Where to stay in Tiwi Beach Kenya

Heading to the Kenyan coast and need to know the best hotels in Tiwi Beach, Kenya? 

Tiwi Kenya is the first coastal destination that I visited when I arrived in Kenya and it remains my favourite,  I have been back many times since and am always in awe of its natural beauty. Tiwi is notably different from the other tourist destinations on the coast in its isolation, perhaps only Mswambeni is its equal. For those looking for a resort style holiday, the Amani Tiwi Beach Resort is your only real option,  instead the coastline is dotted with Tiwi cottages and larger grand houses.   Apart from Twiga Lodge in Tiwi, there is no where to eat and no shops other than the little local village shops selling fruit, veg and water,   My family and I have spent lots of time in Tiwi and I hope this Tiwi Beach hotel and accommodation guide will answer all your questions.

Tiwi beach is one of the lesser known, off the beaten track destinations on the Kenyan Coast.  To my mind is it one of the most beautiful,   Tiwi beach stretches its golden length from the Mwachema River northwards until it hits coral cliffs.  Even further north, the secretive Maweni beach is strewn with shells and starfish.  The entire coastline is fronted by reef that sits close to shore, in low tide the reef is exposed providing hours of rock pooling fun.   Walk to the Africa pool, a natural pool in the coral in the exact shape of Africa and usually filled with tropical sea life, or peer among the corals for saucer sized star fish in rainbow colours.  The result is that Tiwi Beach is one of the best holidays in Kenya.

Tiwi beach sits 1.5 hours to the south of Mombasa,  and a 20 minute drive to the larger town of Diani, where you will find shops, restaurants and hotels and the opportunity to kite surf, windsurf or dive. Nearby attractions include Shimba Hills safari and Mombasa old town.   However, a Tiwi holidays at its truest is about life on the beach, rising with the sun and basing your days activities around the changing tides.

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Table of Contents

Where to stay in Tiwi Beach, Kenya

Tiwi Beach, Kenya has a limited number of choices in terms of accommodation. All the viable options for tourists are along the coastline, the interior between the coast and the Likoni – Mombasa road is populated with small local houses, palms, shambas and the occasional winding sandy road.  Along the Tiwi coastline the only resorts are the Amani Beach Resort Tiwi and the Hillpark Hotel  – although Hillpark has been empty every time I have ventured in and I’m reluctant to recommend it. The remaining options are one of a number of palatial beach villas and teeny little fisherman style cottages.  There is the option of camping at Twiga Lodge.  

Read on for a comprehensive comparison of the best Tiwi Beach cottages and Tiwi beach villas.

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Comparison of places to stay in Tiwi Beach

5 Options For the Best Tiwi Beach Cottages and Hotels

Amani Tiwi Beach Resort

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Amani Tiwi Beach Resort sits at the southern end of Tiwi Beach before the Mwachema river divides the long stretch of white sand into Tiwi and Diani. It’s the only resort I can recommend along the Tiwi coast. Medium sized it is a stand-alone giant in Tiwi terms, with 5 restaurants, 4 bars and a vast swimming pool with swim-up islands. Refurbished in 2010 after a fire burnt the previous resort to the ground, the new Amani Tiwi Beach Resort was built with the environment at its heart. It is now an eco-friendly hotel that works with the environment in terms of aesthetics and their use of local materials, design and craftspeople. The result is a considered resort which feels intimate despite being the biggest thing on the Tiwi Beach coastline.

209 rooms vary in size from intimate to grandiose suites with 24-hour personal valets. Light walls and dark local woods create a cool, airy ambience warmed with autumnal colours and Swahili design. All rooms come with satellite TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioning and minibar

amani tiwi beach resort

The facilities are vast, the aforementioned swimming pool a definite highlight, a pool you can get lost in complete with islands and a separate kids pool.  There is direct access to Tiwi beach, and for those who feel energetic, the hotel can organise diving, kitesurfing, dhow trips and local excursions as well as water aerobics, water polo, beach volleyball and aerobics classes. There’s an onsite shop and spa and of course the choice of restaurants, each eating place is themed differently from pizza, to Kenyan dishes and seafood feasts.  For those with kids, Amani Tiwi Beach Resort has a kids club.

Best Parts?

The resort gives you the best of both worlds: a resort-style holiday with a choice of restaurants, bars and activities in a location that is one of the best in Kenya. If you are looking for a Tiwi hotel that offers variety, activity for the whole family then Amani Tiwi Beach Resort is your best choice.

Worst Parts?

If you are looking for super luxury then this isn’t quite it. This is a 4* resort that’s perfectly satisfactory but not lavish. To my thoughts, it also somewhat defeats the charm of Tiwi. Tiwi should be about the ocean and the beach not hiding away in a resort where you could be anywhere in the world.

