Here in the area outside the hotels, it is very safe to walk out of the hotels and wander around amongst the locals and leisurely go in out of the small shops. This applies to the evenings as well, when you can go out to the bars for entertainment and to the restaurants for a meal. There are tourist police in uniform and in plain clothes, patrolling this area between the hotels and a little way up the road towards the junction that leads to Mtwapa and Bamburi. Out of the immediate local area at night it is best to go to and from the area in a taxi.

FLAMINGO Hotel

Owned by the African Safari Club who have bargain Kenyan holidays here

All this write up with minor additions is from their own web site.

All the photographs were taken by me, more to follow as I did not expect to set up this web site to help the local economy. Set up in July 2010.

African Safari Club’s leading hotel is set amidst acres of lush tropical gardens which themselves are a delight to explore. Pretty vervet monkeys often flit amongst the colourful hibiscus, bougainvillaea and palms and bird life abounds, attracted to the hotel’s ponds and fountains. From the main building, housing the ornate reception area, lounge, piano bar and restaurant, the grounds slope down to the balmy waters of the Indian Ocean with the coral reef beyond. Truly a picturesque and tranquil setting but not ideal for people with walking difficulties owing to several flights of steps.

The 138 air-conditioned rooms are housed in six separate four storey buildings surrounding the huge lagoon shaped swimming pool and palm shaded gardens. All have a private shower and wc, a terrace or balcony with a table and chairs and most are sea facing although the views are often interrupted by the lush foliage. They are spacious and simply furnished with twin beds, a 13-amp power point and a safe, for which a charge is made. Please note that there are no lifts.

Superior rooms are larger than the standard rooms and benefit from a separate seating area with table and chairs. They have an extended balcony complete with sun loungers and generally occupy a corner position of the buildings.

Suites are situated on the top floor of the buildings. They benefit from a room with a double bed, a separate lounge, fridge, a bathroom with bath, shower and wc, a dressing room with a hairdryer and a large balcony complete with sun loungers.

Wining and Dining

Make new friends at a shared table in the spacious restaurant, which overlooks the gardens and main swimming pool. Enjoy hot and cold buffets at breakfast and lunch which include some local dishes, refreshing salads and an array of fruits, gateaux and sweets. A buffet or table d’hote menu is offered at dinner. Alternatively dinner may be taken in the main restaurant at the Dolphin or Vasco da Gama Hotels, at no extra cost (advance booking is required at your hotel reception desk).

For that special occasion the Blue Lagoon a la carte restaurant, with its intimate and romantic atmosphere, serves some of Kenya’s finest fish cuisine, which often includes lobster dishes. This restaurant is included as part of our Gourmet Pass.

The pool bar is the main focal point for socialising during the day and evenings too. For a quiet aperitif before dinner, the piano bar is very popular. Drinks and snacks can be purchased at the hotel’s cafeteria throughout the day and until early evening.

Facilities and Entertainment

The hotel boasts a huge lagoon shaped swimming pool, one of the largest of any hotel in Kenya, and features an attractive waterfall and island. Impromptu games, activities and aqua aerobics are arranged in the pool and around the broad sun terraces. A smaller pool is situated on the upper terrace. Sun beds, which are free to guests, are scattered around the gardens, beside the pools and on the beach, for days of relaxation. Pool towels are also provided, free of charge.

Other facilities include four tennis courts (free court hire, equipment available to hire locally), internet cafe and WIFI access (all payable locally), table tennis, darts and two shops where you will find a selection of gifts and souvenirs.

There is occasional entertainment at night. Guests can also enjoy the evening entertainment programmes at our other hotels on Shanzu Beach.

The Jambo Bar is situated in the grounds of the Flamingo Beach Hotel and is open most nights of the week from 5pm to midnight. Evening entertainment includes DJs, Karoke, Bingo and films. There is also an occasional ‘Street Market’ with stalls that sell a range of goods, ideal for buying those last minute souvenirs.

