Shela Bahari
Lamu Road
View on map and nearby hotels
Why people book this hotel
“Such a fab location”
“Location is great next to busy Masisi trading area and boat taxi rank, gets busy…”
“Staff were delightful …”
“The staff and the manager are really nice and they try to immediately help you w…”
“The mattresses are a bit old, there were several holes in the mosquito net, the …”
“We loved being in the top room with a private balcony and beautiful views over t…”
“The breakfast is local and well prepared”
“I enjoyed the breakfast a lot, the location was great, there are many boats dock…”
“Room had amazing views, clean good air conditioning”
“Great location, clean , great coffee and wonderful owner and staff”
“We found Shela Bahari, even though it has a great location, very overpriced”
Overview
Situated in Shela, Shela Bahari features a restaurant and sea views, 100 metres from Manda Beach and 300 metres from Shela Beach. Set on the beachfront, this property has a shared lounge. Staff on-site can arrange airport transfers. At the bed and breakfast, the units are fitted with a wardrobe. With a private bathroom fitted with a bidet and free toiletries, units at the bed and breakfast also feature free WiFi, while some rooms also boast a terrace. At the bed and breakfast, units have bed linen and towels. Guests at the bed and breakfast can make the most of yoga classes offered in-house. Mnarani House is 300 metres from Shela Bahari.
Traveller reviews
cheryl
couple
January 20, 2026
“Perfect in every way … location, views, staff … were great.”
Room had amazing views, clean good air conditioning. Staff were delightful …. Such a fab location. We had sea view rooms ….. would defo stay there again ….
Robert
couple
January 8, 2026
“Great location and good value for money in a popular part of Shela part of She”
Location is great next to busy Masisi trading area and boat taxi rank, gets busy after 06:00 so if you want quite may not be your first choice but we found it good gets quite early evening. The Bahari coffee house below is very popular as they serve great coffee. The breakfast is local and well prepared.
Guest
couple
November 15, 2025
“Perfect in every way … location, views, staff … were great.”
Room had amazing views, clean good air conditioning. Staff were delightful …. Such a fab location. We had sea view rooms ….. would defo stay there again ….
Erica
couple
October 10, 2025
“Big rooms and day beds, aircon at night is great”
Great location, clean , great coffee and wonderful owner and staff
Mohamed Hasham
family_with_children
August 17, 2025
“Great Stay and helpful staff”
Great location and superb hospitality
Crispin
couple
June 22, 2025
“A disappointing Bahari Hotel!”
The location is good. But being next to Shela's main jetty it can be noisy both day and night.
Tony
couple
June 15, 2025
Taufik the owner/ manager went above and beyond for us during our stay. A very great gentleman....
Maria
couple
May 29, 2025
We found Shela Bahari, even though it has a great location, very overpriced. The mattresses are a bit old, there were several holes in the mosquito net, the bathrooms are oldish and there were constantly problems the showers….low pressure, later no water at all. The view of the ocean is nice, but as other reviews are saying, it is really loud outside from 6 or 7 am on. The staff and the manager are really nice and they try to immediately help you with the problems (for example the shower). And I didn’t have a general problem with the place, IF the price would have been 50 euros the night. But if you sell a room for 130 euros or even 200 euros the night, then in my opinion it should really be quite fabulous. And we are residents here in kenya and know, what you can expect for that price.
Manda
extended_group
May 4, 2025
“Magical.”
The traditional atmosphere and that it was a family run place made it very special. The management and staff were very friendly and helpful. Food was delicious. We loved being in the top room with a private balcony and beautiful views over the sea. We loved staying in the old part of town, exploring the area and seeing all the donkeys. Management organised a friendly and efficient water taxi that we used to and from the airport and for daily trips.
Janerose
extended_group
December 12, 2024
“Beautiful! Easy access to the beach. Lovely sea views from two of the rooms.”
Hywel
couple
November 28, 2024
“friendly staff , great food, comfortable accommodation with a balcony view over the water”
exceptional location with simple but very well cooked fresh fish dishes.
