Where to stay in Kilifi: Peaceful Stays Along the Kenyan Coast
Kilifi is much more than a strip of identical beach front hotels. Accommodation ranges from boutique cottages, to eco-lodges and backpackers. Here is a comprehensive guide of where to stay while visiting Kilifi.
1. The Twisted Fig
The Twisted Fig offers on site accommodation set within 50 acres of protected forest, making it perfect for your next nature retreat. Here you have the option to pick between two self-contained cottages, equipped with Wifi, a private verandah and kitchenette, or safari style tents with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. The Twisted Fig accommodation is a short walk away from the restaurant, which is ideal when you want to eat something gourmet from our menu. Waking up to bird song and the wind rustling through the trees, the Twisted Fig accommodation is a peaceful nature escape that promises that you’ll leave feeling rested and rejuvenated.
2. Salty’s Kite Surfing Village
Salty's Kitesurf Village sits on Bofa Beach, built around an IKO-accredited kitesurfing centre with a boutique hotel, bar, and restaurant attached. Rooms range from budget shared "Surfers Economy" options to private suites with garden views. Whether you’re planning your next watersports vacation or looking for somewhere with beach views to recuperate, Salty’s Kite Surfing Village is definitely one to consider.
3. The Shamba Community
The Shamba is a small, garden-set guesthouse in Kilifi offering private rooms and cosy tents. They have a shared kitchen, an outdoor fireplace and picnic area. The location is pet friendly and truly cultivates a sense of community. It's a quieter, more residential option, closer to staying at a friend's place than a hotel.
4. Distant Relatives
Distant Relatives is an eco-lodge and backpackers on Kilifi Creek, about 3 kilometres outside town. Rooms range from double and family rooms to dorm beds. The lodge runs on permaculture principles with composting toilets, greywater systems, and handcrafted furniture from recycled materials. From Distant Relatives you can access the Creekside beach, there’s a communal kitchen, and a restaurant on-site.
5. Silver Palm Spa and Resort
Silver Palm Spa and Resort is a 4-star beachfront property in Mnarani, perched on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. It has 38 rooms across a mix of standard rooms and suites, three restaurants, a full-service spa, an outdoor pool, and tennis courts. It's the more conventional resort option in Kilifi, suited to travellers who want spa days and structured amenities alongside the coastline.
Ready to book your next vacation in Kilifi? The Twisted Fig offers two private cottages and four safari-style tents set within the forest grounds, available year-round. Check availability and book here.