Green Hills of Africa

Immerse yourself in a world of relaxation at Hemingways Nairobi with a luxurious spa experience that restores both mind and body. From calming massages to rejuvenating facials and invigorating treatments, each service is carefully designed using natural, locally sourced ingredients. In a serene and soothing atmosphere, our expert therapists will ease away your tension, leaving you feeling completely refreshed, rejuvenated, and deeply relaxed. Treat yourself to an unforgettable wellness experience that will leave you feeling revitalized and at peace.

Back massage Credit: Hemingways collection

Hot Stone massage Credit: Hemingways collection

Back massage Credit: Hemingways collection

Days are as action packed or as relaxed as guests want and being in a conservancy means we have the freedom to head out on game drives whenever suits; that might be at first light to capture the sunrise and an early morning cheetah hunt or that might be after dark to experience some of the alternative wildlife that you wouldn’t see during the day.

Especially during the months of the migration, many guests do enjoy one full day in the Mara Reserve itself, along the main rivers in the hopes of spotting a wildebeest crossing. We will of course arrange this for you, sending you out with a lovely picnic lunch and the drinks of your choice to enjoy the day.

Night game drive Credit: Hemingways Collection

Game drive Credit: Hemingways Collection

Sundowner Credit: Hemingways Collection

Sundowner Credit: Hemingways Collection

Wildlife Credit: Hemingways Collection

Wildlife Credit: Hemingways Collection

Being in a conservancy we are also able to offer guided walks through the wilderness where you have the chance to learn about the area, the Maasai culture and all the plants of the region and their traditional uses. You’ll also have the chance to learn the tracks and scat of the animals that have passed by that day.

Guided walks Credit: Hemingways collection

Guided walks Credit: Hemingways collection

Guided walks Credit: Hemingways collection

Guided walks Credit: Hemingways collection

Guided walks Credit: Hemingways collection

As we work so closely with the local community, we have also been invited to take our guests along to some of the local village homes for an introduction into the Maasai lifestyle. There is always beadwork and carvings for sale during these visits so this is a perfect time to collect your souvenirs with the added benefit that your money contributes directly to the local Maasai women producing these exquisite artefacts. Don’t be afraid to bargain and barter however, it is expected.

Community Visits Credit: Hemingways Collection

Community Visits Credit: Hemingways Collection

Community Visits Credit: Hemingways Collection

Community Visits Credit: Hemingways Collection

Community Visits Credit: Hemingways Collection

One of the iconic experiences of a safari in Africa, a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the Mara Reserve is a great way to get a different perspective on the park. The early morning Mara breeze will float you southwards towards Tanzania and as you follow the Mara River all the wonderful animals of the Mara are visible. The flight usually lasts about an hour and once you’re safely back on solid ground, celebrate the early morning escapade with a champagne breakfast in the bush.

Balloon Safari Credit: Hemingways Collection

Step aboard a traditional dhow for a stunning sunset cruise, where gentle breezes and the warm colors of twilight set the scene. Relax on cushioned decks, enjoying refreshing drinks and freshly prepared seafood as you drift peacefully through calm waters. This intimate experience promises a memorable evening surrounded by nature’s beauty, perfect for unwinding as the sun slips below the horizon.

Sunset dhow cruise Credit: Hemingways Collection

Dining on board Credit: Hemingways Collection

Sunset dhow cruise Credit: Hemingways Collection

Dhow cruise on Mida creek Credit: Hemingways Collection

Sunset dhow cruise staff Credit: Hemingways Collection

Sunset dhow cruise dining Credit: Hemingways Collection

Indulge in a luxurious spa experience designed to restore your mind and body. Choose from a range of soothing massages, revitalizing facials, and invigorating treatments, all crafted with natural, locally sourced ingredients. In a tranquil setting, let the expert therapists melt away your stress and leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and fully relaxed.

Spa Treatments Credit: Hemingways Collection

Facial Credit: Hemingways Collection

Spa treatment room exterior Credit: Hemingways Collection

If you are up for the challenge, sign up for one of the courses at Tribe Watersports, one of the best kite surf school in Kenya, which is a stroll away down the beach. It welcomes beginners and experienced kite-boarders. The warm, forgiving waters and the sand-cushioned sea bed are kind to beginners while the reef with its swells, kickers and sliders is a wild water-park for confident kite-boarders.

Kitesurfing Credit: Hemingways Collection Kitesurfing

Stand Up Paddle (SUP) is one of the most up and coming sports for everyone, which is fun and great for communing with wildlife on their level. Whether its watching sea turtles take a breath or the sharks and rays swimming in Turtle Bay, or to entice the curious Watamu dolphins who may join you, this is the best, most natural way above the water to view the marine life in our Park and Reserve.