Excursions

A programme of exciting optional daytime and evening excursions is available during your stay at the Flamingo Beach Hotel. Prices of excursions start from just £16 per person and are only bookable locally. Further details can be found in our Important Holiday Information book which will be sent with your Confirmation Invoice. Deep sea fishing trips can also be arranged locally.

Watersports

If watersports are your passion or you would like to give them a try, there’s dinghy sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling and more available at the independent watersports centres on Shanzu Beach, which are approximately a 10 minute stroll away.

Diving Holidays

Kenya offers some of the best diving in the world with a coral reef that extends almost the entire length of the coast with a wide variety of marine flora and fauna. Diving can be booked at the hotel and offers excellent facilities for both the beginner and more experienced. PADI courses are available throughout the year. These are only bookable locally.

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Looking at the swimming pool from the path which leads to the Dolphin, from which you can walk after having your meals.

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Entrance to the Flamingo Hotel                                               The road out of Flamingo Hotel leading out past the security gate to the village

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The hotel lawn mowers cutting the grass for both the Flamingo and the Dolphin hotels. Road leading out of the Flamingo to the security gate.

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Water feature  in the Flamingo, there are a few more in between the Dolphin and the Flamingo. Security gate at the bottom of the roads leading from the Flamingo and Dolphin hotels.

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Friends playing on the beach in front of the Flamingo Hotel Shanzu, as we buried 3 year old Nelly in the fine sand just as we do in England with our children and grandchildren.

Owned by the African Safari Club who have bargain Kenyan holidays here

DOLPHIN Hotel

Owned by the African Safari Club who have bargain Kenyan holidays here

This write up, with minor additions, is from their own web site.

All the photographs were taken by me, more to follow as I did not expect to set up this web site to help the local economy. Set up in July 2010.

The 107 air-conditioned rooms are housed in seven separate two storey buildings. Most have wonderful views over the gardens and Indian Ocean, although views of the sea can be interrupted by the lush foliage. All have twin beds, a private shower and wc, and a terrace or balcony with a table and chairs. There is a 13-amp power point and a safe, for which a charge is made. Please note that there are no lifts.

The two suites in the hotel benefit from a bathroom with bath, shower and w.c. and a separate lounge area with a fridge. The gardens and ocean beyond can be seen from the large balcony, complete with sun loungers, although views are partially obscured by the foliage.

The main restaurant overlooks the pool and beach beyond. A hot and cold buffet breakfast is offered. Lunch and dinner are served from either a buffet or table d’hote menu. Alternatively dinner may be taken in the main restaurant at the Vasco da Gama or Flamingo Beach Hotels, at no extra cost (advance booking is required through your hotel reception desk).

The hotel also has two a la carte restaurants; the Watamu Grill which specialises in local seafood dishes and grills or savour the ambience of Italy in the Piccolino restaurant. These restaurants are included as part of our Gourmet Pass.

During the day, the pool bar can keep you refreshed as you relax in the sun, while the restful, air-conditioned Safari Bar is an excellent venue for that pre-dinner drink.

Facilities and Entertainment

The hotel's swimming pool, sun terrace and pool bar are just a few metres away from the white sandy beach, perfect for relaxing days in the sun. Sun beds and pool towels are free to guests. There is also an open-air lounge, a small shop for your souvenirs and an internet cafe (payable locally) . There is occasional entertainment at night. Guests can also enjoy the evening entertainment programmes at our other hotels on Shanzu Beach.

Excursions

A programme of exciting optional daytime and evening excursions is available during your stay at the Dolphin Hotel. Prices of excursions start from just £16 per person and are only bookable locally. Further details can be found in our Important Holiday Information Booklet which will be sent with your Confirmation Invoice. Deep sea fishing trips can also be arranged locally.

Watersports

If watersports are your passion or you would like to give them a try, there’s dinghy sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling and more available at the independent watersports centres on Shanzu Beach, which are approximately a 10 minute stroll away.

Diving Holidays

Kenya offers some of the best diving in the world with a coral reef that extends almost the entire length of the coast with a wide variety of marine flora and fauna. Diving can be booked at the hotel and offers excellent facilities for both the beginner and more experienced diver. These are only bookable locally.

