Santa Angela, Watamu
The Caribbean comes to the Kenya coast at this serene, sophisticated and secluded private villa set in one of Watamu’s loveliest spots. Airy, elegant and original 6-bedroom Santa Angela enjoys over 100 metres of beachfront with direct access to the gorgeous sands of Turtle Bay.
“We had the most wonderful stay at Santa Angela. So much so we really didn’t want to leave! It’s such a beautiful villa and so tastefully furnished and decorated – we felt very comfortable staying there. The staff were delightful – always helpful and with a smile. I feel they went out of their way to make our stay a good experience. Sammy was so sweet and went out of his way to decorate the table for my birthday and Douglas even made me a birthday cake. The gardeners were lovely and took time out to show us how to get the coconuts and how to open them – just delightful! In other words we couldn’t have wished for more. I can only highly recommend Santa Angela and hope we will one day return.”
DM, Nairobi
Summary
- A lovely, exceptional and highly-recommended coastal home
- Light, spacious and beautifully-decorated living & dining areas – inside and out
- Wrap-around verandas and roof terrace
- Eco-friendly pool and pool pavilion, Shady 5-acre plot
- Excellent staff, chef and professional management
- Accommodates up to 12 guests in 5-bedroom main house and 1-bedroom cottage
- All bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms and five are air-conditioned
- From US$850 per night for up to 12 guests
Detailed information
Inside
- 3 double and 2 twin bedrooms in main house – all air-conditioned
- 1 double bedroom in separate beach cottage (no AC)
- All bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms and
- Ceiling fans
- Mosquito nets
- Private outdoor sitting areas
- Cinnabar Green bath products
- Spacious central drawing room
- Inside dining room
- Wonderful artwork by acclaimed painter Richard Onyango
- Well-equipped kitchen
- Wrap-around veranda with sitting and lounging areas
- Veranda dining area
- Roof terrace
Outside
- Secluded and shady 5-acre plot
- Indigenous forest & palm trees
- Swimming pool
- Self-chlorinating – no harsh chemicals
- Poolside cabana
- Seaview pergola
- Direct beach access
- 100 metres of seafront
Services include
- Wi-fi internet
- Good cell phone signal
- 24-hour on-site security
- Complimentary laundry service
- Activities available on request include –
- Beauty treatments
- Massages
- Yoga
- Personal Training
- Tennis
- Horse riding
Water sports available include
- Deep sea fishing
- Kite surfing
- Snorkelling
- Scuba diving
- Windsurfing
- Dhow sailing
Location
Watamu (“home of the sweet people” in Kiswahili) is a small town on the Kenyan coast, 120 km north of Mombasa and 20 km south of Malindi. It has won an international reputation for its pristine white-sand beaches, clear waters, offshore coral formations and reef-protected lagoons, which line the Watamu National Marine Park and Reserve, the oldest and largest in East Africa, covering over 229 square kilometres.
The Marine Park and Reserve is renowned worldwide for its natural beauty and boasts a rich marine life – from visiting Whale Sharks and Manta Rays to three species of Sea Turtle. It is also considered one of the best snorkelling and diving areas on the coast of East Africa. Watamu has been voted one of the three best beaches in Africa and one of the top ten beaches in the World – steeped in natural fauna and flora and with three stunning bays -Watamu, Blue Lagoon and Turtle Bay.
All kinds of water sports and activities are available in Watamu – from sailing and deep sea fishing to scuba diving, water-skiing, kitesurfing and paddle boarding. Tribe Watersports, situated on Turtle Bay beach is a good first stop and can cater for most of one’s needs – offering tuition, equipment rental and advice.
There is a good supermarket in Watamu together with a range of local shops, and a bigger selection of shops and boutiques about 30 minutes away in Malindi. Recommended places to eat and drink include the Pilipan restaurant at Mida Creek a little to the south of town, and the bars and restaurants at Hemingways Resort and Ocean Sports on Turtle Bay beach.
The Bio Ken Snake Farm and laboratory houses East Africa’s largest collection of snakes and is one of the world’s most renowned snake research centres. It specialises in antivenin research, and also acts as an emergency service for snake-bite victims throughout the region. Well-informed guides lead excellent 45-minute tours of the facility.
The Gedi Ruins are the ancient remains of a substantial Swahili Arab town dating from the 12th Century. Once a thriving and well-planned community of at least 2500 people, with a magnificent palace, several mosques and many large stone houses, the people of Gedi grew rich on trade with India, China and Europe, but the town was mysteriously abandoned in the 17th Century.
Just north of Malindi and a few miles inland close to the village of Marafa is the picturesque ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ – Malindi’s answer to The Grand Canyon – a dramatic series of rock formations and gorges. The 4,300-hectare Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve is situated to the west of Watamu and is the largest single block of indigenous coastal forest remaining in East Africa – it forms the centrepiece of a world-renowned habitat for rare and endangered mammals and birds.
How to get there
By Air
Watamu is less than 30 minutes by road from Malindi Airport which has several scheduled flights each day to and from Nairobi. Some flights also arrive or depart via Mombasa or Lamu.
Airlines serving Malindi and Nairobi include –
- Safarilink (from Wilson Airport) www.flysafarilink.com
- Skyward Express (from Wilson Airport) www.skywardexpress.co.ke
- Fly 540 (from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) www.fly540.com
- Jambo Jet (from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) www.jambojet.com
By Road
Watamu is situated just off the main B8 coastal highway and the driving time from Mombasa should be less than two hours. Driving time from Nairobi is around nine hours via Mombasa.
Driving to and from Nairobi, It is also possible to bypass Mombasa and to travel through Tsavo East National Park on the picturesque C103 Road which follows the route of the Galana River.
Visitor’s Book
“We had the most wonderful stay at Santa Angela. So much so we really didn’t want to leave! It’s such a beautiful villa and so tastefully furnished and decorated – we felt very comfortable staying there. The staff were delightful – always helpful and with a smile. I feel they went out of their way to make our stay a good experience. Sammy was so sweet and went out of his way to decorate the table for my birthday and Douglas even made me a birthday cake. The gardeners were lovely and took time out to show us how to get the coconuts and how to open them – just delightful! In other words we couldn’t have wished for more. I can only highly recommend Santa Angela and hope we will one day return.”
DM, Nairobi
Rates
Resident Rates
Standard Season: from 8th Jan – 14th May and 1st July – 15th Dec
- US$850 per night for up to 12 guests
- Minimum stay – 5 nights
- Minimum stay over Easter – 7 nights
Low Season: from 15th May to 30th June
- US$750 per night for up to 12 guests
- Minimum stay – 5 nights
Christmas & New Year Season: from 16th Dec to 7th Jan
- US$1400 per night for up to 12 guests
- Minimum stay – 10 nights
Maximum occupancy – 12 guests including children
Check in 12 pm, Check out 10 am
Early check-in and late check-out upon request at an additional US$100 and US$200 respectively
Stays are on a ‘self-catering’ basis including the services of chef, team of house staff and professional management team
Stays include wi-fi and laundry
Fully catered stays (alcohol excluded) are available at an additional charge of US$100 per adult and US$50 per child (under 10 years) per day
The owners require all adult guests to sign an indemnity / disclaimer form on arrival
These rates, terms and conditions are valid for stays up until 7th January 2024
Please contact us to make a booking
Please familiarise yourself with all our terms & conditions when making a booking
Availability Calendar
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