Name: Kinondo Kwetu
Address: Kinondo Kwetu - Diani Beach Road - Galubeach, Msambweni, Msambweni, Msambweni, 80401, Kenya
Rating: 10

Smoke-free property

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All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

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Non-smoking rooms

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Free Wi-Fi

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Tennis court

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Ukunda Airport

Moi International Airport

Kinondo Kwetu

Msambweni

child-bed

child-bed-fee

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golf-view

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panoramic-view

park-view

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sea-front

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not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

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duplex

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After a week on Safari that was full of early starts and excitement, we came here to relax, and boy, did we relax!  We were met with a welcome drink and comprehensive explanation of how things work; our 'cottage', right by the small pool, was a delight, including the friendly monkeys!  The food was excellent, and allergies and dislikes are catered for very well.  All meals were served to us individually and out of doors; we never knew what we were about to be offered or where we were sitting (the menu was put up every day but we never bothered to look) - and the result was an absolute delight in each respect!  That may sound odd, but every meal was delicious - top class food, and we sat at every table in turn.  
There were plenty of activities to participate in, but we just relaxed, swimming in either of the two pools (one for adults only) or the sea, which was the warmest I have ever swum in.  The staff kept the place immaculate and were invariably friendly and polite, even putting on a little song & dance for us as we left!  Altogether this was a place to relax per excellence.

Relaxation per excellence!

A wonderful calming place to chill out after our brilliant Kenyan safari. The staff were so helpful, nothing too much trouble. As for the food - fantastic! Loved the way that our meals were served in different locations - so sometimes on the fabulous colonial balcony, or on an old boat, or in the wonderful bar area. The beach was great for walking, we also played tennis, chilled out by the pools and also went up the water tower for an early tea and vino to enjoy the fabulous views. Loved my relaxing massages too. Highly recommend

Simply fabulous

We spent a few days at Kinondo Kwetu at the end of a safari and would have loved to stay longer. It's the perfect place to relax on Kenya's south coast, just what I had wished for (and I'm so grateful for the friend who planned our trip for finding it). Everything is built and decorated in Swahili style, with local artefacts and fabrics - very tasteful and cosy at the same time. We were in cottage no.2 (I think) which was lovely - very spacious and light, with a/c, a large bathroom, a very comfy (high) Swahili style bed, lovely Cinnabar cosmetics and two verandahs, one even with a desk. We liked the location of our cottage, with ocean views by the small pool but also close to the main house and the other pool. Didi and Anna welcomed us and briefed us on everything, checked in with us every day and took care of all our needs. The place is so relaxing! They have horses, tennis courts and lots of activities but we were perfectly happy just going for a Ngalawa trip along the reef with some snorkeling, for beach walks and for swims when the tide was high (I really don't understand the complaints about not being able to swim - just wait for the tide to come in and it's perfect for swimming). The beach is super quiet, not full of vendors and surfers like in Diani and it's long enough to go walking when the tide is low. There are plenty of sun beds and lounge areas, two pools and a gym (although not a lot of machines there). They also have a yoga room but the one day when they offered yoga during our stay the teacher didn't come. Otherwise it's alternating yoga and calisthenics. They also have a cute little gift shop and sometimes set up a market. The food was delicious - I was on a restricted diet while there and they accommodated that so well. We actually asked for some of the recipes because we enjoyed them so much, like the Swahili fish curry, the frozen coconut/mango cake, the sticky chicken stir fry, the mango/avocado/prawn salad... it never was boring or repetitive, quite the contrary. And we also liked that in the morning before breakfast is served they put out coffee and ginger tea (such a nice feature!) and in the afternoon too. We liked the lunch setting by the sea a lot, and the white wines were excellent (including the local Leleshwa Sauvignon Blanc). In the evening they set the tables in different locations which was also nice as you get to experience the place and it's always a surprise. For one dinner we were on a terrace in the Mama Taa Villa completely on our own which was super nice. One evening they had prepared a surprise sundowner on the water tower just for the two of us which was also so lovely. We both enjoyed a massage (and also appreciated the fact that there's not a complex massage menu) and I had a facial as well which was refreshing and relaxing. All the staff were so kind and caring. We really didn't feel the need to go anywhere else, just went to Sails for lunch one day and a stroll on Diani beach. Otherwise, all you need to think about is  when to go for your meals and where to lounge over the day. There's wifi only in the main house area which also helps with switching off completely. They have a library with lots of books and also some board games. And they serve pre-dinner drinks with little snacks at the main house which creates a nice atmosphere. My only problem during our stay was that I couldn't watch my country play in the European football championship since there was no TV but that was pretty much the only issue and not one they could do much about. When coming with your own car note that the gate isn't marked but it shows up on google maps. I would recommend Kinondo Kwetu without hesitation - we will come back as soon as we have a chance!