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Random photographs taken from my room balcony while staying in the Dolphin Hotel Shanzu. Beyond the wall is the Indian Ocean.

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The lake behind the security gate between the Dolphin Hotel and the Flamingo Hotel Shanzu.

Owned by the African Safari Club who have bargain Kenyan holidays here

VASCO da GAMA Hotel

Owned by the African Safari Club who have bargain Kenyan holidays here

All this write up, with minor additions, is from their own web site.

All the photographs were taken by me, more to follow as I did not expect to set up this web site to help the local economy. Set up in July 2010.

The Vasco da Gama Hotel offers a variety of accommodation, from single rooms with no single supplement, to units that cater for families or friends travelling together. Whilst the hotel has no direct beach access, a short walk through the lush, tropical grounds and down a steep flight of steps takes you to the palm-fringed, white-sand Shanzu Beach. Before reaching the beach, the ‘Pavillion d'Amour', which is built on a promontory overlooking the sea, will tempt you to linger for a while and enjoy the fabulous views of the Indian Ocean.

The 58 rooms are housed over three levels and all have views of either the pool or Indian Ocean although views of the sea can be interrupted by the lush foliage. All rooms have air-conditioning, are simply furnished, have a 13-amp power point and a safe, for which a charge is made. Please note that there are no lifts.

Standard accommodation units have a communal lobby area with shared wardrobe. From here, two open archways each lead to a separate bedroom which has a double bed, a private shower and w.c. and a large balcony or terrace.

Single rooms in the hotel have a bedroom with a double bed, a private shower and w.c. and a large balcony or terrace.

Junior Deluxe rooms have a bedroom with a double bed, a private shower and w.c., a seating area with a table and chairs, a fridge and a large balcony or terrace.

Deluxe rooms have a bedroom with a double bed, a private shower and w.c. and a separate lounge room with a table and chairs. The bedroom and lounge each have a large balcony or terrace.

Wining and Dining

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served buffet style in the hotels main restaurant. Alternatively dinner may be taken in the main restaurant at the Dolphin or Flamingo Beach Hotels, at no extra cost (advance booking is required through your hotel reception desk). Refreshing drinks are available throughout the day and evening from the hotel’s two bars, one of which has wonderful views of the Indian Ocean. For that special occasion, you can dine at the Seaview Terrace a la carte restaurant. This a la carte restaurant is included as part of our Gourmet Pass.

Facilities and Entertainment

In front of the hotel are spacious lawns with shade-giving palms where you can relax on a sun bed. Or you can enjoy a dip in the hotel’s swimming pool which is surrounded by a sun terrace. Sun beds and pool towels are free to guests. Massage facilities are available and payable locally. There is a lounge, a small shop, an internet cafe (payable locally), and a cafeteria where drinks and snacks can be purchased throughout the day and until early evening.

Guests can enjoy the evening entertainment programmes at our other hotels on Shanzu Beach.

Excursions

A programme of exciting optional daytime and evening excursions is available during your stay at the Vasco da Gama Hotel. Prices of excursions start from just £16 per person and are only bookable locally. Further details can be found in our Important Holiday Information Booklet which will be sent with your Confirmation Invoice. Deep sea fishing trips can also be arranged locally.

Watersports

If water sports are your passion or you would like to give them a try, there’s dinghy sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling and more available at the independent water sports centres on Shanzu Beach, which are approximately a 15 minute stroll away.

Diving Holidays

Kenya offers some of the best diving in the world with a coral reef that extends almost the entire length of the coast with a wide variety of marine flora and fauna. Diving can be booked at the hotel and offers excellent facilities for both the beginner and more experienced diver. PADI courses are available throughout the year. These are only bookable locally.

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Taken in the bar of the Vasco da Gama hotel looking out across the grounds to the sea.                           Vasco Hotel reception area

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Taken walking out of the reception area to the veranda.                                The view of the sea from the veranda of the Vasco da Gama Shanzu.

Owned by the African Safari Club who have bargain Kenyan holidays

This company has bargain holidays in Egypt and offers good value cruises on the river Nile.