Raved and ranked as one of the most unique hotels in the region, Watamu Treehouse is an eco-friendly boutique hotel in Kenya where I had the pleasure of spending my birthday this year.
I knew it would be a memorable experience from the moment I arrived.
Surrounded by lush greenery, breathtaking ocean views, and the calming sounds of nature, Watamu Treehouse provided everything I needed for a rejuvenating escape that I am thrilled to share.
In this blog post, I will talk about my stay at Watamu Treehouse and explain why I think it’s worth booking a stay there.
Disclaimer: Views are of my own accord.
This blog post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book one of these activities using my link (and I know you will because you loved how helpful this blog post is 🙂, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting BCJ!
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How to Book Your Stay
Booking a stay at Watamu Treehouse begins on their website.
Navigate to the Contact Page
Once you have an idea of what room you want to book, you’ll go to the Contact Page and submit a booking query, which involves submitting your desired dates, the number of rooms needed, and the people in your group.
I received a confirmation email immediately after that containing a summary of the information I had placed in the booking request.
Securing Your Booking
The following day, I received a detailed email from the property explaining what rooms were available for my desired dates, the cost, transportation to the hotel, and how to finalize the booking.
I had to pay 50% of the booking amount to secure my room and then the other 50% 30 days before the date.
The hotel has different payment methods available. I chose to pay through their booking link, which was super easy and allowed me to pay using my credit card.
Checking Into Watamu Treehouse
I flew from Nairobi to Malindi Airport using Jambojet and then took a 20-minute taxi from Malindi to Watamu to the hotel.
It was an early morning flight, so I arrived around 9 a.m., although my check-in time was at 12 p.m.
As soon as I arrived, I was greeted with a warm hug, seated at one of the tables, and served a welcome drink and a cool towel to refresh myself.
I signed some paperwork, had some of the rules and things to know about the property explained to me, and my room was ready around 10:30 —11 a.m.
When I booked the room, I mentioned that I would be arriving early and that it would be great to check in early, even if I had to pay an additional fee.
The staff let me know that they couldn’t make any promises, but if the room was ready beforehand, I would be able to check in, so I greatly appreciated the fact that I was able to get settled earlier than planned.
Rooms Available
Watamu Treehouse has a total of 7 rooms available.
As a guest, you can select a room on either the upper or lower level of the Treehouse.
All of the rooms include their own bathroom, toilet, and shower. They overlook the Indian Ocean or the sunset over the forest, if not both.
Of course, the difference between the upper and lower level rooms may be how great and wide of a view you have the higher up you are.
I originally wanted a room on the upper level, but none were available, so I received one on the lower level.
A Look Inside of the Aqua Room
Each room at Watamu Treehouse has a name; mine was the Aqua Room.
A room on one of the lower level floors, I immediately fell in love with the open-air and spacious nature of the Aqua Room.
Inclusive of a toilet and shower, as promised, I love how the rooms provide some privacy while still making you feel completely immersed in nature.
During the evening, the staff would come into the rooms and secure the mosquito net to prevent mosquitos from getting inside while guests are sleeping.
My room also contained a desk, a lounging area, a safe, and a monkey box to store small valuables—because visitors are part of the Watamu Treehouse experience, and I had a pair of sunglasses stolen!
While I originally wanted a room on the top floor, I am super happy that I received one of the lower-level rooms on the 3rd floor because the stairs are no joke. While it is a great mini-workout, it was tiring going up and down for activities, even with me being on the lower level, so it all worked out.
The Cost of My Stay
Breakfast is included in the price of the rooms, but you can also choose to select a meal plan, which I did to avoid leaving the property for every meal.
I chose the Single Occupancy, Half Board option, which means I received breakfast and one other meal each day of my stay, either lunch or dinner.
The total amount of my 2-night stay was USD 490 with the $245/night rate.
It was definitely one of my more pricer stays, but it was so worth it.
I would stay again for the price but likely avoid selecting a meal plan, which you’ll read about later in this blog post.
The Watamu Treehouse Property
When I entered, the property appeared to be a nature-centered retreat.
All of its structures and installations are built amid the forest, so plenty of trees and greenery are around.
As you go up the floors, the view widens, and you can take in the beauty of the surroundings. The decor feels minimalistic yet intentional, giving off a cozy, inviting aura as a guest and letting you know that it is time to unwind and center yourself.
Cool Swimming Pool
One of the best parts of the Treehouse is the natural cool pool, which is said to stay at the same temperature year-round. Given the tropical climate in Watamu, the pool was a great place to lounge and dip after a day of exploring or for some much-needed “me time.”
Verandas + Lounging Spaces
An intentional touch at Watamu Treehouse is the verandas and plenty of lounging areas scattered throughout the property, where guests can relax and unwind.
