About Charming Lonno Lodge
The Charming Lonno Lodge is an owner-run boutique hotel located in Watamu, a couple of hours drive north of Mombasa.
The lodge offers guests peace and tranquility away from the crowds found on some of the busier beaches on the Kenyan coast.
What is lacks in a long white beach, Lonno Lodge more than makes up for in character. With its friendly staff, relaxed, peaceful atmosphere and pretty cliff views, we can understand why the property calls itself 'charming'. For those looking for a small boutique hotel in Watamu, away from the Mombasa crowds this is an excellent option.
Our view
What is lacks in a long white beach, Lonno Lodge more than makes up for in character. With its friendly staff, relaxed, peaceful atmosphere and pretty cliff views, we can understand why the property calls itself 'charming'. For those looking for a small boutique hotel in Watamu, away from the Mombasa crowds this is an excellent option.
Accommodation
8 guest rooms
Children
Best for 8+
Open
Closed mid April - 1st July
Activities
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Scuba-diving
Snorkelling
Watersports
Traveller reviews of Charming Lonno Lodge
1 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 8 Feb 2019, 3 nights
"Charming Lonno Lodge - a stunning retreat"
Overall rating: Excellent










Expert Africa's gallery
When we travel we take lots of photos ourselves to give you a real and un-edited view of the holidays. See our 22 pictures of Charming Lonno Lodge to get the candid view.
View galleryCharming Lonno Lodge: Our full report
The Charming Lonno Lodge is an owner-run boutique hotel located in Watamu, a couple of hours drive north of Mombasa.
The lodge offers guests peace and tranquility away from the crowds found on some of the busier beaches on the Kenyan coast.
With it's wonderful fusion of Italian and Swahili architecture The Charming Lonno Lodge is a property quite unlike anywhere else that we have seen on the beach. The lodge is located on a small craggy cliff offering excellent views of this wilder, quieter stretch of coastline.
Lonno Lodge has eight guest rooms (four deluxe rooms and four larger suites) each slightly different in size and design, but all with beautiful exposed brick, polished concrete floors, and access to private outdoor space to relax. The top tower room has particularly impressive views across the coast from its rooftop terrace. Everything felt light and airy, with a gentle sea breeze keeping the rooms cool (there are fans too if needed).
The rooms are fitted with Swahili-style beds, and chunky dark wooden furniture and lanterns. African masks and artwork are displayed across the whole lodge, from the main communal areas through to the bedrooms. On a more practical note each room has a water dispenser, tea/coffee making facilities and a mini bar. There are small TVs which allow guests to log into Netflix (no live TV). Bathrooms are fairly simple in design, with a shower and no bathtub, but toiletries and a hairdryer are provided.
A short walk away from the guest rooms is the saltwater swimming pool, with plenty of sunloungers and seating options around the pool itself, and slightly further away in shade overlooking the ocean. Next to the pool is the bar, restaurant and reception area that are housed under a vast thatched roof. A huge, life-size metal giraffe takes centre stage in the middle of the restaurant.
Nearby is the open-sided massage cabana, and some steps down to the small beach which is exposed at low tide. It is a very quiet and secluded spot, and you won't find curio sellers trading their wares here.
While there are very few on-site activities offered at the lodge, they do have a couple of bikes for hire, and the owners encourage guests to explore the local area. The team will happily help to arrange watersports activities or excursions with local partners. This area sits within the Watamu National Marine Park, which means it is a good snorkelling and diving location. It is also possible to organise kite-surfing, canoeing inside the Mida Creek, a Dhow Cruise sail and slightly further afield deep-sea fishing.
One popular option is to wade-walk along the coast at low-tide (reef shoes can be loaned to guests) to Watamu town and then tuk-tuk back to the lodge. Other nearby sights include: Turtle Watch, Ecoworld Watamu, Marafa Depression, and the Arabuko Sokoke National Park.
