The Cabanas Lamu

Seven private cabanas tucked beneath the palms of Kizingoni Beach on Lamu Island. Handcrafted by local artisans from coral stone, makuti thatch, and driftwood, each is rooted in the island's enduring craftsmanship, with intricately carved Lamu doors and netted beds opening to the Indian Ocean. Whether you're escaping as a couple, gathering with family, or sharing the island with friends, The Cabanas offers an intimate place to reconnect. No televisions or key cards, just sea breezes, swaying palms, and the quiet luxury of authentic island living.

Each cabana name is rooted in the Hawaiian language, a tribute to the owner's husband.

As Anna, the owner, likes to say, food tastes different when you're barefoot. At The Cabanas, dining follows the rhythm of the island, not a schedule. There are no buffets or fixed dinner times, only fresh fish from the day's catch, seasonal local produce, homemade bread, coconut, lime, and the vibrant flavours of the Swahili coast.

Whether gathered around the Captain's Table, dining barefoot on the beach, or enjoying a quiet meal in your private pod, every meal is generous, relaxed, and shaped around the way you want to spend the day.

Here, time stretches as wide as the shoreline. Move between sea and sand across a 12-kilometre stretch of untouched beach, or take to the water for wakeboarding, waterskiing, kneeboarding, snorkelling and so much more in the warm Indian Ocean.

Drift into Lamu Town or Shela when the mood takes you, roll out a mat for yoga, or simply stay still and let the tide set the pace. At The Cabanas, there is no schedule to keep, only the freedom of island living, shaped entirely by you.

It began with Leslie Duckworth who is brilliant, bold, and deeply rooted in Lamu. After marrying on the island, she designed four homes in Shela: Shela, Palm, Garden, and Beach House.

She later found Kizingoni Beach and set out to protect its wild, untouched beauty. Over five years she planted 24 acres with palms and indigenous trees, then created seven Swahili-inspired villas that sit quietly within the landscape.

She lived in a simple grass hut on the hill during this time, it was the first structure on the beach, now known as Ohana Cabana. The founding family is deeply committed to conservation and to running The Cabanas in a responsible, sustainable way. Everything is guided by a genuine desire to protect one of Africa’s most beautiful beaches on the tranquil side of Lamu Island.

The Cabanas operates completely off-grid, working in harmony with its surroundings. The team hires and trains locally wherever possible, sources food from the surrounding area, and focuses on simple, practical conservation efforts to help protect the island’s natural environment. Their intention is to share this rare stretch of paradise while keeping its footprint as light as possible.

Their commitment extends beyond the property, including the building of a school in Kipungani Village to support the daily hopes and education of local children. And this is only the beginning.