These incredible “craftsmen” quickly begin to weave long “casuarina” needles, creating a fixing point, which will then be completed with threads made from palm leaves and grass. The nest has two compartments, and is cleverly woven together with the effortless use of their tiny beaks.

An old tree that vaguely resembles a fir tree, located between the hotel and the pool, is filled with twittering and round nests which we like to think of as beautiful ornaments for a Christmas tree.
In this short film, we have also immortalized a male red-headed weaver. This species only flaunts gaudy plumage during the reproductive period. They build a nest, and then sing at its entrance to court the female. After mating, the female lines the inside of the nest with soft material, then lays eggs which she will sit on until they hatch.
We are particularly proud that even these small, seasonal tourists have chosen Lonno Lodge for their “holiday”. Evidently our efforts to respect the environment, the silence, and the dense vegetation which surround Lonno Lodge are to their liking.

Kenya is a perfect country, attractive from July to March, but the best time of year is from January to late March. Tropical beaches save tourists from a cold winter at home, offering warm relaxation under the shining sun while enjoying the beauty of tropical nature sounds and Watamu, the best beach in the Malindi area.

(more info about the Watamu beach)

The coast of Kenya has a tropical climate, and although humidity is high at certain times of the year, soothing sea breezes ensure pleasant and comfortable conditions. Sea conditions are magnificent for swimming as average sea temperatures rarely drop below 26 ° C year-round.

The coast of Kenya is in an ideal location for a relaxing beach holiday. Average temperatures from January to March are between 26 ° C and 32 ° C. In these three months preceding the rainy season (late April until the end of June) you can expect to enjoy hot dry days, ideal for beach or other outdoor activities.

Besides the beach, there are amazing places to take in, even for a half-day: Gede, Mida Creek, Snake Farm and Golden Beach … just to name a few. If, however, your vacation plans, beginning in Watamu, include a genuine safari with one or more nights in the Savannah, Tsavo East National Park is only 2 hours away, then you can count on us to find the best solution to meet your requirements.

If you are among those who’d like to spend their winter vacation somewhere that has a little more sun than at home, we have some great offers for you. Just have a look at this link for special offers.

Getting around in small villages, like Watamu, or in big cities like Malindi and Mombasa is never complicated: there is a widespread network of transport that connects each and every hut, house, village or city. A local, or fearless tourist, just has to raise his hand wherever he may be, and a boda-boda (bike taxi, naturally two-person), a piki-piki (motorcycle taxi, theoretically two-person), or a tuk-tuk (three-wheeled car, theoretically for three persons) will immediately pick him up and take him exactly where he wishes to go.
If you are travelling on main roads linking various centres, no problem: there are matatu (small mini-vans with room for 14, in theory) on these roads that stop exactly where you want.

Have you purchased any roosters, tubes or mattresses? Not a problem: these vehicles “can” transport anything, or you can rent a kokoteni (pushcart that creates long lines in cities) with or without a driver, that will deliver anything directly to your home.

For funerals, weddings, or whenever an entire village must travel, you can rent a lorry to fill with friends and relatives.
Simple and efficient. No stations, no schedules, no waiting, no public services, just low prices.
When travelling greater distances, basi (bus with 60 seats, theoretically, jam-packed with goods, people and animals) connect main centres at full throttle.

Here is a series of photos that will help you understand the colourful names of these vehicles, rather different from the underground and slightly … more risky

Every tourist town in Kenya is characterised by one of these landscapes, not just Watamu with its 15 km of coastline, although it epitomises the very best of all this diversity which is further accentuated by the continuous succession of  high and low tides.

If you love long, white sand beaches as much as we do, but find lengthly stays quite boring, you will love Watamu. You can walk across long, white sand beaches to then explore below cliffs or around the islands (Mapango in Swahili) in search of small colourful fish or other peculiar and extraordinary sea life that surface or remain hidden.

Only at Watamu can you go, in just a few minues, for a long walk across 6 km of white deserted beach on the north side to reach white bays free of water during low tide, and protected from the sea by a thin chain of islands about one km from the coast, reachable by foot during low tide. The islands stand guard over the corral reef, each one is different from the next, and each is decorated with strange statues formed by the long and slow process of water erosion on rock. The islands are inhabited by different bird species and conceal small sand bays.

