“What a wonderful location. All was perfect and the staff are so kind and helpful. But best of all, the cooking. So much better than any restaurant. Thank you so much for a truly delicious stay!”

Susie & Allan, UK

Anyone looking for a coastal retreat that is tranquil, traditional and right off-the-beaten-track will delight in The Private House at Takaungu. Comfortable and welcoming, it is furnished with lovely coastal and colonial antique furniture, paintings, prints and all kinds of eclectic treasures collected by the owners.

Perched on a bluff overlooking the sea, the Private House was the original house on the site – built many years ago by an Arab trader as his summer seaside retreat. The walls are thick limestone and coral rag and the ocean breezes keep it cool, and all bedrooms have standing fans.

There are two double bedrooms with four-poster beds and one twin bedroom with large antique Arab beds – all with ensuite bathrooms. A fourth bedroom with smaller twin beds provides additional accommodation for children and shares the bathroom for the master bedroom. The living and dining room is airy and elegantly-furnished and leads on to two large verandas overlooking the private swimming pool.

The house has numerous staff on hand to ensure that your stay is as comfortable and easy as possible. The man in charge is the very capable and experienced Bakari – he is also the main cook and is assisted around the houses by his team who are happy to look after you, the pools and gardens.

Delicious fresh fish and seafood is always available from the local fisherman. Bakari has years of practice in the kitchen and a wide repertoire of recipes both local and international. They will help you source whatever you need locally and their lemon sponge cake is legendary!

The house is surrounded by several acres of colourful tropical gardens and is just a few steps away from Takaungu’s wonderful and often deserted white-sand beach. There is excellent swimming (but please beware strong currents at high tide) and the snorkelling is great just off the reef at low tide. The “cool pool” at the southern end of the beach is a safe place to swim or wallow at low tide. The rag coral caves and rock pools are other great places for children to explore.

For larger groups, the house can be rented along with the neighbouring Takaungu House. Together they can accommodate up to 18+ guests – making them ideal for multi-family or multi-generational stays. To make your stay even more relaxing and carefree, the hospitable and experienced owners, who live nearby, can also organise a delicious full-board tariff. Please contact us for further details and rates.