Summary 

A great 4* resort for families or couples looking for an easy off the beaten track getaway where they need to do nothing but eat, sleep and swim. It won’t break the bank and there’s plenty for the kids to do, but why come to Tiwi if you stay in a resort?

 

Click here for more information and the latest prices

Twiga Lodge and Campsite

Twiga Lodge Tiwi

It seems appropriate to include a campsite in a guide of Tiwi accommodation. Back in the day, Tiwi Beach in Kenya was a lesser-known haunt on the hippie trail… a true ‘lost beach’ destination. Camping under the palms looking over the ocean towards India you somehow think maybe the hippies had it right all along. Why work for the man when for the price of a bunch of coconuts you can live the dream here. This is the only campsite on the Kenyan (well the only campsite that I know of – please let me know if there are others). The campsite is right down on the beach, you can pitch your tent right on the sand or back up a little and camp on the grass. There are basic toilets, shower and sinks for washing up – very basic – but the water is hot. And an onsite restaurant that serves Kenyan style food and drinks. The restaurant has the most mind-blowing location right on the beach. You can also book overnight accommodation at Twiga Lodge but having poked around a few rooms I wouldn’t recommend it. They are desperately in need of work. The whole place is rather tired and sad looking but who cares when the location is so fabulous and you are camping anyway. All you need is a cold beer, warm shower and a place to lay your head and Twiga Lodge has these in spades.

Camping is just 400 bob a night and pizzas are from 450. How can you go wrong?

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Best Parts?

Location, location, location. I can’t say it enough.  What a place to camp, right on the beach, nothing but swaying palms and crashing waves. Its utter paradise as far as campsite locations go.

Worst Parts?

The resort itself is very tired, the toilets and showers are functional but very old. The food wasn’t fabulous and I’d definitely bring your own wine.  

Summary?

Twiga Lodge has that faded seaside glamour thing going on.  It’s in desperate need of someone to buy the place and do it up, but if they did you’d never be able to camp there for just 4 dollars a night. It’s a hidden gem as far as camping goes. I don’t think you could go wrong choosing to camp here – as long as you aren’t fussy about all mods and cons when it comes to toilets. As for the showers… the sea is you bath so who cares. 

Click here for more information and the latest prices 

Ocean Villas / Waterside House and Luxury Honeymoon Tent

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Ocean Villa Tiwi Beach is an absolute gem of a place located near Maweni beach in the north of Tiwi. Its clifftop location in acres of flower-filled forest ensures absolute exclusivity and yet a short walk and you are on my favourite beach in Kenya. The Ocean Villas consist of three houses on the same plot: Waterside House Tiwi, Ocean Villa Tiwi Beach and Tiwi Honeymoon Tent, but they are so far apart you feel utterly alone. The houses are big enough for groups and large families and the Honeymoon tent a perfect romantic escape for couples.  The architecture, the sea, the emerald forest, the leaping monkeys and cliffside infinity pool with space enough just for two – it’s a dream of tranquility the perfect lazy break.
For more information on Ocean Villa Tiwi Beach read the full review in my blog here. A four-bedroom house built with the sea and sun at its very heart: natural wood, polished concrete, Kitengela glass, and each room open to the sea wind makes this a very special place. The four bedrooms are huge and easily fit two families, sleeping up to 10. The 25 acres of garden includes a bar area, Tilapia filled ponds and a large swimming pool next to the house.

Waterside Villa sits a little back from Ocean Villa Tiwi Beach but matches it in terms of spec. Same immaculate attention to detail, same 4 huge rooms sleeping 10, same large swimming pool. The design is slightly different though so do check pictures online and decide which one you prefer. Ocean Villa Tiwi Beach is slightly closer to the sea and the access to the beach.

Luxury Honeymoon Tent
A thatch covered self-contained tent for two, right near the ocean with the use of an amazing clifftop pool. Only the photos do it justice. The safari-style tent has polished floors, a proper bathroom and bags of outside space. Furnished with a huge four-poster bed inside and day beds, large couches and soft furnishings throughout, it’s luxurious and lavish but the real thrill is living so close to nature. The tent blends in with its surroundings and at night nothing but the call of bush babies and the ever-present Indian Ocean can be heard. 

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Best Parts?

All the houses are private, beautifully designed and thought out with regards to how they sit within their environment. The use of local materials, coloured glass, heavy wood ‘Funzi furniture’ and the open to the elements design gives you the sense of being at one with nature. Their cliff top location means it’s not all about the beach but rather the tropical vegetation and the myriad of birdlife, primates and other colourful animals that come to visit. All properties are very private and feel very exclusive.

Worst Parts?

It’s not right on the beach, although its just a short 5 minute walk. 

Summary?

