As soon as we set foot on our vacation in Kenya, at the Blue Bay Village in Watamu, we had the impression of entering someone's house. Nothing to do with the uncharacteristic resorts that we have always imagined characterizing the coasts of this paradise of Africa.
Maurizio Vaccarella has lived in Kenya for thirty-two years. He runs the Blue Bay Village on behalf of I Grandi Viaggi as if it were his own home, and that's the feeling you get when you enter the resort and see it go around the tables at lunch and dinner, always with a word and a smile for everyone on your lips.
Blue Bay Village: one of the most prestigious resorts for a holiday in Kenya
Waking up in a large canopy bed covered with an imperial mosquito net, putting your feet on the colonial wood floor, wearing a costume and pareo, all you need to enjoy a day of relaxation on the white beach like talcum powder or by the pool, in the heart of the Blue Bay.
Have breakfast with mango and papaya to which Luca has developed a real addiction and then off under the umbrella to finish the book that has kidnapped us since its first lines: Tales of Africa by Bill Bryson.
Walking on the beach enjoying the phenomenon of tides that changes face every six hours. Go in search of anemones and starfish. Observe the happiness of Manina in the face of the wonder of nature.
In the afternoon, discover one of the most important archaeological sites in the country, just a five-minute drive from Blue Bay: the ruins of Gede, an ancient Swahili city inhabited between the 12th and 17th centuries.
Go back to the pool and enjoy a cocktail while you wait for dinner while Manina is engaged in an endless series of dives.
In the evening, admire the stars in this boundless sky that only Africa can give you.
How many times do you dream of spending days like this while you are overwhelmed by work in the office? Well, this was our reality in the days we spent on the coast of Watamu before leaving for a fantastic experience that we will never forget and that we will talk about soon: the safari to the Tsavo East!
Blue Bay Village: the things we loved the most
We'll never forget the Blue Bay:
The colonial aperitif at sunset on the beach, in the air the notes of the soundtrack of My Africa and the scent of freshly cooked crepes, while staging one of the most beautiful natural shows ever, the red and fiery sunset as the land of this wonderful country.
The idyllic location on the Watamu Peninsula: the Blue Bay is located in one of the most beautiful spots on the Kenyan coast within the Watamu Marine Park. Nearby you can visit some of the most famous beaches in the country as the 'Island of Love' and 'Sardinia 2' that will make your holiday in Kenya special.
The colonial-style furniture: I love to admire the details in the furniture because they hide much of the personality of those who thought of them and at Blue Bay I fell madly in love with the pillows scattered here and there in the resort, made by local craftsmen with recycled materials and African fabrics that covered seats and poufs. Not to mention the small shop in the village where I bought a wonderful skirt with local fabrics designed by Maurizio's wife and sewn by a Kenyan seamstress.
The dimensions collected: the Blue Bay is spread over eleven acres and is deliberately collected just to give the idea of being in a large villa and feel as if you were guests at the home of someone who lives here. It consists of one hundred and fifty rooms, some facing the sea and other larger overlooking the garden and swimming pool.
African dinner with your feet in the sand: one evening a week you dine directly on the beach testing dishes of Kenyan cuisine, very wide and rich in choices. One of the typical dishes is certainly the Sambusa, triangular dumplings filled with spicy minced meat and vegetables. Illuminated only by the moon and candles, we also tried the plane tree makote, the Kachumbari the classic Kenyan salad to accompany dishes prepared with chopped tomatoes, onions and lemons and biryani, rice with vegetables sautéed in a pan with soy sauce.
For those who want there is the possibility, paying a surcharge and booking in advance, to dine on the beach on any other day of the week.
Why choose a resort for a holiday in Kenya
This was our first trip to Africa with Manina. Many of you have asked us if it was necessary to do additional vaccinations or antimalarial prophylaxis. The choice to stay in a resort has allowed us to leave peacefully knowing that the village constantly reclaims the area where it stands against mosquitoes, in the evening are sprayed with insecticides and each room is equipped with mosquito nets.
The food is controlled and cooked in perfect hygienic conditions so neither anti-tification nor vaccination against hepatitis A is necessary. In addition, the doctor is called whenever his presence is necessary.
At Blue Bay, we felt at home and this allowed us to live an unforgettable experience during our holiday in Kenya.
Useful info to organize a holiday in Kenya
The resort in these photos is the Blue Bay Village of I Grandi Viaggi Official and is located in Watamu. Remember that to enter Kenya you need a visa that can be purchased directly at your arrival at the airport (in euros or dollars) or online before you leave.