Bamburi Beach Hotel-All Inclusive

Bamburi Beach Hotel Mombasa is a newly refurbished hotel facing the Indian Ocean, a 20-minute drive north of Mombasa. It is an all-inclusive hotel, so all meals are provided. The all-inclusive rates however do not include the mini-bar, bottled water, diet drinks or ice-cream.

The 3-storey white-washed hotel has crenellated balconies and round Arabic minarets as unique architectural features. There are a total of150 rooms which are finished with tiled floors and decorated with Arabian style furniture. All the rooms have air-conditioning, an ensuite bathroom with a shower, TV with a DVD player, coffee and tea making facilities, an in-room safe and a private balcony.

Rooms come with either two double beds or a queen and a single and are spacious enough for an extra bed or a rollaway cot. Most rooms command a lovely view of the ocean.

The hotel has a private beachfront and a wooden boardwalk which runs parallel to the beach. Sunbeds and umbrellas are placed along the boardwalk so guests can tan and relax while enjoying fabulous ocean views. Grounds are lushly landscaped.

There is a 24-hour room service. All rooms are cleaned and towels and linens changed daily.

Total number of rooms:    150

Restaurants
There are 3 restaurants. A buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the Ziwani Restaurant which also stages themed dinners three days a week. The Ziwani serves international, vegetarian and Indian food, including some excellent curries. Dine on seafood and meat dishes to the sound of running water from the fountain at the Karibu Grill, while the Karibu snack bar serves pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and pancakes for tea. Guests of  Bamburi Beach Hotel who wish to dine al la carte at its specialty restaurant, the Fisherman’s Cave, receive a 20% discount.

There are four bars, with the Dhow bar, designed with an African nautical theme, opened all day and all night. The others are the Karibu Bar, the Pool Bar and the bar in the Fisherman’s Cave.

Swimming pool
There are two large free-form swimming pools, one at the front of the hotel and the other at the rear. The main pool is nicely complemented by three rising jet fountains and a jacuzzi. The pool at the back of the Bamburi Beach Hotel in Mombasa is adjacent to the kid’s pool and the Adventure Center for kids.

Entertainment
After dinner, the fun starts with dancing in the disco, live performances featuring traditional dancers and acrobatic acts, live music bingo and crab-racing on the beach.

Things To Do
Water aerobics, squash in two air-conditioned squash courts, gym, table-tennis, beach volleyball and all forms of water sports. Bamburi Beach provides free scuba-diving lessons in the swimming pools.

Water sports such as snorkeling, windsurfing, glass bottom boating, deep sea fishing, canoeing and pedal boating cost extra. Kids between the ages of 4-12 have specially designed activities at the Adventure Club.

During down time, enjoy a relaxing massage at the beauty salon or borrow some DVDs from the hotel library for viewing in your room.

What’s Cool
Good food and good variety. The hotel is basic but is good value for money.

What’s Not
The evening entertainment leaves room for improvement. As the pool can be heavily chlorinated, it is best to wear dark-colored swimwear; the lighter colored ones end up being bleached yellow. The beach is sometimes covered in seaweed, although some guests suggesting walking either to the left or right to the public beach.

Location
On, Bamburi Beach. Mombasa, Kenya

Directions
12 km north of central Mombasa and 23 km from Moi International Airport.