All properties are great options for a tranquil and relaxed getaway. This is what Tiwi is all about, taking in nature, absorbing the surroundings and drifting through sun filled days without a care in the world. 

Click here for more information and the latest prices 

Swahili House

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Tiwi Beach is great at private houses, it has some of my very favourite places on the coast. Swahili House has a typical blend of African and Arabic influences and design that sits in harmony with its surroundings. And what surroundings! Swahili House’s lofty position upon a coral clifftop, surrounded by indigenous forest is stunning, beach access is through steps carved into the rock which takes you down to a secret little beach. It ticks all my Tiwi boxes of oceanside locations, green swaying palms and lots of open outside spaces for lazing, drinking and dining.

Swahili House is more than just a house; it is five separate residences which can be rented all together or individually. The Main Swahili House sleeps 7 in 4 bedrooms: 3 en-suite doubles with air-conditioning and another single room with a fan. It is beautifully decorated throughout with huge beds, vast bathrooms and lots of outdoors space. A full complement of staff is available including a chef. 

Also consider:

The Naked African Penthouse sits atop the main house and can be rented in conjunction with the main house giving you an additional queen-sized bedroom. Private verandah but no pool access.

Lofty Cottage – The Lofty Cottage is ideal for small families or groups having one double room upstairs and two day beds downstairs. It has a private garden gazebo for alfresco dining and it faces the ocean which is very close by. The swimming pool is shared with Swahili Cottage.

Swahili Cottage – The Swahili Cottage is next to the Lofty Cottage and it has 2 double rooms both en-suite. An upstairs deck that overlooks the ocean and day beds for utter relaxation. 2 double rooms (both en-suite), equipped kitchen, private verandah and shared swimming pool.

Swahili Luxury Villa – cliff top location, three double rooms, private swimming pool, own lounge and bar and two outside jacuzzi.

 

swahili house tiwi

Best Parts?

The architecture and furnishing are beautiful. The spaces even inside the little houses are expansive and there is lots of attention to details. The staff are excellent, the cook excells and the location is sublime.

Worst Parts?

If you are only taking one of the smaller accommodations you may feel the presence of others, in particular the Naked African Penthouse, although you can’t be seen, there may be something slightly voyeristic in sitting perched a top someone else’s party.

Summary?

One of the best luxury options for Tiwi. Great if you have a large group and want to be together but not under each others feet. Great all round location, quality of house and attentiveness of staff.

Click here for more information and the latest price

 

Sand Island Beach Cottages

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Sand Island Beach Cottages are the one place in Kenya I keep returning to. Right at the far end of Tiwi on Maweni beach, it pretty much a private beach as no other house or resort shares it.  I have written extensively about Sand Island Beach, read my blog here.  9 fisherman style beach cottages front 100 metres of shell filled, golden sand paradise. The reef reaches to the shore, star fish speckle the cove, coral heads hide lion fish, porcupine fish and eels and the swaying palms lull you to sleep in the afternoon. 

The cottages are each different, suiting different family sizes and needs.  The smaller cottages such as Simu sleep two in a bedroom, kitchen and outside seating area, whereas the largest cottage Kasa sleeps 8 and has a huge outside area with a build in bar.  Pweza stands alone as the only double storey and Tafi has just two bedrooms and yet stretches it expensive length across the whole house giving you ample different outside seating spaces.  The cottages are basic but come with piping hot water, and all the pots, pans and cooking utensils you need. Wi-Fi is available in each cottage and the office is filled with basic food and drink for you to buy as well as reef shoes and snorkels that you can borrow.

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Sand Island Beach Cottages Tiwi are self catering with no facilities, this is about getting back to basics and enjoying the beauty of the land and the ocean. 

Best Parts?

The location is unbeatable, the houses sit 20 metres from the ocean. You can sit in your cottage and watch your kids on the beach knowing they are safe.  The beach is very private, only fishermen and other cottage residents come here. At the right time of year you could easily be alone on the beach.  

Worst Parts?

There are no frills, the houses are well loved but it’s the rustic charm that appeals.

Summary?

I’ve been here four times.  The beach keeps luring me back.  It’s a great place for kids as the beach is so close and so safe with its shallow bay and close by reef.  Days blend into one another eat, swim, rockpool, sleep, eat etc – a family friendly, relaxing place that I adore. 

Click here for more information and the latest prices 

 
maweni beach tiwi

Travelling to Tiwi or Diani?  Check out the fantastic SGR train as an easy cheap way to get from Nairobi to Mombasa.  My Diani Travel Guide gives you an up to date summary of what to do and when to head to Diani.  Headed elsewhere on the coast?  Check out the Watamu Travel Guide and our best hotels in Watamu Guide.  

where to stay in Tiwi Beach Kenya
Where to stay in Tiwi Beach Kenya

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