Geographics
- Location
- Kenya Coast, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 3 nights plus
- Directions
- The closest airport is Malindi, approx 40 mins drive from the lodge. Mombasa Airport is approx 2.5 hours drive, depending on the traffic and road conditions.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Half Board
- Food quality
- We really enjoyed the food at Lonno Lodge, where clearly a lot of thought and care goes into both the cooking and the presentation of all of the meals. The restaurant is small and only caters to in-house guests.
Breakfast is a small buffet (of cereals, breads and fruits), with eggs and hot food cooked to order. Lunch and dinner are set menus and guests can choose a "light" option at lunchtime if they wish - usually just a single course and fresh fruit. There is of course an emphasise on locally caught, fresh seafood, but dishes vary daily and there is often a Swahili - Italain flair to the menu.
Complimentary tea and cake is served in the late afternoon.
While the menu's are technically set the team would be happy to cater outside of the daily suggestions with advance notice. The lodge really prides themselves on being able to cater for a wide-range of dietary preferences and allergies, particularly gluten-free and vegetarian meals. The team have even created The Charming Lonno Lodge Cookbook which can be downloaded as a PDF if you want to try out some of the recipes when you get back home - ask them for details! - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- No room service offered.
- Drinks included
- Extra cost, reasonably priced.
Children
- Attitude towards children
- There are no age restrictions but the property prefers well behaved children that will not disturb other guests trying to relax.
- Property’s age restrictions
- None
- Special activities & services
- None
- Equipment
- Basic equipment on-site (eg cot and highchair). Some suites have extra beds suitable for children.
- Generally recommended for children
- We feel that the lodge had a more mature atmosphere when we visited. However, the swimming pool will be appealing for younger guests and there are family sized suites, meaning that this can be a suitable option for this travelling with slightly elder children who are able to entertain themselves.
Communications
- Power supply notes
- Another impressive architectural feature of the lodge is their 'solar boulevard', a romantic Mediterranean style archway built just to discreetly support the lodge's solar panels.
- Communications
- WiFi throughout and good phone signal.
- TV & radio
- There are TV's in the rooms with Netflix and YouTube only.
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- All rooms fully plumbed, the lodge has its own desalination system.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- There is a First Aid Kit on site and there is a small hospital in Watamu town.
- Dangerous animals
- Low Risk
- Security measures
- Askaris (security guards) patrol the site and there is an security gate at the entrance.
- Fire safety
- Extinguishers and hoses dotted throughout the property.
Activities
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Scuba-diving
Snorkelling
Watersports
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- There is a laundry service offered for a small addional cost.
- Money
- There are electronic safes in each guest room.
- Accepted payment on location
- Cash (Kenya Shilling, US Dollar and Euro) as well as credit cards are accepted (Visa, MasterCard and Amex).
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Charming Lonno Lodge's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Charming Lonno Lodge.
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When to go to Kenya Coast
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Charming Lonno Lodge in Kenya Coast
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Kenya in January
Clear, hot days and warm nights make this high season a popular time for safaris and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling as water clarity is excellent and gets better as the dry season progresses. Most lodges and tented camps treat January after the New Year week is over, as mid-season, making it a good compromise in terms of value for money with reasonably reliable, dry weather and some greenery left in the landscape.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in January, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, January is the second driest month of the year
- Elephants dig waterholes in the dry riverbed in the Samburu reserve.
- Wildebeest and many antelope have their calving season, to February.
- Migrant birds are seen in huge numbers, especially in the Rift Valley.
- Sea water clarity around the coral reefs generally good.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in January
Kenya in February
With the short dry season well established, the grass grazed down and wildlife gathering close to water points, this is still a good time for a safari. Good water clarity in the Indian Ocean's coastal waters makes for excellent diving and snorkelling conditions.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in February, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, February is the driest month of the year.
- It’s sometimes possible to swim with whale sharks at Diani Beach.
- Migrant birds are still seen everywhere, especially near water.
- This is usually peak calving season for wildebeest and many antelopes.