You can walk on smooth and rocky sea floors, and on miniscule or wide banks made of coral dust surrounded by turquoise water, observing and photographing birds, mulloscs, wooden boats,  fishermen and locals who are just hanging-out, waiting around on the beach for who knows what… and it doesn’t end here. The north side of Watamu begins with a large inlet, several hundred meters wide, that extends about 10 kilometers inland. Onboard minute local conoes, you can access small waterways that meander through mangroves inhabited by pink flamingos, ibis, and numerous other bird species.

Still not enough? You can also go to the south side, which the local “marketing” beach boys call “Sardinia two”: a very wide, milk white sand bank that emerges as if by magic during low tide and is surrounded by submerged corral. It is isolated, the perfect place to feel ‘in the middle of nowhere’ or for fishing.

Watamu is the most fascinating segment of Kenya’s coastline. We thought so 10 years ago during out first visit here, and it is still true today.

In 2003 WTW set up a simple rehabilitation facility where sick turtles can be cared for and rehabilitated back into the wild. This is the only one of its kind in East AFrica. Each year WTW is brought sick and injured turtles, which previously we were unable to treat. WTW has linked up with  local and international experts to provide the necessary medical advice.

Open week Days and Saturday mornings 9.30 – 12.00hrs 14.30 – 16.00hrs

Watamu, enjoys access to some of most pristine marine ecosystems. Safe and exciting.

Miles of pristine coral reefs, not only protect white sandy beaches, but provide a habitat for thousands of varieties of marine life that lie beneath the waters of the Indian Ocean.

Often near your dive site you can meet friendly dolphins or the most delicate of the giants, the whale shark, you can see for yourself the magical colors of the reef, and all the fascinating species invertebrates, crustaceans and even meet a sea turtle face to face.

You do not need to go far to discover this paradise under the sea.

Lonno Lodge don’t has an internal dive center, but can suggest some on dive centers nearby is not a problem to arrange transportation with a shuttle service from Lonno Lodge to the Diving Centre.

The photos are a courtesy of Jean Paul and Saskia, and we thank them heartily.

In fact, with an interval of almost six hours, sea level changes with intervals that may extend beyond 12 ft. At low tide you can take long walks on the sea bed and reach normally submerged islands.

At the reception of the Lodge, a table will show you the timing of the two phases so you can plan your excursions.

In front of Lonno Lodge the low tide creates three small beaches, and you can take a pleasant walk under the cliffs until Papa Remo Beach, and the beginning of the long beach of Ocean Breeze with very little tourists and therefore very little  beach boys.

At high tide the beach is always available above to the cliffs and is equipped with the “think place”. Cozy places where relax your mind accompanied by the sound of waves breaking in the coral reefs.

At high tide there a small boat is also available for day trips to reach Mida Creek from the sea, Watamu, or a simple exploration tour in the fantastic Watamu bay where “mapanghi” alternate with blue and turquoise waters.

For more detailed infos on tide’s effect please visit the appropriate Wikipedia page.

This is the reason why we went to the Tsavo East boundary voluntarily leaving the telephoto lens at home.

Gentlemen, this is Savannah.

Joannis and Daniela have been privileged to rescue a wounded elephant. After spotting it during a game drive in Savannah, they advised David, the owner of the Lualenyi Camp, who immediately alerted the organization “The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust” and the veterinarians of the KWS. The emotion in their words was really contagious.

“It was an experience that I will carry forever in my heart” tells Joannis “we have seen the shot of anesthetic dart and seen the elephant lie down on the ground. The vet turned the big ear to protect the eye from light, while others constantly bathed the body to lower the temperature; the animal breathed freely through a branch that held the trunk raised.”

“We watched in disbelief the vet extracting a 20cm Kamba Tribe arrow from the big paw of this elephant, while we did what we could in order to save the life of this wonderful mammal, continuously wetting the ears, stroking the skin rough like rock, the tusks, the tail and the smooth trunk. Occasionally there was a startled gasp, but it was difficult for us to break away from this wounded creature. “

The operation was over, and after giving him a whole bottle of antibiotics, the vet sent us away to inject the antidote.
“I cannot describe the emotion I felt when seeing the 4 or 5 ton elephant to stand up on his feet and stagger away, continuing his life. It ‘was moving.”
Thanks to David of Lualenyi Camp and Dr. Geremiah Poghon the KWS for their work, and Joannis and Daniela who shared with us this adventure of theirs in the African savannah.