Perfect South Coast paradise

Arriving in Diani hot and sticky, we arrived at Kinondo Kwetu and were greeted by the wonderful Dee-Dee whose calm and informative welcome gave us a chance to catch our breath in this magical place.  Our room was on the first floor with lovely views of the beach and the hotel.  Barefoot luxury is spot on: you can pack light as you need very little footwear.  The whole place is sandy (except in your room and in the main hotel areas) but we loved having dinner under the baobabs feeling the sand between our toes.  Beds were super comfy and staff were all so friendly and welcoming.  The farewell from staff, sung as we drove away, was a joy.  Delicious food - red snapper is our new family favourite fish - and thoughtful touches such as being given the lunch menu at breakfast and the dinner menu at lunch gives you the chance to mix it up if preferred.  The pool is glorious; plenty of places tucked away if you want to be under the trees, with a larger, child-friendly pool and a smaller, quieter adult-only pool.  Loads of activities available to keep busy or stick to a stroll along the beach which is just as good. A lovely place to stay.

Relaxing beach holiday

I dont normally write reviews for hotels but having had one of the best stays ever at Kinondo I couldnt leave Kenya without sharing a few words. My partner and I stayed at Kinondo at the end of April for 5 nights on our first ever trip to Kenya.  We had arrived in Nairobi the night before and then flew in to Ukunda airport (about 15/20 mins away from Kinondo). When we landed the May rains had decided to arrive a few weeks early and on the drive to the hotel, going down the dirt tracks, passing goats and very rural areas, we were wondering what we had perhaps booked ourselves into! But as soon as we pulled in to the gates of the multi-acre property we were treated like royalty and any reservations we might have had instantly fell away. When we arrived, Anna, the General Manager, sat us down, told us about the history of the beautiful place and mentioned that we pretty much had the place to ourselves (only one other couple were there for a few nights when we were). We had booked into the beautiful beach cottage, and again, given they were near the end of the season were given both floors as part of the booking which meant we had 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms all to ourselves. Despite the rain on our first day, the rest of the time we were lucky enough to enjoy some sunshine (between some rains which passed after a few hours) and took a fishing trip with a local fisherman and also the boat out to Robinson Island (would HIGHLY recommend this as it was so special and we had a private boat all to ourselves whilst the other tourists arrived on packed glass bottom boats). But aside from the beautiful location the food was by far the most standout part of this stay. Every single meal was out of this world. Three courses, just the right portion side and they even catered for my gluten intolerance brilliantly. The wine list was also outstanding the the bitings (aka snack menu) was brilliant. We honestly couldnt fault the food. Finally the customer service was better than any other hotel Ive stayed in. The staff were so attentive, knew our names, treated us like royalty and the whole experience was full of so many little touches that make it so magical - honestly, a lot of high end hotels could learn a thing or two from Kinondo. Every time we came back from a trip we were created at the dock with a freshly made juice of the day by one of the staff and they booked us in to watch the sunset from the watertower with drinks and nibbles (and we even got a visit from a Bush Baby!) I can totally see why so many people come back year after year and our only regret was not booking for longer. 

We were also fortunate enough to meet the owner of the property when we were there, called Fred Anderson (who was an absolute gentleman). In his typical modest fashion he told us about some of the exceptional work the hotel have done in building a local hospital and school to help give much needed healthcare and education to the local area (which largely sits below the poverty line). So JUST in case you didnt need any other reason to stay here (which you dont), knowing that some of your money contributes to helping the local people should give you reason enough.

We went on to another 5* hotel in the area and whilst it was lovely the customer service and food was nowhere near what we had experienced at Kinondo. If you're looking for something extra special, where you dont have to worry about wearing shoes whilst you're there and really feel like you've found a home away from home then I would 100% book without hesitation. We loved it so much we are going back next year!

One the best places we've ever stayed and top notch 5* customer service

I have been on holiday at many lovely hotels and resorts around the world. Thailand x 6, Dominican Republic x 2, Barbados, Ecuador, California, Florida x 4, Tokyo and most countries around the Mediterranean several times. Fantastic places where every effort has been made to ensure that guests enjoy their holiday!

But now we have arrived at Kinondo Kweto on the Kenyan coast and it is better than anything I have experienced before!