- This month is often the hottest of the year, especially on the coast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in February
Kenya in March
Hot, increasingly humid weather – with good diving and snorkelling conditions at the start of the month – gives way to rains and lower accommodation costs. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in March, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and predicting the seasons since the beginning of this century has been difficult.
March is the month when – traditionally – intensely hot conditions build up until a cloudburst finally happens at the end of the month or in early April, to relieve the humidity. As ever, regional variations across the country can greatly impact on visitors' experiences.
- Sea-water clarity is best for diving before the long rains start.
- Visitor numbers are low, though the Easter holidays can be busier.
- Night skies can be scintillatingly clear in early March.
- Cropped down savannah grasses can make it easier to see the wildlife.
- Temperartures climb high, especially at lower elevations.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in March
Kenya in April
April sees the full onset of the southeast monsoon wind or kusi, which heralds the long rains. Temperatures drop soon after the rains are established and you’ll often have facilities largely to yourself in this more affordable low season, sometimes known as the "green season". The bush quickly springs to life, with greenery sprouting almost before your eyes. While you're likely to get a fair number of heavy showers, the breaks in the rain can yield sparklingly clear conditions.
With the dust settled and bright sun piercing the clouds, conditions can be sublime for photography, especially first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon with another storm brewing. You may be lucky, or you may find conditions very wet and muddy.
- A wet month, the coast often gets more than 300mm (12in) of rain.
- Sunny spells can provide great light for photography.
- Buffalo and zebra calving season often happens in this month.
- Baby crocodiles hatch, for example on Central Island in Lake Turkana.
- Palearctic migrant birds gather to fly north to breeding grounds.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in April
Kenya in May
While game viewing can be trickier as vegetation runs riot, between the cloudbursts the colours and light are great for photography at this time of year. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in May, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and while it's reasonable to expect heavy rains in many parts during this month, especially on the coast, the rains don't always come evenly or in some areas come at all.
In an El Niño year, the so-called long rains that normally are established across much of the country by May can be meagre, to the despair of farmers. On the other hand in a La Niña year, the long rains can bring floods. On the coast, the monsoon winds make the climate much more predictable, with heavy rains common throughout this month.
- Frogs breed in the ponds in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest near Watamu.
- Wildebeest, impala and other grazers are in rut (the breeding season).
- Kilimanjaro looks its best as heavy rain falls as snow on the summit.
- There's a sharp peek of rainfall on the coast with many rainy days.
- Accommodation prices are uniformly low, while some camps close.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in May
Kenya in June
The rains give way to cloudy, cooler weather, often making for comfortable conditions by the end of the month, especially in the highlands. Starting from mid-June or the beginning of July and running until the end of October, this is the high season, and accordingly has higher accommodation rates and – at least until early September – higher numbers of visitors.
While the early part of June can often be rainy on the coast, it can be a great time to go on safari, with fresh greenery, many young animals and good photographic conditions with clear air.
- The Taru Desert, inland from the coast, is carpeted with flowers.
- The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is held in Loiyangalani.
- Madaraka Day (commemorating self rule) is 1 June.
- The annual Lewa marathon runs a course through the wildlife.
- The Diani Rules "sports" event rips up the rulebook at Diani Beach.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in June
Kenya in July
Kenya’s “winter" season sets in (winter is a misnomer but locals feel the change), and the highlands can be rather grey. Skies are often cloudy and the days can be surprisingly cool, with an average daytime high in many highland safari areas of 15-20°C and night-time temperatures dropping below 10°C in Nairobi and the highlands. Lower parts of the country and the coast are usually warm and dry, typically reaching highs of around 25°C with lows in the high teens.
As this is the start of the high season, coinciding with the usual arrival of the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara, July is a busy month. Ask your Expert Africa specialist to advise on how to avoid the crowds, which is not that difficult to do.
- The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara in July.
- Simbi Lake (Kisumu) and Crater Lake (Naivasha) can attract flamingoes.
- Watersports start to pick up and some surfing is possible at Malindi.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are a common feature in the Maasai Mara.
