WHERE TO STAY IN WATAMU

The AfricanMecca Beach Tier system provides you with the valuable insight that you need to choose a Watamu seaside accommodation that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations. The rating of a beach hotel and resort is based on an objective and accurate assessment that evaluates the lodging from a guest perspective and expectation.

Watamu offers a range of accommodations, from the most opulent beachside villas where you are pampered with impeccable service to deluxe resorts where you receive excellent service to affordable accommodations should your priorities be proximity to the seashore, Watamu town and marine tour attractions with less focus on the quality of where you stay.



For guests who desire the highest level of service, location, food, amenities and facilities, we recommend Medina Palms and Al Hamra as Tier 1's. The Swahili and Moroccan cultures are superbly represented by the architecture and design elements at Medina Palms, such as hand-crafted wood carvings and soft, neutral colors. The 50-room resort offers suites, villas and penthouse with garden and ocean views.

At the mid-size deluxe level, Hemingways Resort and Lonno Lodge are excellent Tier 2 accommodations that offer you wonderful services, guest rooms, food, facilities and amenities, and some additional services and upgrades may be available for a fee. Hemingways Resort is located next to Watamu Marine Park and offers 76 rooms and suites that give you direct access to stunning white sand beaches and turquoise blue waters of the Indian Ocean.

Budget-conscious Tier 3 travelers can choose from Turtle Bay Beach Club and Ocean Sports Resort. Situated near Hemingways Resort, the 149-room Turtle Bay Beach Club is placed on 10 acres of gardens overlooking a white sand beachfront that extends to over 650 feet along the ocean. The casual settings of the larger, more economical accommodations in Watamu are perfect for laid-back budget couples, elderly retirees as well as families with children.