Tucked away in various corners, I used these spaces to journal, catch up on my book, and truly take in the peaceful surroundings.
Meals at Watamu Treehouse
The hotel’s food is healthy, vegan, and vegetarian, and it includes some seafood. However, no meat is served at the property, so I would keep this in mind if you are a meat eater.
The dishes were freshly prepared, so I was asked whether I had lunch or dinner with the staff daily so they could prepare my meal.
A Typical Meal
I was pleasantly surprised to see that three-course meals are served at the property, and not just a main dish, as I expected.
Here are what some of the meals I received looked like:
Breakfast:
• Fresh juice and fruit with home-made muesli and coconut yoghurt
• Eggs and toast
• Smoothie bowl
Lunch/Dinner:
• Leak pea soup
• Fish, chapati, vegetables, and potatoes
• Quinoa, fish cakes, chapati , veggies
Dining Spaces
There are a few different dining areas around the property, and every day, a chart is posted to let me know where I will be having my meals, which I love.
A staff member told me that this is done to ensure that guests can experience all of the different dining areas, which I think is a great idea.
Should I Get A Meal Plan?
If you plan to stay on the property for the majority of your time in Watamu, then I would say yes, as it is the most convenient thing to do.
However, after the first day or so, I found myself a bit tired of the offerings as they became repetitive.
The food was fresh and healthy, but I got tired of it fairly quickly and found the food at outside restaurants more flavorful.
If you don’t choose a meal plan, you can always opt for meals later.
Activities Offered at Watamu Treehouse
Beach Access
A private pathway at Watamu Treehouse leads directly to the beach with a short walk through the forest.
Massages
Receive a massage from one of the massage therapists in an open-air room overlooking the forest.
I received several massages during my stay, and they were all amazing.
The openness of the room meant that I could enjoy my massage with relaxing music and the sounds of nature as a backdrop.
Yoga Classes
Instructors offer yoga classes for all ages and skill levels, and they are also open to those who do not stay at the Treehouse.
Classes are held in the Top Studio on the highest floor of the property or in a forest area witha dedicated yoga space.
Sunrise Stand-Up Paddleboard yoga classes are also available.
Excursion Tours/Activity Offerings
Watamu Treehouse also provides a range of different activities that you can sign up for at an additional rate.
Some of the activities include:
- Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Mangrove Forest/Beach Walks
- Snorkeling
- Dolphin Watching
- Dhow Trips
Dolphin Cruise Experience
I wanted to go on a dolphin morning cruise to start the day of my birthday, and the staff helped me organize everything.
Around 6 a.m., I set off on a private boat with a captain and tour guide and spotted plenty of dolphins that morning.
The staff packed a few snacks, hot tea, and a cool drink for me, the captain, and the guide to enjoy, which was yet another thoughtful touch.
After the snack break, I even got to go snorkeling, which was a treat as a nonswimmer!
I paid 12000 KSH ($92.84) for this experience, and I feel that it was a great value for the money.
My Birthday Surprise
On my birthday, after the dolphin crew experience, I planned to have lunch outside the property.
The staff always called a tuk-tuk for outside travel, which they arranged for me to take to a local restaurant on that day.
Once it arrived, one of the staff members called my name out and told me that it was waiting in the parking area.
I went out, and to my surprise, as soon as I turned around, almost all of the staff members on the property were in a group and started singing to me in Swahili with a freshly baked cake.
It was so unexpected and thoughtful that it almost brought me to tears.
Although I was in Kenya celebrating my birthday alone, it felt so good to be surrounded by people who didn’t make me feel lonely.
The Staff/Family
The staff at Watamu Treehouse truly deserves a dedicated section in this recap because my birthday stay and overall trip to Kenya would not have been so memorable without them.
The staff truly feels more like family than just staff members doing their jobs daily.
The care, attention to detail, and number of times that I saw everyone go above and beyond to ensure that each guest was having a great time are incredible.
I would be inside the pool, and suddenly, someone would appear with a glass of fresh coconut water without me asking.
I was always offered assistance for anything I needed, and there was always a staff member at the beach because it was public, and they wanted to make sure that guests were okay.
Everyone always had a very pleasant and positive attitude.
They would take the time to speak with me, even in very casual conversations, invite me into the office to sit down and talk, etc.
I always say that people make a destination or a good stay, and there is nothing further than the truth about this at Watamu Treehouse.
Would I Stay Here Again?
I would stay at Watamu Treehouse again, as it checked off all of my boxes regarding what I look for in a good stay that I’d want to recommend to others.
Based on my experience, I do not doubt that the staff at Watamu Treehouse will take care of future guests, and the property will be maintained to give future guests the same incredible experience I had during my stay.
If life ever brings me back to Watamu, this stay will be a top choice.
