Pate Island Vacations from $359

Absolutely lovely property.

Kizingo Eco Lodge lived up exactly to what we were looking for: a totally off-the-beaten track eco lodge (consisting of 8 'banda' straw guest bungaloes), well away from the hustle and bustle of Lamu Town and Shela. Its location could not be more perfect: one corner of the lodge faces the Indian Ocean, while the other faces the river/mangrove area (which also boasts the nicest sunsets in all of Lamu). From our banda, built on stilts into the dunes, we could hear the waves of the Indian Ocean and feel the ocean breeze blow through our room every night. The staff attended to our ever need, so despite being the only guests during our stay, we never felt alone. We combined 4 nights here with one night in Shela, which felt like an appropriate balance for us between spending time with nature vs. learning more about Lamu Town, its history and its culture. (To be clear, Kizingo's thatched roof bandas made largely of straw and reeds are more open to the elements than even a Safari tent (which have zippers, etc), so come prepared to be at one with nature.)