| Ocean Sports Beach Hotel | | | | central"courtyard" Which is spacious and open to |
| Ocean Sports opened in 1957 and was the first | | | | the sky. It is dominated by a pool and surrounded |
| hotel at Watamu. This small family-run hotel is | | | | by boutiques, restaurant, lounge areas and s |
| popular with British Kenyans. The hotel is | | | | simply beautiful high roofed lobby. The restaurant |
| ultracasual and relaxed-bare feet and first names. | | | | serves Italian cuisine and has a window wall |
| It appeal to families and does a lot of repeat | | | | overlooking the ocean. |
| business. | | | | You walk on to the beach through a large carved |
| As the name suggests, there is an emphasis on | | | | door. Built at the edge of a bay, Blue Bay village |
| ocean sports. There is a diving school and | | | | uses two beaches. If one is marred by seaweed, |
| opportunities for deep sea fishing. The bar is alive | | | | the other is usually clean white coral sand. Beach |
| with fishing tales and heavy with fishing trophies.(It | | | | loungers are arranged on the sand and volleyball |
| boasts more impressive catches than its up | | | | net invites some exercise. |
| market neighbor, Hemingway's, but has been at it | | | | Accommodation is separate thatched cottages in |
| a lot longer.) | | | | verdant gardens. Most do not have ocean views. |
| The bar and dining rooms have good views over | | | | Although the clientele is almost exclusively Italian, |
| the ocean, and there is a large outdoor terrace | | | | this hotel can be booked in Kenya. |
| just steps off the beach. A good basic seafood | | | | Mrs. Simpson's House in Malindi Kenya |
| menu is offered. There is a smallish pool and | | | | Mrs. Simpson has been hosting guests at her |
| many paths winding among colorful bougainvillea. | | | | rambling and informal beach home for nearly 20 |
| Ocean sports offer dhow trips on Mida Creek. | | | | years. She has lived in Kenya since 1923, and at |
| Tennis and squash are also available on the | | | | her advanced age is still active in Marine |
| premises. | | | | Conservation. |
| Ocean Sports has character. It is low Kenya and | | | | There is room for seven people on full -board |
| has an established air-quite a contrast to some of | | | | basis, but Mrs. Simpson often takes more, and |
| the glitzier, more uniform large hotels which cater | | | | somehow finds everyone a bed, a mosquito net, |
| primarily to package tours from Europe. | | | | lamp and sheets. In her words, she "runs the |
| Accommodations at the Ocean Sport Club | | | | house as a party". The guests are mixed group |
| A series of cottages are built along a small hill | | | | of families, researchers and young world travelers |
| behind the main hotel. There are 25 standard | | | | who are happy with basic but friendly |
| rooms and four air-conditioned rooms. The rooms | | | | accommodations. They all eat together with Mrs. |
| are basic and quite spacious, each with a private | | | | Simpson, and afternoon tea is a communal affair. |
| bathroom. There is a charming lack of uniformity. | | | | As Mrs. Simpson says her house "is not a smooth |
| One cottage is a quant little double storey | | | | place" -showers are cold, some share bathrooms, |
| "house", another has four double rooms and a | | | | and some guests' even sleep on the roof. |
| large shared veranda. Afternoon tea is served on | | | | Her trained staff can take people goggling or |
| your private veranda. Some cottages glimpse the | | | | birding in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, and guests |
| sea through vegetation. | | | | can rent the house sailboat. The house is very |
| Blue Bay Village Hotel | | | | informal and full of old worn furniture and books. |
| This is another Italian hotel with architectural and | | | | Guests were complimentary about the meals and |
| decorative flair. It has wonderful soaring thatch, | | | | especially enjoy the company of Mrs. Simpson, |
| fresh white wash, and opulent use of Lamu | | | | who is a keen naturalist. |
| furniture and rich fabrics. This hotel has an unusual | | | | |