Julia
couple
November 2, 2024
Great views over sea, large balcony with top room.
Clara
couple
October 27, 2024
“Great sea view!”
Best hotel room sea view in all Lamu! Breathtaking. The location is amazing. Comfortable bed and nice staff.
Nardos
extended_group
September 24, 2024
“Very good”
I loved shela Bahiri it has stunning view from the hotel And the manager was a very helpful guy walking distance from peponi
Adam
solo_traveller
June 4, 2024
I enjoyed the breakfast a lot, the location was great, there are many boats docked right next to the hotel waiting to take you to any other part of Lamu and the staff was always available to help organize other outings.
Catherine
couple
May 20, 2024
“Beautiful Swahili building in fantastic seafront location”
Fantastic location in traditional Swahili house right on the seafront next to the beach. Balcony overlooking the boats.
KMCC
family_with_children
March 12, 2024
The views were exceptional, especially at sunrise. The staff were friendly and welcoming. The communal area was beautiful with traditional decor. Breakfast in the restaurant downstairs was good, again with fantastic views.
Alan
couple
March 1, 2024
“Our stay was quite relaxing although the location right on the jetty made it a little busy and noisy”
The breakfast was good offering fresh fruit, fresh fruit juice and choice of eggs or pancakes.
Elizabeth
couple
February 4, 2024
For a genuine and memorable Swahili experience in an iconic location, you must stay here. Barack and Tawfiq were the most generous of hosts, always available to assist with travel plans and share local knowledge.
Giovanni
family_with_children
January 29, 2024
Great position to explore Shella and get a boat to Lamu! All the staff was extremely kind, and it was very easy to get everything organised.
Facilities
Activities
Hiking, Snorkelling, Fishing, Beachfront, Walking tours, Tour or class about local culture, Cooking class, Yoga classes, Beach
Cleanliness & disinfecting
Property is cleaned by professional cleaning companies, Guests have the option to cancel any cleaning services for their accommodation during their stay, Use of cleaning chemicals that are effective against Coronavirus, Linens, towels and laundry washed in accordance with local authority guidelines, Guest accommodation is disinfected between stays
Food & Drink
Restaurant, Breakfast options
Food & drink safety
Physical distancing in dining areas, Food can be delivered to guest accommodation, All plates, cutlery, glasses and other tableware have been sanitized
General
Non-smoking rooms, WiFi available in all areas, Non-smoking throughout, Air conditioning
Internet
Internet services, WiFi, Free WiFi
Outdoors
Terrace, Outdoor furniture, Sun terrace
Physical distancing
Contactless check-in/check-out, Cashless payment available, Physical distancing rules followed
Safety features
Access to health care professionals, Face masks for guests available, Staff follow all safety protocols as directed by local authorities, Shared stationery such as printed menus, magazines, pens, and paper removed, Hand sanitizer in guest accommodation and key areas, Process in place to check health of guests, First aid kit available
Services
Shuttle service, Shuttle service (additional charge), Airport shuttle (additional charge), Shared lounge/TV area, Express check-in/check-out, Airport shuttle
Double Room with Sea View
This air-conditioned double room features a desk, a terrace, sea views and a private bathroom. The unit offers 1 bed.
Superior Triple Room
Offering free toiletries, this triple room includes a private bathroom with a shower, a bidet and slippers. The triple room is furnished with a desk and a seating area and offers air conditioning, a dining area and a quiet street view. The unit offers 2 beds.
Superior Triple Room with Sea View
The unit has 2 beds.
Suite with Sea View
Featuring a private entrance, this air-conditioned suite comprises 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a bidet. The suite features a minibar, a seating area, a dining area as well as a terrace with sea views. The unit offers 3 beds.
Hotel Policies
Price Watch
Email me price updates for Hotel Shela Bahari
Each day we'll check prices and send you an email for your selected dates at Shela Bahari.
If you don't have specific dates but would like to check prices for say next weekend or say next month we can check the price too.