The Red Pepper House, Lamu

Fusing an open-air layout and coziness of private luxury, in beautiful surroundings of Swahili art, The Red Pepper House ensures personal—and personalized—experience. With only five guest rooms this is the most exclusive hotel on Lamu island.

The personal attention of the staff was evident to us from the moment of arrival. Two members of staff took care of our luggage as we were led to the lovely traditional dhow (Swahili boat), where we were met by the hotel’s general manager.

With welcome drinks in hand, spread on comfortable pillows we set sail to the hotel. Twenty minutes later, the boat docked by the long hotel jetty, which stretches across the wide beach right to the hotel itself. Stepping in, we are greeted like a family by the entire staff.

Under the tall roof

The waterfront near the hotel is dotted by picturesque mangrove trees, replaced by neem and acacia trees further inland. The Red Pepper House emerges from amongst them, its impressive thatched, undulating makuti roof towering above.

As we walked into the massive open-air lounge we were struck by the eclectic and highly personal décor, which is a reflection of the hotel’s original purpose: the Spanish owner built it as a family holiday home.

Swahili eclecticism

The unique assembly of art, crafts, and furniture used skillfully to decorate the hotel makes the Red Pepper feel equally cathedral-like and homely. Crystal chandeliers hang above colonial antiques, sisal rugs and traditional Swahili furniture, including pili-pili beds, decorated with peacocks. Tribal masks and sculptures adorn walls and corners.

The local Swahili heritage comes through in the hotel’s decoration but also in the building style: the open sides, high ceilings, and shaded verandas provide cool interiors in the hot Lamu climate.

The spacious open lounge is at the focal point of the hotel, with its circular seating area in the center. Leading to the beach and the pool on one axis and the guesthouses on the other, the lounge serves as a cool and comfortable hangout.

The hotel’s rooms (called nyumba), are decorated with the same artisanal Swahili furniture found throughout the property. The living areas spread to a private terrace and beyond to the enclosed sandy ‘garden’ of acacia trees.

Personal and tailored

The best part: we were the only guests. But even if we weren’t, the small number of rooms ensures an incredibly peaceful and highly personalized experience. Activities are tailored. A dhow cruise to a remote beach, excursion to the Takwa ruins or a trip into Lamu town, the Red Pepper staff is on hand to assist. The sunset dhow trip followed by champagne under the stars is a must!

The dining options and their locations can depend on guests if they wish—though we liked to be surprised by the head chef. Every evening he would invite us on a journey of tastes, from Swahili to the Mediterranean flavors… with hints of Asian cuisine.

Anidan

The sense of tranquil shelter emanates from the Red Pepper House and extends to the unique development just a short walk through the sparse acacia forest. The Anidan Shelter, a beautiful orphanage next to the hotel is run with huge help from the hotel.

Incorporating a children’s hospital, a nursery school, and dormitories, the NGO cares for more than 250 children but also provides help for the nearby villages, for example with health services.

in our opinion

The Red Pepper House is cozy, beautiful and one of a kind, and run with five-star attention to detail and personal approach.

We recommend Manglar Nyumba, with a round bathtub on the patio, or Acacia suite, with two pili-pili beds for lazing, double showers inside and out, and an outdoor, beautiful open-air bathroom beneath an Acacia tree.

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What we love

• The staff makes this place. All incredibly committed—and happy, from restaurant staff to the personal Nyumba butler. They make a great effort to make guests feel privileged, from the moment of arrival at the small airport. Kudos also go to the general manager, David Morgan, he made our stay a very special one;
• The quality of the gracious welcome made an instant impression on us, and it only got better from there. The fantastic welcome is matched by goodbye (singing and dancing!);
• Flexible scheduling of meals and activities of which there is a wide choice;
• Exquisite food—the best we’ve had in Lamu. The ingredients are local and fresh—for example, we brought some fish from one of our trips (casually caught by a member of staff)—and dined on it in the evening. Superb!
• Complimentary kikoy wraps;
• Each Nyumba has its own access to the beach, with two private sunbeds in which to lounge on under the shade of a Makuti;
• At the core of Red Pepper philosophy is the belief that luxury tourism must make a positive contribution to the local community—their involvement in the Anidan orphanage is highly commendable.

What you should know

• It’s expensive, but the all-inclusive rates also cover a variety of excursions and activities, services of the private butler, and roundtrip transfers from the airstrip on Manda Island. It's great value for money;
• At the time of our visit we found the music rather jarring with the rest of the ambiance, but were assured this was set to change;
• The Nyumbas are spacious and the traditional building techniques work in providing cool temperature, but some guests may still find nights a bit too hot;
• Red Pepper is not ideal for holidaymakers looking for a perfect beach with ocean view;
• The extended beach in front of the hotel is public and it is not uncommon to share it with locals… and passing cows!
• Standard Nyumbas are of slightly lesser size and quality. Overall the design of Nyumbas left us underwhelmed—this, the hotel location and the spa (a bit disappointing).