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Kipungani Explorer

3.0 of 5
P O Box 63, Lamu Island, Kenya
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Kipungani Explorer
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33 reviews from our community

    Trip type
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    28
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Date Rating
Nairobi, Kenya
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
3 hotel reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 29, 2013

We got married end of Dec 2012 and our travel agent insisted that we should come here for our honeymoon. We stayed for 3 nights from 03/01/13 to 06/01/13 and lets just say it felt like we had lived a whole lifetime in a seaside paradise! Everyone from the crew that picked us by speed boat from the airstrip were... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
BeutifulKenya64, Group Operations Manager at Kipungani Explorer, responded to this review
January 31, 2013

Hello, This is the kind of review i add nothing too. It is well received and appreciated. Regards, The Group Operations Manager More

Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
3 hotel reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 25, 2013 via mobile

I like this place so much that I chose it as the venue of my wedding. Enchanted is the best word to describe it. The only noise you will hear from your banda is the wind and the ocean. Service is Excellent! Staff is lovely and caring. Location is wonderful.

Was this review helpful? Yes
BeutifulKenya64, Group Operations Manager at Kipungani Explorer, responded to this review
January 26, 2013

Jambo Guest, So glad you stayed at Kipungani. You are correct words can not describe this Unit. One only needs to go there and indeed you can not go wrong doing your wedding here. Absolutely. The Kipungani Team More

Nairobi, Kenya
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 3, 2013

We stayed at Kipungani over the New Year period and it was absolute bliss. It is located in a serene environment about 30 min by boat from Manda Island. We were housed in bandas purely constructed from local materials that comprised of traditional mats. All the Bandas are sea facing and especially ours was right at the waterfront and we... More

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BeutifulKenya64, Group Operations Manager at Kipungani Explorer, responded to this review
January 19, 2013

Dear Guest, We are excited that you came and had a Bliss. We do look forward to seeing you again soon. How about sending your Friends. This place is a Jewel in the wilderness. Regards, The Group Operations Manager More

Callaway, Minnesota
Top Contributor
67 reviews 67 reviews
13 hotel reviews
Reviews in 26 cities Reviews in 26 cities
39 helpful votes 39 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 30, 2012

I did not stay here, but the host of the B and B where I stayed in Lamu suggested a day trip here to enjoy the pool and have lunch. Malik was right and I very much enjoyed the remote and serene settling. It was close to a 2 hour trip by water taxi, but trip was well worth it.... More

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See 6 more reviews by Maplelagjames for Lamu Island
BeutifulKenya64, Group Operations Manager at Kipungani Explorer, responded to this review
January 3, 2013

Hello, Thanks for coming in for lunch and day use. Do find time to come for accommodation the next time. God Bless and Happy New year. The Kipungani Team More

Nairobi
Senior Contributor
27 reviews 27 reviews
21 hotel reviews
Reviews in 20 cities Reviews in 20 cities
29 helpful votes 29 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed June 28, 2012

Doesn't matter which country you reside in, if you want to make your honeymoon special then this is the place where you should go. The location, food, hospitality, rooms, cleanliness and the awesome waterfront is break taking. Par excellence. We stayed here for 5 nights and the very first day my wife dropped 1000 dollars in a pouch which we... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 3
BeutifulKenya64, GOM at Kipungani Explorer, responded to this review
August 29, 2012

Dear Guest, We like joking that when God created the World he was in Lamu. The place as you rightly reckon is breathtaking. However the place ticks because of the people. They are the most honest and trusted people in the World. Anything left is always recovered. The Gracious Manager is one Stella Wanjoya and she is a Gem. We... More

London
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
3 hotel reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 12, 2012

My husband and I stayed at Kipangani Explorer for a week over the New Year period. This place is absolutely amazing and we could not have picked a more perfect place to stay. Lamu has been in the news quite recently when some Somali pirates kidnapped and killed 2 tourists. We felt totally secure in Kipangani and the rest of... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 2
BeutifulKenya64, Group Operations Manager at Kipungani Explorer, responded to this review
February 17, 2012

