Perfect, quiet hideaway with hospitable staff!
Submitted: May 8, 2013
Stayed: April 2013
We spent 18 days at the villa so we had enough time to get to know not only the house, but also the wonderful staff (Reuben, Pili and Emmanuel), the surroundings (the reef, beaches, villages etc.) and local people. It was a wonderful holiday, both to adults and kids (3 and 1 y.o.). Swimming pool is amazing, with water in just the right temperature (and I mean warm), salty, very clean. The garden is large and mature, beautiful even during rain. The sandy beach (just a few steps right from the stairs leading to the reef) was always empty. We liked all the people that appeared almost at once to offer us fish (in-cre-di-bly fresh and delicious), prawns, lobsters, oranges, pineapples, coconuts etc. - they were very friendly, open to suggestions and never ever crossed the thin line between selling and harrassing tourists. People in the nearby villages are cordial and welcoming, we took wonderful and very intimate photos and after a few days we almost felt part of the community. Vipingo is also a very good location to go on a 2-3 day safari to Tsavo East, it takes ca. 4 hours to get there. To the very special character of this place contribute also the cheerful and very hospitable staff. Reuben was eager to teach us suahili cooking (and we loved it), Pili got us tons of excellent cardamon from a village (to make mahamri at home), Emmanuel even cleaned our car before our safari. It was a pleasure to be with them, we felt safe, relaxed and at home all the time. In general, it is good to be in a new place, but within a settled social network in which everything works just fine - the car hire service is reliable, the suppliers are friendly etc. It is a must to visit Kuruwitu reef sanctuary (just a few minutes away) and go on a glass bottom boat trip at least once to see the Discovery Channel alive and to support the community. Snorkelling is mandatory, too. To sum up -we enjoyed our stay very much, we learnt a lot, we loved the food, the house, the pool, the ocean, even the weather was perfect (though it was rainy season it rained mainly at night and those few showers we had during the day were spectacular, refreshing, with great light and even rainbows above the ocean). Our daughter (3 years old) burst into tears each time we mentioned going back home and declared she was staying in Africa, in this house. So we made certain promises and we take them seriously:).Thank you Lyndsey, thank you Reuben, Pili and Emmanuel.
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