Don't really know where to start but let's start by describing how incredibly friendly and helpful the staff are! In how many hotels around the world do all the staff know your first name from day 1? Everyone is so professional and knowledgeable and helps with excursions, planning snorkeling, talking about the dishes and spices, telling about nature, animals and the neighborhood. Everyone does this with a genuine great interest, which is absolutely magical!

All rooms are unique and wonderfully decorated with beautiful native details in a very tasteful way. Everything is top class, without being flashy, and everything is very clean and fresh.

The area is also unique. On a chalk-white beach with a fantastic view of the Indian Ocean, there are several houses that all have their own special charm and sizes. Some live in their own villa, others in a room with their own balcony or terrace. The residences are connected by cute little sandy paths that wind between palm trees, flowers, sunbeds and lawns and it never takes more than 1 minute to get where you need to go. Small monkeys play in the trees in the area and sometimes they come down to greet you out of curiosity. Super awesome!

In the area there is a well-maintained tennis court (we have played every day), 2 swimming pools, 1 wood-fired sauna which we use frequently, gym, yoga studio and massage. There are plenty of sunbeds and there is never a fight over them as there can be in some other hotels. Everyone gets at least one each and right next to the water. Kayaks, SUP boards, snorkel equipment, tennis equipment, board games and much more are available to borrow for free and all were of a very high standard. There is also a stable in the area with 4 horses that you could ride in the sunrise on the beach.

The food... it also gets 5 bright shining stars! We booked (as I think most of the guests have done) the "all inclusive" concept which means that every lunch and dinner are served 3-course menus. Always a fresh starter, usually fresh fish or seafood with vegetables for the main course and a tasty home-made dessert. Everything fabulously good! Very local ingredients, prepared with enormous finesse and feeling for flavors and presentation. Wine, beer and drinks are also included in the package.

An impressive detail regarding the meals is that you are assigned to new places in the area at each lunch and dinner. On the beach, in a cute wooden boat thrown up on the beach, a balcony, the garden, the observation tower, yes every time a new place! Before each meal, a waiter announces where to go, and there another waiter waits with a set table and presents the dishes in a knowledgeable and interesting way. We love this "system"! Feels like a new restaurant for every meal! Someone has really put some thought into this and there must be quite a lot of planning behind this arrangement that works flawlessly every meal!

The friendly staff at the reception help diligently with everything you wish for. Taxis, transport, offshore reef excursions, fishing, safari, waterfall bathing, shopping trips, horse riding, tennis, camel riding, sailing. Anything you want to do, they do!

We have been at Kinondo Kweto for a week but it feels like 1 month. We have experienced so many magical adventures that we will never forget, seen so many beautiful things (including free-living elephants) and ate gourmet food every day! It will be a total shock to come back to gray rainy Sweden after this week.

A big thank you to Ida, Filip, Anna, Didi, Dixon, Oscar and everyone else who works at Kinondo Kweto who made our 20th anniversary such an incredibly nice memory! This was by far our best vacation ever! We will be back soon!

If anyone is looking for paradise, you've come to the right place!

We could not have found a more perfect spot. An unspoilt paradise and a chance for our family to relax, unwind and enjoy a very happy week together. The Kinondo Kwetu team go above and beyond at every opportunity and are so kind and thoughtful. The food is also absolutely exquisite!

Unspoilt paradise 

Lovely place to finish our trip to Kenya.  A  warm welcome from Anna, Didi and Staff all very friendly and helpful.  Food was amazing, we stayed for 4 days and every meal was as delicious as the last.  Huge pool and lovely beach with bandas overlooking the sea

Relax after Kenyan safari

We can not add a lot more than the other reviews. Barefoot luxury that makes you relax the minute you walk in. Excellent staff and service that make sure your stay is a memorable one. Anna, Didi and the staff did a great job and we would like to recommend it to everyone. 
Family van Beest - september 2023

Barefoot excellence

Divine barefoot luxury. Nothing us too much trouble with the exceptional staff. The beach is wonderfully private and relaxing  with no beach boys hassling you. Stunning location with plenty of areas for relaxing. The breakfast was plentiful and all the lovely meals were served in different locations on the beach or lodges. The yoga area was idyllic and swimming in  the warm ocean perfect. There us plenty of trees for shade and beach beds and comfy chairs around the grounds. The monkeys were sweet and kept an eye on by the security staff! We had no mosquito bites even though we were eating in the sand at night. Padi tuition was a bonus and very professional. 

Relaxing luxury after our safari. Beautiful beach and ocean. Enjoyed walking to busy Diani beach. 

Kinondo Kwetu

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