Azura Villa, Watamu

• A calm, airy and stylish villa in a secluded beach-meets-bush setting
• 950 metres from the loveliest stretch of Turtle Bay beach
• Inside / outside dining and living areas, verandas and terraces
• Outside dining pergola with barbecue and pizza oven
• Talented chef and 3 additional house staff, full-board menus available
• 16-metre swimming pool, rooftop sundowner terrace
• Office, wi-fi, television with Netflix
• Accommodates up to 8 guests in 4 double bedrooms
• All bedrooms have King-size beds, air-conditioning and ensuite bathrooms
• Rates from $550 per night ‘self catering’ with chef and staff

• Activities and excursions locally include –

  • Dhow sailing
  • SUP boarding
  • Kitesurfing
  • Kayaking
  • Deep sea fishing
  • Snorkelling
  • Spa
  • Yoga
  • The Float on Mida Creek
  • Gym
  • Gedi Ruins
  • Arabuko Sokoke Forest

Watamu (“home of the sweet people” in Kiswahili) is a small town on the Kenyan coast, 120 km north of Mombasa and 20 km south of Malindi.  It has won an international reputation for its pristine white-sand beaches, clear waters, offshore coral formations and reef-protected lagoons, which line the Watamu National Marine Park and Reserve, the oldest and largest in East Africa, covering over 229 square kilometres.

The Marine Park and Reserve is renowned worldwide for its natural beauty and boasts a rich marine life – from visiting Whale Sharks and Manta Rays to three species of Sea Turtle. It is also considered one of the best snorkelling and diving areas on the coast of East Africa. Watamu has been voted one of the three best beaches in Africa and one of the top ten beaches in the World – steeped in natural fauna and flora and with three stunning bays -Watamu, Blue Lagoon and Turtle Bay.

All kinds of water sports and activities are available in Watamu – from sailing and deep sea fishing to scuba diving, water-skiing, kitesurfing and paddle boarding. Tribe Watersports, situated on Turtle Bay beach is a good first stop and can cater for most of one’s needs – offering tuition, equipment rental and advice.

There is a good supermarket in Watamu together with a range of local shops, and a bigger selection of shops and boutiques about 30 minutes away in Malindi. Recommended places to eat and drink include the Pilipan restaurant at Mida Creek a little to the south of town, and the bars and restaurants at Hemingways Resort and Ocean Sports on Turtle Bay beach.

The Bio Ken Snake Farm and laboratory houses East Africa’s largest collection of snakes and is one of the world’s most renowned snake research centres. It specialises in antivenin research, and also acts as an emergency service for snake-bite victims throughout the region. Well-informed guides lead excellent 45-minute tours of the facility.

The Gedi Ruins are the ancient remains of a substantial Swahili Arab town dating from the 12th Century. Once a thriving and well-planned community of at least 2500 people, with a magnificent palace, several mosques and many large stone houses, the people of Gedi grew rich on trade with India, China and Europe, but the town was mysteriously abandoned in the 17th Century.

Just north of Malindi and a few miles inland close to the village of Marafa is the picturesque ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ – Malindi’s answer to The Grand Canyon – a dramatic series of rock formations and gorges. The 4,300-hectare Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve is situated to the west of Watamu and is the largest single block of indigenous coastal forest remaining in East Africa – it forms the centrepiece of a world-renowned habitat for rare and endangered mammals and birds.

By Air
Watamu is less than 30 minutes by road from Malindi Airport which has several scheduled flights each day to and from Nairobi. Some flights also arrive or depart via Mombasa or Lamu.

Airlines serving Malindi and Nairobi include –

• Safarilink (from Wilson Airport)   www.flysafarilink.com
• Jambo Jet (from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) www.jambojet.com
• Skyward Express (from Wilson Airport) www.skywardexpress.co.ke

By Road
Watamu is situated just off the main B8 coastal highway and the driving time from Mombasa should be less than two hours. Driving time from Nairobi is around nine hours via Mombasa.

Driving to and from Nairobi, It is also possible to bypass Mombasa and to travel through Tsavo East National Park on the picturesque C103 Road which follows the route of the Galana River.

Self-Catering Accommodation Rates

• Minimum stay – 3 nights
• Maximum occupancy – 8 guests including children
• Minimum stay over standard season – 5 nights
• Minimum stay over Christmas, New Year – 7 nights

Low Season Rate – $440 Per Night

• 6th January – 8th February
• 20th February – 25th March
• 26 April – 15th October
• 1st November to 19th December

Mid Season Rate – $550 per night

• 9th – 19th February
• 26th March – 25rd April
• 16th – 31st October

High Season Rate – $1,500 Per night

• 20th December – 5th January

All stays are on a ‘self-catering’ basis including the services of chef and staff

Please contact us for full-board rates

Check in – 3 pm, Check out – 10 am

These rates are for Kenyan residents – please contact us for non-resident rates

These rates, terms and conditions are valid for stays up until 5th January 2027

The owners require all adult guests to sign an indemnity / disclaimer form on arrival

The swimming pool is unfenced. Children must be closely supervised around the pool by an adult guest and should never be left unattended in any part of the property at any time.

Please contact us to make a booking

Please familiarise yourself with all the terms & conditions on our website when making a booking

Bookings can only be confirmed upon receipt of payment. Until a booking is confirmed, availability is subject to change without notice.