Shela Village has long been the exotic escape destination of those in the know. A unique Swahili blend of East Africa the Middle East, Lamu has been a trading post for centuries and is a vibrant mix of cultures. The Old Stone Town is a World Heritage Site and represents the oldest working Swahili town. Situated in a deep water channel that has long been considered a safe harbour Lamu is steeped in history, salted and spiced by a rich history.
Four kilometers away, where the mouth of the Lamu Channel meets the Indian Ocean and only accessible by boat or foot, is the tiny village of Shela; the exotic escape destination of those in the know. Nestled at the foot of the dunes which form the island's backbone and punctuating its southern sweep from protected channel to a wild 12km stretch of virgin beach which fronts a bay playing host to some of the coast's best deep sea fishing and dolphin and whale sightings. About two thirds of Lamu Island's circumference is mangrove channel some 100-200m wide separating the island from the Kenyan mainland and the the wild interior, much of which is reserve land, still rich with African Big Game. Lions are occasionally still heard and sighted on the mainland beaches across the channel, elephant and buffalo cross to Manda Island and hippo have turned up on the seafront where the dhows are moored in Shela Village itself. A reminder that the bush is always there at your back. Shela has long been considered the Riviera of East Africa and has for more than half a century been a favourite haunt of many colourful East African characters, from Professional Hunters, to artists, famous anthropologists, wildlife experts, writers and captains of industry....many have come and many have stayed and have been joined by an eclectic international band of people all of whom share a common love of the location, the laid back Swahili lifestyle and hospitality, the wonderful traditions, architecture, cuisine and climate and the Ocean.
Western convention is dropped in Lamu. Celebrity is disregarded and all are reduced at last to a thirsty group of tanned and ruddy faces, kikoy clad and crusted in beach sand, straggling in two's and three's towards the Village's only bar at Peponi Hotel. Dhows sets sail with small parties for sundowners on the water each night and return with the moon at their back. Fisherman knock on the door each morning offering the catch of the previous night and the pad of bare feet on cool white cement floors precedes the creak of shutters and the smell of chai tea being brought to your room as the Meuzin's call to prayer pushes back the grey of dawn and heralds the first blush of sunrise.
Five minutes from where the dhows creak and groan at anchor up a sandy lane sits Jasmine House. Built in 1986 using traditional artisan methods and brn of Swahili and Moorish architecture Jasmine sits on two municipal plots. The house is built on three floors with a living room, dining room, and courtyard at it's heart on the ground floor. The kitchen is large and well equipped with a skullery and praparation area attached leading to the servants' quarters with private bathroom and the back door of the house. There is a ground floor double bedroom with en suite bathroom and separate WC, above which is another en suite double with private balcony overlooking the garden. On the first floor above the living room are two bedrooms (a double and a twin) linked by a covered terrace and sharing a bathroom. Steps lead from here to the penthouse suite which comprises a private veranda with a palm thatched roof and swing beds, a huge en suite bedroom with king-sized bed, a dressing room, bathroom and a second private veranda with both covered and open terrace area for sunbathing in privacy with views of the channel.
The second plot comprises a private garden, plunge pool, poolside living room, and Storage/Laundry area and adds yet another chill out dimension and wonderful living space to this enchanting and magical 5 bedroomed home.
Planning permission to add another floor to the main house and to build a 2-3 bedroomed apartment in the Pool Garden would easily be obtained and would significantly incease the capital and rental value of the property.
Jasmine operates with a staff of three who maintain the house and look after its guests. From morning tea to sumptuous tropical breakfasts, pool side lunches, rooftop dinners and beds turned down and spangled with frangipani flowers, you will be treated with great generosity of spirit, discretion and kindness.
Ten minutes stroll through the village will take you to the foot of the dunes over which lies the wild open ocean beach, or to the seawall at Peponi Hotel where the swimming beach starts. Within a few hours you will be recognised and recognising faces, in the street. Within two days people will greet you by name as you stop to by dates at the dukas and the children in the narrow lanes will all know which house you are staying in and the names of your own kids, who if they stray out through the brass furnished doors that lead from Jasmine's shaded garden and onto the lane, will be found under the neighbourly eye of the boatbuilders at the water's edge watching the calico cats forage for fish heads in the surf....and they will be safe.
Jasmine House is the heart of the Lamu Retreats website which was built around it and has evolved into a portfolio of some of Lamu's best destinations and one of the major booking agents to the island. A one man show we nevertheless operate 7 days a week and have booked since 2005 well over two thousand guests into Lamu and Shela. Totally web-based and operable from anywhere with internet access the business generates a good level of profit with few overheads. The Lamu Retreats website has the best search engine ratings of any operation selling this destination, is fast and accessible and currently being adapted for on-line credit card payments.
The World Bank has recently recognised plans which are afoot to build a deep water port in Manda Bay some 25kms up the Kenyan Coast from Shela. There will be a rail and oil pipeline linking Kenya to Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia and tourism development that will turn this area into the Dubai of East Africa. When this happens it is predicted that Lamu Town and Shela Village will become the equivalent of Kenya's Venice and property prices will rapidly escalate as the old Swahili Towns are exposed to new investors.
Included in the asking price are
-Jasmine House and Garden on two Municipal Plots FREEHOLD
-All fixed and movable assets to enjoy and maintain this property (traditional furniture including all four poster beds, mattresses, bedlinen, towels, white goods, appliances, crockery, cutlery, soft furnishings, generator set, traditional Swahili Plank Boat with new 30hp Outboard Engine etc etc). Everything replaced within the last three years.
-Lamu Retreats website and trading name. Trading accounts on application.
-Jasmine House Trading Co. A Kenyan Registered, dormant but paid up Limited Company.
A unique opportunity to own an incredibly exotic, easily accessible, hugely enjoyable, superbly romantic property that will not only continue to gain value but will earn you an income whilst it does so. Walk into a fully functional holiday home, lifetsyle and business.
