.

There is one bedroom on each of the two floors and they both have en-suite bathrooms. The bedrooms are furnished with Lamu four-poster beds, reading lights, mosquito nets, dressing tables and ceiling fans. All bathrooms are adapted to please upmarket travellers. All the rooms are built with the magnificent details of Swahili architecture such as stucco borders, Mangati hardwood beams with carvings, wonderful Boriti mangrove beam ceilings and in-wall niches known as Vidakas.

On the Makuti rooftop, there is an additional area with mattresses and cushions as a lounging area where you can gaze out at the sea, the surroundings or the starry night sky. It could also be used as a double bed which makes the house sleep six guests.