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Jamala Guesthouse

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Fast facts

Check in from:		7:00 am
Check out before:		10:30 am
Pets		Pets not allowed

Amenities

Wi-Fi
Non-smoking
Internet access
Garden
Shuttle service

More about Jamala Guesthouse

Jamala Guesthouse

Located in Lamu, Jamala Guesthouse features accommodation with access to a garden. With garden views, this accommodation provides a balcony. Free WiFi is included throughout the property.

Reviews from
Tripadvisor
Mentioned by travellers
Group traveller

Comment: 8 Oct 2024

Stayed in: Oct 2024

Best Lamu experience ever!

Jamala house is the best place to be in Lamu. Peaceful, friendly staff who tend to your needs and the ambience is very beautiful and serene. The host made sure we were safe and warned us prior about locals pretending to be fake tour guides. Overall the best experience.
Other

Comment: 21 Feb 2023

Stayed in: Feb 2023

Not bad, but make your own plans to avoid misunderstandings!

Jamala House is an average establishment. Situated in a convenient part of the old town. It's nearby a mosque so expect a front row seat to daily (and nightly) calls to prayer. The ladies who cook and clean are nice and appropriately non-interested in your comings and goings. Most of the residents in the area are friendly and glad to help, but the smell of donkey poop can be overwhelming, at times. The proprietor of the establishment was nice, at first. We told him when we first arrived that we were interested in taking a dhow ride, but he booked it without confirming our plans and we were only told it was confirmed 30 minutes before it was apparently scheduled, so we declined after a long and windy day. He became quite angry and flew off the handle at us, yelling and demanding we pay the cancellation even though we had no idea that the trip had been confirmed. His words were very disrespectful, rude and mean-hearted. So, a word to the wise, plan your own itinerary instead of relying on him. It will make your stay more pleasant. Other than that one thing, we had a nice stay. It was relatively clean and had hot water.
Solo traveller

Comment: 6 Nov 2022

Stayed in: Oct 2022

A great place to stay in Lamu for reasonable price

Jamala Guesthouse is very easy to get to. It's behind the fort so from the promenade in Lamu you take the first street left after the fort (when you go from Shela) and just go up the narrow street, watch a sign above the door to your left.
The rooms are very nice and bed comfortable, shower is amazing. The breakfast was plenty with lots of fruits, egg and fresh juice. The staff is nice but of little help, if you need anything arranged you need to catch the manager.
Payment is only possible in Ksh in cash. I found the green bank on the promenade having the best exchange rate (some shops exchange as well for considerably worse rate). You need an ID to get the money changed in the bank (open from 8am till 4pm weekdays).
The public boat to the airport cost 200 Ksh and leaves from the left pier when facing the sea (10am). Public boat to Shela is also for 200Ksh (best before 4pm or when full) and mototaxi to Shela is for 100Ksh.
The only thing I didn't like in the Guesthouse is that the windows in the back rooms do not allow any air circulation (not facing the sea) and because the ventilator is just above the mosquito net, it is blocking the circulation of air. It feels like in a sauna then. As there were literally no mosquitos, without the net would have been better, I think.
Other

Comment: 15 Feb 2021

Stayed in: Feb 2021

I was at lamu for a solo trip and I stayed at the best possible place for that, Jamala house.

Getting to Lamu, Badji, Jamala's manager, greeted me from the airport. He also introduced me to a tour guide (Abbas) where I had a very detailed and comprehensive understanding of lamu interms of history, current social structure and furture prospects.
Badji is an incredible host who ensures all his guests enjoy their time and caters their stay to their needs as he learns them along the way. He also took me and a few others on a dhow sunset trip which I must add was the highlight of my stay. I highly recommend you stay at Jamala house if you are looking for a serene, authentic experience with a very practical location and simple design.
One last note: while in lamu, take a look around town and pay the local (non-tourist targeting) vendors a visit, you will find that they have a lot to offer.
Couple

Comment: 11 Nov 2020

Stayed in: Nov 2020

Oasis in the madness!

Secure building, simple, airy design and spacious rooms. Baji welcomed us off the boat, ushering us to our rooms and ensured we had everything we needed for our stay. After learning of our proclivity for mangos, the following morning we were greeted with a platter of the heavenly stuff.

Excellent location

4.7

Lamu PO Box 118-80500 Lamu, Lamu, 80500, Kenya|0.16 km from city centre

Check in and check out

Check in from:

7:00 am

Check out before:

10:30 am

Good to know

Pets

Pets not allowed

Extra beds

Please contact the hotel for details about adding extra beds.

Jamala Guesthouse: FAQs

Jamala Guesthouse is 0.2 km away from Lamu city centre.
Jamala Guesthouse is in Lamu, Kenya and is 0.2 km away from Lamu city centre.
At Jamala Guesthouse you can check in from 7:00 am, and you'll need to check out before 10:30 am.
No, there isn't any parking available at Jamala Guesthouse. If you're looking for a hotel with space to park, simply filter by properties which have 'Parking' under 'Amenities' in the search results.
We don’t have any information about restaurants at Jamala Guesthouse, please check with them when booking.