Hi Guest, Thank you for taking time to post feedback on the Tripadvisor. Indeed you are very correct about all you say about Kipungani. Let me make a confession, It is my favorite unit and it gives me such pleasure to visit it during my call of duty. I am so glad that you found it equally good. The Team... More

Birmingham, United Kingdom
Contributor
16 reviews 16 reviews
12 hotel reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed October 10, 2011

The beauty of Kipungani is that it is so different from 'normal life' (normal life being in the UK). The rooms are beachfront, thatched bandas. The structures are made exclusively of drift wood and plaited palms- no glass, concrete or metal in sight, save for the few vital amenities. The pool is perfectly clean (witness the impressive daily routine whilst... More

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BeutifulKenya64, Group Operations Manager at Kipungani Explorer, responded to this review
October 13, 2011

Dear Guest, I thank you for the review you have posted. Your analysis of everything that happened is important for our operations as then we have a benchmark to improve our facilities and Services delivery. I do take note of the favorable mention of Odin, David and Saeed. These are all Stars and I will happily advise them that they... More

Edinburgh, Scotland
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
4 hotel reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed October 2, 2011

My wife and I stayed at the Kippungani Explorer in August, at the end of a 3 week backpacking adventure round East Africa. The surroundings are private, tranquil and the personal attention lavished by the staff who take care to learn your individual preferences made our stay here the ideal contrast to safari adventures. Unfortunately, our stay at Kipungani coincided... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
BeutifulKenya64, Group Operations Manager at Kipungani Explorer, responded to this review
October 4, 2011

Dear Guest, We are grateful you had a nice experience and agree with you that it is the staff in Kipungani who really make the difference. The team looks forward to you visiting again. You have mentioned about a Security issue and as you correctly say, Kipungani is well protected and we have since beefed up our surveillance and Security.... More

London, United Kingdom
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed September 18, 2011

Situated about 20 minutes by speedboat from Lamu airport to the south of the island - Kipungani Explorer is a beautiful restful oasis. The bandas are set just back from the beach - ours was spotlessly clean, simply and tastefully decorated with natural materials, a lovely large bed, and a verandah area at the front of the banda where you... More

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BeutifulKenya64, Group Operations Manager at Kipungani Explorer, responded to this review
September 28, 2011

Daer Guest, I have just read your review of the Kipungani and I am glad you had a fabulous time. This is really a Honeymooners haven and indeed the Food and the staff are all awesome. Though I am an employee and my work is going round the Units to support the team, i can only concur with you that... More

Nairobi
Senior Contributor
37 reviews 37 reviews
25 hotel reviews
Reviews in 27 cities Reviews in 27 cities
36 helpful votes 36 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed July 24, 2011

A little oasis around the corner from Lamu town. This place has excellent views, great food, a lovely beach, amazing service and just takes the stress out of your muscles as you bathe in the sun. Don't miss viewing the stars with the staff. Enjoy!

Was this review helpful? Yes
BeutifulKenya64, GOM at Kipungani Explorer, responded to this review
July 27, 2011

We thank you for taking time to fill the Guest review. We are glad you liked Kipungani. Your description that it is an Oasis is correct. We consider ourselves very privillaged to be working here. We are commited to being MAD( Make a Difference) to the experiences of the Guests who stay with us and we are happy we managed... More

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Additional Information about Kipungani Explorer

Also Known As:
Kipungani Explorer Hotel Lamu Island
Kipungani Explorer Hotel
Address: P O Box 63, Lamu Island, Kenya
Phone Number:
Region: Kenya > Coast Province > Lamu Island
Amenities:
Restaurant Swimming Pool
Hotel Style:
Ranked #2 of 15 Specialty lodging in Lamu Island
Price Range: $$$$
Hotel Class:3 star (3*)
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
Overlooking the tranquil waters of the sheltered Kipungani Channel, on the remote southwestern tip of Lamu Island, Kipungani is a dream destination for those seeking a true away-from-it-all desert island holiday.Our 16 spacious bandas are shaded by the palm trees that line our 600-metre beachfront, the bandas are constructed entirely from local materials, with mkeka palm floors and makuti thatch roofs woven by residents of neighbouring Kipungani village. ... more   less 
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Kipungani Explorer
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