SUP along Mida Creek Credit: Hemingways Collection

SUP along Mida Creek Credit: Hemingways Collection

SUP along Mida Creek Credit: Hemingways Collection

SUP along Mida Creek Credit: Hemingways Collection

SUP along Mida Creek Credit: Hemingways Collection

Diving takes place all year round although in our rainy season can be limited to inside the lagoon. Dives range in depth from only 6 or 7 metres to 30 metres, all taking place on the fringing reefs that grow along the shore of Kenya. The Watamu Marine Park is amazingly rich with over 500 species of fish inside the lagoon and over 1000 if you include the second and third reefs. Lion fish, groupers, barracuda, damsels, moray eels, butterfly fish and parot fish abound. Wonderful Nudibranchs are also fascinating to watch.

Whale shark and Manta rays are also seen and provide a very special experience even to the experienced diver. Over 200 brightly coloured coral species also inhabit the waters giving food and shelter to this underwater world.

Certified courses available: PADI, BSAC, SSI and VDST

Scuba diving Credit: Unsplash

Exceptional snorkelling conditions in the Park allow all visitors easy access to the spectacular undersea life. Whether a newcomer to the sea, or an experienced diver, you’ll be able to find some exciting things to do.

The Marine Park is about 5 kms long from North to South and approximately 1 km from the shore to the fringing reefs. Snorkelling conditions are ideal at low tide, and especially good at spring low tide. There are hundreds of beautiful coral reef fish which leave you awestruck and dazzled by their vibrant colours. If you are lucky, you may see a sea turtle, a guitarfish or large grouper.

Snorkelling Credit: Hemingways Collection

The five-star golf resort of Vipingo Ridge is a popular day trip for Hemingways’ Watamu guests. 40 minutes’ drive from Watamu, a meandering system of water features runs through the course, keeping the greens bright and spongy. The course is also an oasis for myriad birds and butterflies. The fairways have been expertly modeled so that every hole poses a unique strategic challenge to golfers.

Once you’ve mastered the effects of the fickle monsoon breezes to complete this 72-par course, head to the terrace bar of the Swahili style clubhouse to watch the sun set over the western inland horizon of baobabs and sisal plantations.

Credit: Hemingways Collection

Credit: Hemingways Collection

Credit: Hemingways Collection

Gede Ruins, an archeologist’s delight, was one of the ancient Arab towns that dotted the East African Coast. It dates from the late 13th or early 14th Century and was finally abandoned in the early 17th Century. Excavated since 1927, many areas have been revealed, including the Great Mosque, the Palace, several residential houses and pillar tombs. Surrounded by tall shady trees, a walk through Gede is a must for anyone interested in the Swahili people and Kenya’s history.

Gede Ruins Credit: Hemingways Collection

Gede Ruins Credit: Hemingways Collection

Gede Ruins Credit: Hemingways Collection

Gede Ruins Credit: Hemingways Collection

Fishing charters are 10 hour full day excursions or 5 hour half days, depending on your preference and normally kick off just after sun rise when conditions are calm and often best for an early catch. Our experienced crews are happy to work with beginners and help them through each step on the fishing learning curve or just sit back and watch a master at work in the chair on a big fish. Children interested in fishing are very welcome too.

Deep sea fishing Credit: Hemingways Collection

Deep sea fishing Credit: Hemingways Collection

Humpback whales are the most majestic animals in the ocean, and are seen annually passing through the Watamu National Marine Protected Area on the Kenyan Coast.

Ask any tourist to name the Big Five of Kenya, and they will no doubt give you the usual list of land animals. Although visitors to Kenya are aware of Kenya’s beautiful beaches, coral reefs, fishes and sea turtles, not many know that 10 different species of dolphins and whale have been identified in Watamu, which could easily be included in the “Marine Big Five”.

Each year whales are first sighted along the coast of East Africa in early June as they make their annual migration north from Antarctica. Whales travel to warm tropical inner reefs during both breeding and birthing. Newly born calves typically remain with the mothers for about two years, until weaned. The return journey is made in October, swimming over 4,000km to the cold, food-rich seas of Antarctica, their main feeding area for sardines or krill. These magnificent marine mammals can reach a length of 15 metres and weigh around 30 tonnes (about six times the weight of an elephant). Watching them in their natural environment leaping out of the water, sometimes in pairs, or larger family groups, is an unforgettable sight. They can sometimes even be seen from land in Watamu, as you sip a cold beer facing the marine park.

Whale Watching Credit: Hemingways Collection