Chongwe River Camp

Peponi Hotel is a small boutique hotel on the remote island of Lamu, situated in the Indian Ocean off the North Kenyan coast. Run by the Korschen family who happened upon the old building by chance in the 1960’s and fell in love with Lamu. Early in 1966 the couple took a short flight up the coast for a day on Lamu island ending in the small fishing village, Shella, where they happened upon an abandoned Arab style house, perched solitarily like the prow of a ship at the begining of the long secluded beach leading to the Indian Ocean. Within 10 days of seeing this building the young family had the keys and moved to the island to start a hotel and in 1967 they opened Peponi.

The hotel started small with only four rooms but over the years through Aage and Wera, then later their son Lars and his wife, Carol, Peponi has grown in size and popularity, now 28 rooms. The hotel still retains much of the character and charm that it had from the beginning. Small and personal, it is the perfect rest after a safari or a hide away holiday from modern life. You can visit Peponi year-round, however, Nov-Apr is the best season. You can fly from Nairobi to Lamu and take a fun dhow trip to the resort. The perfect way to go to the other side.

The hotel has organically grown to 28 rooms, all the rooms have an ocean view and each are unique in decor and lay out. Guests have a choice of superior or standard rooms; superior rooms are differentiated by their location, size and private outside area with swing bed. All the rooms have ensuite bathrooms, overhead fans inside the mosquito net and personal safes.
Standard



Supeiror


Bath

 

On the Ocean…

Dhow Trips

Guests can explore the archipelago under sail in a traditional Lamu or Mozambique style dhow. Visit the ruins at Takwa, raise a glass at sunset or sail under a full moon. Experience the spectacle or even help crew the biannual dhow race, held in August and on New Year’s Day.

Fishing

Peponi’s deep sea fishing boat ‘Little Toot’ with its experienced crew and modern equipment offers some of the best sports fishing in East Africa. Ocean fishing with a hotel speedboat or hand line fishing from a local dhow is also available.

Snorkeling

Lamu archipelago offers some of Kenya’s best snorkelling waters, with favorable conditions between October and April. The reefs at Manda Toto and Kiniyka have an abudance of reef fish and live coral, even the chance of seeing and swimming with turtles and dolphins. After snorkelling guests can enjoy a picnic breakfast or lunch on the beach.

Water Sports

Peponi has water sports for all age groups and levels of experience. Competent instructors and a wide range of equipment to hire from windsurfers, body boards , wake boards and water skis. Kite surfing instructors are available by arrangement but bring your own equipment. The nearby mangrove creek is ideal for water skiing at high tide. For the less energetic float down the creek or rent a kayak.

On the Island….

Historical Tours

The archipelago's history is one of the main draws to the island, for thousands of years the islands provided a welcomed rest for many travelers. Historically trading sailors from Oman, Yemen, Portugal, China and many of the Arab countries visited the port town of Lamu, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. A tour through the main town takes you through a 14 Century Arab port town, where not much has changed since then.  To continue with the historical tours there is Takwa Ruins, very well kept, ancient ruins dating back to around 1500 A.D. Further north the other islands of the archipelago can also be explored, each more remote than the last.

The Beach

Peponi sits at the beginning of a 14km stretch wild beach, where a gentle walk can clear the mind, you can lie on the sand and soak up the sun or get adventurous and explore the dunes then dive into the ocean break. Watch the sunrise over the expanse of the Indian Ocean or the sunset over the rolling dunes. There are endless possiblilities as well as beaches though the archipelago.

Turtle Project

The project began in 1992 when Peponi's, Carol Korschen, translocated  a turtle nest to the hotel grounds for protection. Since then the project has been growing every year and has now become an established trust, the Lamu Marine Conservation Trust.