The sun and white sands go hand in hand, the sound of waves crashing ashore, there is a smell of salt in the air. This is an underrated description of Watamu, the coastal wonderland that set the stage for our week-long vacation this festive season. The precise location was Luwa Beach, a cozy beach resort right next to the ocean that gave us relaxing, delightful and stimulating experiences; everything you need for a satisfactory vacation. We chronicled these lovely experiences, hoping to bring you along our beautiful journey.
Day one: November 30, 2020
“Sprinkle, squish between my toes, the smell of ocean to my nose. I can feel each grain of sand,
it falls from air into my hand.”
Watamu looks out over the Indian Ocean, with its pristine white-sand beach that makes it a haven for beach lovers. We took a flight out from Nairobi, looking to usher in the festive season in style. The vacay is an exclusive invitation, courtesy of Miss Vanessa Tannoia, the owner of Luwa Beach.
On arrival, we had to take a 5-minute walk to the resort, since there was no road access to Luwa beach. Watamu has its own Marine National Park and conservation efforts are strictly enforced. The walk was as pleasant as can be, with views of the sands and tides providing enough compensation for our labor.
We checked into our rooms, mine neighboring the lovely beach. I could easily see the ocean from my window and fall asleep to the soothing sound of crashing waves. The African décor and paintings were lovely and inviting.We arrived just in time for lunch, a beef hamburger with fried eggs and tomatoes.
In the late afternoon, we caught a view of the enchanting sunset before dinner. Lo Sfizietto panzerottini was on the menu, an exceptionally made Italian dish made of tomato and mozzarella with tomato, onion and avocado salad, prepared by in-house chef, Maurizio. After the hearty meal, it was time to call it a day!
Day two: December 1, 2020
“I wanted freedom, open air, adventure. I found it on the sea.”
I caught up on some work. For lunch, Maurizio prepared another mouth watering Italian dish, Pollo grill con riso e mayo; Chicken grill with rice and Pesce Grill con riso, fish fillet with rice and mayonnaise.
Finally energized, the attire of choice was a bikini and a hat, perfect to ride the waves and get some sun. We set out on a mini sailboat for an enthralling cruising adventure and endless oceanic views. A can of tusker in hand, nothing better to quench the thirst in the middle of the ocean.
Back at the resort, the sunset was glorious with bluish highlights all around. Dinner was Maurizio’s own signature menu, Octopus Pilau along with Pasta con salsa di pomodor; Pasta with tomato sauce, and Pasta Granchio; Crab pasta.
It’s bedtime!
Day three: December 2, 2020
“History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul.”
The destination today was a historical site, the Ruins of Gede, a must-visit site while in Watamu. Gede is an ancient Swahili town along the East African coast dating back to the 12th Century. The delightful guide illuminated our souls with stories of the city, which was rebuilt in the 15th century but was later abandoned. No one knows why! It now lays in ruins with evident remnants of mosques, palaces and houses, still beautiful with marks of time and disaster. It was fun playing with the monkeys. The museum at Gede also houses turtles, lizards, snakes. We also stopped at the archeological site to see some cool pottery and skeleton artifacts.
After the historic escapade, a relaxing boat ride followed at Mida creek, the hidden secret of Watamu. The creek is a pristine tidal inlet that is better described as a mangrove paradise. With the calm waters and mangrove roots sticking out, nothing matches the natural beauty of the creek. We received customized 2021 calendars, which I hope portends a good year to come.
After a fun day touring Watamu, we were back at Luwa Beach for dinner. On the menu, rice with prawns, nuts, vegetables and soy sauce. Dessert was a papaya mousse with crumble nuts, mango and tamarind gel, another delectable creation by Maurizio.
Day 4: December 3, 2020
Stay Longer!
It’s been relaxing and beautiful, why not stay longer and soak up some more sun?
Maurizo prepared a delicious Margherita Pizza for lunch. I also tried lobster for the first time; a lot of convincing had to be done. It was… interesting.
Day 5: December 4, 2020
“It’s a big world out there, go explore.”
Therefore, we stayed one more day to explore a bit more of Watamu.
Day 6: December 5, 2020
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
Reality kicked in! Our wonderful vacation is over and we have to head back. After a wonderful five days, we bid farewell to our lovely host, Vanessa, the scrumptious Italian food by Maurizio and lovely Luwa Beach with sure promises of our return.
Our 6-day adventure at Luwa beach came to a cheerful conclusion and our chronicle entries are a testament to the fun experiences we had. If you also wish to experience the haven that is Luwa Beach, reach out to us on info@stylenerdsjournal.com for favorable rates.
A big thank you to Vanessa – our lovely host for the wonderful stay in Watamu. 
Want to stay at Luwabeach, let us know and we can plug you.
– Written by Mary Njehia