- The sea can be choppy along the coast, making diving difficult.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in July
Kenya in August
The Great Migration fills the plains of the Maasai Mara, and school’s out, so the park roads are full of tourists – ask your Expert Africa specialist for advice on crowd avoidance tactics. Choose a private conservancy rather than a public national park or national reserve for quieter conditions.
Like July, August is generally mild and relatively dry in the safari areas, but it can be very chilly in the highlands, even in the middle of the day, and hail occasionally falls above altitudes of around 2,400m (8,000ft). Nairobi can be disappointingly overcast, with low cloud.
- Apart from Christmas holidays, this is the busiest month of the year.
- Late August sees peak wildebeest drama at the Mara River crossings.
- Coastal winds are good for kite- and wind-surfing.
- Few mosquitoes are around at this generally dry time of year.
- The annual Camel Derby takes place in the Samburu capital, Maralal.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in August
Kenya in September
The skies clearing of cloud signals the start of hot, dry weather with little chance of rain – and, after the first few days of the month, far fewer visitors – making the latter part of September a good time for a quieter safari. While early September is often good for dramatic migration crossings along the Mara River, you might consider deliberately postponing your trip until later in the month, when the migration can still be very impressive and visitor numbers fewer.
If tourist surges are somewhat predictable, however, the patterns of the wildebeest migration are more volatile, and like all of Expert Africa's climate and weather assessments, they are based on accumulated years of experience rather than guaranteed certainty.
- This is still high season, with prices to match.
- Many river crossings take place on the Mara river in both directions.
- Natural bush fires flush out insects and small animals for predators.
- The Rift Valley Music Festival takes place by Lake Naivasha.
- With school holidays over by early September, late-month is quieter.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in September
Kenya in October
Still hot, mostly dry and not too busy, this is many people’s preferred month for a safari, and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling. The wildebeest and zebra herds of the great migration are often still to be seen, though in dwindling numbers. The swamps of Amboseli attract thirsty wildlife including large herds of elephants.
While we wouldn't expect much rain across most of the country this month, the climate has become so unpredictable that you can never say never, and the possibiity of the short rains – usually associated with November to mid-December, starting early, can't be discounted.
- This month sees the tail end of the great migration in the Mara.
- Palearctic migrant birds start to arrive, staying until March.
- Turtle nests hatch at Watamu, until November.
- Amboseli elephants focus on the swamps for their daily water.
- The Indian Ocean monsoon winds turn from southeast to northeast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
Kenya in November
The northeast monsoon wind or kaskazi heralds the start of the “short rains", usually some time in the second half of the month. From November to mid-December, this is the low season, and accordingly has lower accommodation rates and lower visitor numbers. Across most of the country you can expect warm, somewhat cloudy weather, with occasional heavy showers and localised flooding.
Expert Africa bases its description of the climate in November, like the other months of the year, on the records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable: some years the short rains don't come at all, or don't reach every part of the country. In an El Niño year, the November short rains can be very heavy, but in a La Niña year, they can fail completely.
- Swimming with dolphins in Lamu can be done from now until April.
- Birders gather at Ngulia in Tsavo West to ring Palearctic migrants.
- The Lamu Cultural Festival takes over the town and Lamu Creek.
- Agricultural shows often take place regional market towns.
- This is low season, so camps can be great value, with special offers.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in November
Kenya in December
In a typical December, the rains usually finish by middle of the month, leaving the landscape looking its best, under clear blue skies, and heralding the start of the second peak tourist season from around 20 December to the first week of January. Our assessment of the likely weather in December, like the other months of the year, is based on climate records, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
Christmas can sometimes be wet, but most years the rains have finished a week or two earlier, with the festive season ushering in the perfect combination of clear skies and sunshine by day and starry nights.
- Christmas and New Year are busy, with the lodges and camps full.
- Rates are highest after 24 Dec, with supplements on public holidays.
- Republic Day and Independence day are celebrated on 12 December.
- Good kite- and wind-surfing restarts, with strong northeasterly winds.
- Mango season begins, providing excitement for primates and elephants.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in December

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