Manda Bay
Manda Bay is a lovely owner run lodge set on the northern tip of Manda Island, one of the islands in the Lamu archipelago. It is surrounded by calm, tidal island waters with sandy beaches and provides the perfect place for all to relax, enjoy and take part in any number of waterborne activities. Rather like a safari camp it has a central dining/bar area and meals can be taken alone or around a big table with other guests.
Accommodation & Facilities
Manda Bay has 22 spacious rooms constructed from local materials including timber, thatch and palm leaves, with en-suite bathrooms, fans and large walk-in mosquito nets surrounding the beds. Manda has a great choice of family rooms for all ages and sizes. These include a Beachfront family room – a large double room with space to fit a cot and/or single beds. This room has one bathroom which the family shares. It is ideal for a couple with small children who want to keep them close by. A Seaview family room is a large double room which interconnects with a smaller double/triple room. The double has a large en-suite bathroom and relaxing area in front of the bed while the smaller children’s room has a loo/shower combination. The Garden Rooms are very simple in style and are perfect for older kids and teenagers, who often spend most of their time on the water and only use their bed to sleep.
The home cuisine is excellent, mainly seafood, and meal times are flexible to work around all activities. There are plenty of places to sit and relax, a large swimming pool, and various games available. The pool is child friendly with a shallow end that allows for children/babies to sit in the shallows. There is a step off into the deeper area.
Eating & Sleeping
The chefs here are very used to feeding families and children can have separate meals at times to suit. Typical dishes are healthy, fresh and include homemade fish fingers, potato wedges, fish in tomato sauce with rice, spaghetti etc.
In terms of childcare there is an evening listening service whereby an askari (nightwatch man) sits outside the children’s room and can alert the parents if the children wake up. Alternatively if a babysitter is required there are particularly child friendly female members of staff who can look after the children while parents are away. There is accommodation available in camp should families bring their own nanny or alternatively there is an excellent local nanny who can be brought in to look after the children. Prior booking is required.
The cost of the nannying services are:
• Full time nanny provided by Manda Bay: $50 p/day (incl. accommodation and food)
• Own nanny: $150 p/day (incl. accommodation and food)
Activities
Activities include creek fishing, deep sea fishing, snorkelling, cultural visits to some of the many ruins, bird watching, visits to Lamu (30 minutes by speed boat), sailing, water-skiing, kite-surfing, overnight and sun-downer trips, spa treatments and visits to archaeological sites.
Specifically for children …
The lodge has always been a family destination and Manda’s owners’ children have all grown up here. The staff are all are excellent with children. Among many activities:
• Watersports, walking on the beach and collecting shells, or playing in the pool.
• Helping in the kitchen with the chefs.
• Children over five can join deep sea fishing expeditions although this is a long day and it is recommended that anyone who goes is a very competent swimmer.
• Manda Bay has all its own equipment including children-sized snorkels, flippers, life jackets and fishing rods.
