Shimba Hills Lodge in Kwale: Kenya's Only Coastal Tree Lodge

A Rainforest Tree Lodge on Kenya's Coast

Tucked inside Kwale's rolling coastal forest, Shimba Hills Lodge draws the eye upward before anything else. The property is built as a tree lodge, the only one of its kind on Kenya's coast, with wood and natural materials shaping its airy interior. An open atrium full of tropical plants sits at the centre, and the open spaces around it keep the surrounding rainforest in constant view, giving the lodge what it calls a true "Jungle Feeling." (H7-2, H7-3)

A wooden walkway begins right at the lodge and runs straight into the forest canopy, so the surrounding nature feels less like a backdrop and more like an extension of the building itself. (H7-4)

Built in 1984, Still Standing in the Trees

The lodge dates to 1984, when it was constructed as a treehouse-style retreat within the protected forest landscape of Kwale. Its design language, warm timber framing and the open atrium at the heart of the structure, has shaped the atmosphere ever since. (H7-2, H7-3)

Setting Inside Shimba Hills

Shimba Hills Lodge sits in 192 square kilometres of national reserve terrain, where rolling hills give way to rainforest. The reserve is recognised as home to Kenya's last remaining breeding herd of a distinctive antelope species. The lodge is also described as just 45 minutes from Diani's silver beaches, making it a rare blend of forest immersion and coastal proximity. (H5-2)

Travelers who prefer not to walk the final stretch to the lodge can be transferred in by vehicle. (H5-1)

Where to Find It

The lodge's address is along the B92 road in Kubo South ward, placing it within reach of Kwale and the wider South Coast region of Kenya. (H1-1)

Rooms at a Glance

The property offers a small selection of accommodations, with three rooms available to guests choosing where to sleep. (H6-2)

On-Site Facilities

Guest amenities highlighted across listings include laundry service, non-smoking rooms, a restaurant, car park, internet services, a sunny terrace, airport transfer, a part-time nanny service for children and breakfast served to the room. (H6-1) A bar and garden are also part of the on-site offering, alongside free private parking. (H4-4)

Guest Impressions

Visitor write-ups often highlight the food, the cleanliness of rooms, sightings of local wildlife and encounters with bush babies near the lodge, all of which surface as common themes across reviews. (H3-4)

Practical Considerations

The lodge is set in Kwale, a short drive fromDiani Beachand around 4.3 km from Leisure Lodge Golf Club. Details such as specific room configurations, services and transfer arrangements may change over time, so it is worth confirming current offerings directly with the property before travel.