Hemingways Watamu

Hemingways Watamu is an iconic tropical paradise on the Kenyan coast. It sits right in the middle of the pristine Watamu Marine national park. It has idyllic white sand beach and turquoise waters. The exceptional personal service and sincere charm of this established hotel has come to represent Kenyan coastal luxury to so many travellers for close to 30 years. And it’s just got even better with a mega makeover. There is so much to do here – learn to kite-surf; get your PADI certificate, take a sunset dhow cruise on Mida Creek, play a round of golf on the nearby world class golf course, Vipingo Ridge; or go on safari for a few days in Tsavo or the Maasai Mara. If that all sounds a little too energetic, relax around the pool with a good book as you work your way through our cocktail menu.

Ocean view

Spacious and with easy access to the beach and the botanical pool, the ocean view rooms are found in the North Wing of the hotel on the ground and first floor. En-suite bathrooms and a beautiful balcony overlooking the Marine Park provide guests with the utmost comfort and luxury. The quiet grassy area in front of the rooms is a relaxing place to read and soak up the coastal sunshine.

The area

Watamu – meaning “home of the sweet people” in Swahili – is a small village on the Kenyan coast approximately 120kms north of Mombasa – Kenya’s second largest city. It is also 20kms south of Malindi – Vasco de Gama’s first landing point on the coast of East Africa. Watamu’s shoreline features pristine white sand beaches and offshore coral formations arranged in different bays and sheltered by a reef. The area is protected as part of the Watamu Marine National Park and is considered one of the best snorkeling and diving areas on the coast of Africa. The Marine Park is renowned worldwide for its natural beauty and boasts a diverse marine life from the visiting whale sharks and manta rays to three species of sea turtle.

Rooms

Bright, airy rooms measuring 40m² with en-suite bathrooms and private balconies all offering exceptional views of the Indian Ocean – a view you wish you woke up to every morning. There are 13 newly renovated Deluxe Ocean View Rooms on the second floor of our North Wing and 26 Ocean View Rooms on the ground and first floor.

Residences

These ultra lux apartments are located in the South Wing of the hotel and offer 1, 2 and 4 bedroom configurations. The Residences have been designed and finished to the highest degree of modern coastal luxury and feature majestic open terraces with magical views of the beach and Marine Park, comfortable lounge and dining areas flooded with natural light, en-suite bathrooms and fully equipped contemporary kitchens. Guests of the Residences enjoy full access to all hotel facilities with the added benefit of being completely self sufficient if that’s what you’re looking for.

Breakfast

Begin your day with freshly baked croissants, fruity turnovers and cinnamon rolls with a Kenyan coffee and finish up with eggs and bacon and all the trimmings, prepared as you like it. For the more health conscious, kick start your day with fresh fruit, homemade muesli and an energizing fruit smoothie or try a local favourite of scrambled eggs with smoked tuna. Our Chefs are ready to start your day in style as you watch the day come to life over the Indian Ocean.

Lunch

The Hemingways Watamu spa is a natural extension of the property’s commitment to quality and personalized service. Sitting adjacent to the botanical pool in its own pavilion, the Spa offers guests the ideal hideaway to retreat for a few hours of ‘me time’. The treatment menu combines signature treatments from Terres D’Afrique, an African skincare company that takes inspiration from the traditional uses of African plants, as well as Hemingways’ own treatment recipes using the best locally sourced ingredients. Our small, experienced team of therapists are on hand to rehydrate, restore and re-energize.

Treatments

The waters off Watamu offer hugely diverse fishing opportunities and it is one of very few places where three types of Marlin, Sailfish, Broadbill Swordfish and Short bill Spearfish are all available. With a series of underwater mountains easily accessible offshore, bait and the predators are concentrated unlike the situation in the open Ocean. Hemingways Watamu was the pioneer of the practice of ‘tag and release’ of billfish on the Kenyan coast. We continue to wholeheartedly recommend this to guests and award certificates to anglers in recognition of their catch.

The experience

Fishing charters are 10 hour full day excursions or 5 hour half days, depending on your preference and normally kick off just after sun rise when conditions are calm and often best for an early catch. Our experienced crews are happy to work with beginners and help them through each step on the fishing learning curve or just sit back and watch a master at work in the chair on a big fish. Children interested in fishing are very welcome too. All conventional tackle is provided along with delicious fresh packed lunches from our kitchen and drinks.

Boats

All Hemingways Watamu’s deep water fishing craft are twin engine and in touch with each other and the shore by radio link. Each boat carries life saving and fire fighting equipment on board and bigger boats are equipped with a head.

Fishing

Fishing starts each season in July with the first two months being windy. September brings calmer seas and October heralds the arrival of the main Billfish run from November to early April but sailfish and black marlin often come inshore in numbers in August. A big blue marlin is an absolute privilege to see and they are usually found in deep water following tuna shoals. Some very big blue marlin can be expected mid February to mid March. The main season for black marlin is December to mid March although we do see medium sized ‘Blacks’ in August/September often in very shallow water. Catching broadbill is an overnight speciality – you drift at night, with squid weighted to different depths and light sticks on the leader – an experience not to be missed.

Whale watching

Each year whales are first sighted along the coast of East Africa in early June as they make their migration. Whales travel to warm tropical inner reefs during both breeding and birthing. Newly born calves typically remain with the mothers for about two years, until weaned. The return journey is made in October, swimming over 4,000km to the cold, food-rich seas of Antarctica. These magnificent marine mammals can reach a length of 15 metres and weigh around 30 tonnes. They can sometimes even be seen from land in Watamu, as you sip a cold beer facing the marine park.

Dolphin watching

Watamu is a haven, a natural sanctuary for families of dolphins including mothers and calves. Although they stay in Watamu all year round, dolphins are best seen from November to April. Take a morning to view Indo Pacific bottlenose dolphins, and Indian Ocean humpback dolphins in the wild, naturally. Watamu Marine Excursions are the established dolphin watching tour guides with over 20 years’ experience. They will provide an informed experience, compliant with dolphin watching guidelines. Check out the Do’s and Don’ts to help you and the dolphins have the best experience.