Shimba Hills accommodation, Tree House
| country: | Kenya |
| location: | Shimba Hills |
| price: | From £115 per person per night. Please note that this accommodation is not suitable for children |
read 1 travellers review
description
The mystique mood of Karen Blixen and the sepia days of "Out of Africa" can be re-lived only forty minutes away from the coast way up in the Shimba Range of Hills. The tree house is situated on the verdant crescent of the Shimba Valley amid surrounding hilltops. This crescent forms the boundary to the National Reserve forested wildlife sanctuary. The tree house is exceptional on the coastal area of Kenya – forested and elevated from the coastal plain. Here, there is an almost spiritual ambiance.
Breathtaking views of the valley, the occasional Sable herd passing close by and an elephant family coming to graze for a pachyderm sundowner. A natural phenomenon, Sable are not known for their numbers in Kenya – indeed this is the only place you will see them.
The balcony of has been placed with deliberate care. Here you can watch the moon rise in the East and the sunset in the West, and overhead, the romance of the African night sky. Have you dreamt of sleeping beneath these stars? The four-poster bed can be safely wheeled forward beneath the panorama and star gazing accomplished in comfort.
The tree house has been designed and constructed using local materials and resources. It offers an interior design of surprise and exception. An African finish drawn on tradition. Close by the tree house there is a lapa area overlooking the valley, and your personal chef serves a candle-lit dinner here, on a table set for two. For a pre-dinner dip the pool is yours alone.
The veil of dawn will lift with the song of bird life in morning and you may awake gently. Perhaps there may also be the odd elephant making his or her presence known below you as you reach for the bell to summon your morning coffee, tea and fresh juice to be enjoyed with the magnificent vista that falls before you. Breakfast is served on the verandah.
This tiny slice of paradise offers more. There are forested areas close by and the local residents are both warm and welcoming. You may be able to spend time with a somewhat reclusive ornithologist and fauna specialist who has spent 30 years of learning in these hills.
Located 46km's from Mombasa airport on the South Coast of Kenya in Sable Valley part of the Shimba Hills.
Breathtaking views of the valley, the occasional Sable herd passing close by and an elephant family coming to graze for a pachyderm sundowner. A natural phenomenon, Sable are not known for their numbers in Kenya – indeed this is the only place you will see them.
The balcony of has been placed with deliberate care. Here you can watch the moon rise in the East and the sunset in the West, and overhead, the romance of the African night sky. Have you dreamt of sleeping beneath these stars? The four-poster bed can be safely wheeled forward beneath the panorama and star gazing accomplished in comfort.
The tree house has been designed and constructed using local materials and resources. It offers an interior design of surprise and exception. An African finish drawn on tradition. Close by the tree house there is a lapa area overlooking the valley, and your personal chef serves a candle-lit dinner here, on a table set for two. For a pre-dinner dip the pool is yours alone.
The veil of dawn will lift with the song of bird life in morning and you may awake gently. Perhaps there may also be the odd elephant making his or her presence known below you as you reach for the bell to summon your morning coffee, tea and fresh juice to be enjoyed with the magnificent vista that falls before you. Breakfast is served on the verandah.This tiny slice of paradise offers more. There are forested areas close by and the local residents are both warm and welcoming. You may be able to spend time with a somewhat reclusive ornithologist and fauna specialist who has spent 30 years of learning in these hills.
how to find us
Located 46km's from Mombasa airport on the South Coast of Kenya in Sable Valley part of the Shimba Hills.
facilities
- A butler to cater for all your needs
- A man made Jacuzzi
- An African swimming pool
- Your own personal chef
- Beautiful hand crafted furnishings.
travellers' tales
Highlights: All of it - particularly the wonderful service at Kinondo Retreat, the jacuzzi and the bushbaby at Sable Treehouse, and the treehouse and its location at The Cove. Another highlight was diving with Dolphins on the Pilli Pipa dhow trip - amazing.
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how this holiday makes a difference
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Due to its isolated location the lodge is able to provide and help some of the local population that otherwise would be able to find no income in this rural area. Habitually, absence of income forces the younger generation to seek employment elsewhere.
To this end, the local village is encompassed into a sightseeing tour – purchases made in the village, and employment of guides etc are direct sources of income. We also employ villagers for operating and maintaining the operation of the Tree House; 50% of our staff from the local village. In addition, 80% of our food purchases come from the local village. We are commited to renewable resources; 90% of our power used is solar. We use reusable water from the river; it is naturally filtered for guests and the Jacuzzi / shower water feeds the elephant wallowing hole. We are involved in the Teak Tree Initiative to plant 100,000 teak trees as part of our regeneration project. So far we have planted 50,000 which will ensure not only an income for the local population, but also provide fuel. This in turn prevents further destruction of the forest. The Jatropha tree produces well over 2,000 barrels of oil per square mile a year. With this type of crop production, we are trialing not only the growth of Jatropha, but also the planned use, which is to supplement engine oil. This would replace two-stroke oil for boats and motorcycles. Such a move would see employment created and a reduction of reliance on fossil fuel or synthetic fuels. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |