A coastal ‘Treetops’ Lodge, the Shimba Hills
Lodge is one of the most atmospheric tree hotels in
Kenya offering luxury facilities and unique day and
night wildlife viewing. Faced in pitch-dark timber
the lodge is built to resemble a tree house and is
picturesquely located deep in a forest glade and
surrounded by ancient cycad palms, liana-hung
hardwoods and rare forest blooms. There are also a
number of nature walks and game drives to be
enjoyed. Shimba Hills is one of the few places in
all of Kenya’s National Reserves from which guests
can experience the wilderness on foot.
Shimba Hills Lodge is in the Shimba Hills National
Reserve, which lies just beyond Wa, which is a small
town in the hills behind the coast – 35 kms (45
minute’s drive) from Mombasa.
Shimba Hills Lodge can accommodate up to 65
guests. All rooms have balconies facing the water
hole. The rooms, although small, are light and
cheerful with big windows. Most rooms share communal
bathroom facilities; two suites are self-contained.
There are two self-contained suites, 24 doubles and
five triples (ceiling fans, mosquito nets).
The open fronted dining room allows unrestricted
game and bird viewing at all times, and an elevated
walkway extending well into the forest gives peace
seeking visitors a few rare moments alone with
nature. There are three bar areas, the most unique
being the Jungle Bar, which is at the end of a long
winding wooden walkway. At night floodlights
illuminate the waterhole.
The lodge overlooks a waterhole and is a bird-
and animal-watcher’s paradise. Dramatic black and
white colobus monkeys, herds of elephant and
graceful giraffes are often seen at Shimba. A wooden
walkway extending 120 m into the forest leads to a
viewing spot that allows for the unobtrusive viewing
of birds and butterflies. Other adventures include a
visit to Sheldrick Falls, or an evening game drive
followed by a walk through the forest that ends with
drinks and snacks in a glade.
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