Kenya : South Coast

The Pemba Channel Lodge
The Pemba Channel Lodge is tucked away in the tiny fishing village of Shimoni on the southern Kenya coast, not far from the Tanzania border, 80 kms south of Mombasa. Shimoni, which means 'the place of the hole' was integral to the infamous slave trade of the 19C and you can visit the caves where the slaves were held. Shimoni is about a two hour drive from Mombasa down the coast towards Tanzania.
Founded over 40 years ago, the rustic simplicity of The Pemba Channel Lodge combines African tradition with its Colonial Heritage and is comfortable and friendly. The feel of the place is low-key, informal and casual. Although simple, Pemba Channel Lodge is professionally run and provides a very high standard of service.
The Pemba Channel Lodge is in a tranquil setting and its elevated position ensures privacy and excellent views across the channel to Wasini Island with the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania as a back-drop. The grounds are quiet and peacefully secluded and there is a large fresh water swimming pool on the edge of a small cliff, the steps of which are the perfect place for evening sundowners.
Food at the lodge is excellent and over seen by the charismatic owner, Sandra. They use a combination of Swahili, Indian, Mediterranean and Eastern cuisines, the cooks produce exotic and imaginative fare - fresh seafood is of course a speciality.
There is a reef in front of the lodge with some excellent snorkelling or you can go on day trips to the marine park, dolphin viewing, deep sea fishing, there is also diving but as the best reefs are quite a distance the diving is quite expensive but worth while. The marine park is quite busy with day trippers but if you get there early enough you can have the place to yourself. It's a lovely lodge, very relaxed and perfect to just lie in the gardens watching the dhows sail by.

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