Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers

The staff were the best part for us, very professional and welcoming. Thanks for hosting us! It’s a great budget find, with lovely bungalows that have private bathrooms and toilets, set in a tropical garden full of quirky decorations. There's a communal kitchen with monkey-proof cabinets, plus a decent pool and a lounge area with nice cushions. A small beach nearby is a place to see the biolumniscent algues, and it's safe to get there even after dark. They have musical performances on Thursdays or weekends, but the sleeping area doesn't get party noise.

Food at the cafe was the main downside. It was quite expensive for somewhere mostly frequented by backpackers, though I guess outside guests may help explain the higher prices. The dorms were clean, and my bed was comfortable. It's a nice spot with a short walk down to the creek, a clean pool beside the bar and restaurant seating, and refillable water at a dispenser. It wasn't very cold, but cold enough. The showers were decent. Only one toilet had a bum gun.

You can walk straight from the back door to Creek Beach, which is fascinating, and the way nature blends with the facilities is incredible. It's a great place to stay if you like being surrounded by nature. That setting also means there's nothing nearby. The city is a bit far and not walking distance, so you're basically stuck eating at the restaurant here. The food quality is decent, but it's not budget-friendly for backpackers and the choices are very limited.

The living setup at DR (Distant Relatives) is really cool. I started with a tent, then got bumped up to a private Banda when my friend couldn't make it. It had a compost toilet, urinal, shower, bunk bed, and queen size bed with mosquito nets. The showers are cold or room temp. I still got bitten several times in the middle of the night, so maybe the bugs are navy seals. It's a hostel / glamping compound, with a BEACH, restaurant, and bar. You'll need a motorbike to leave. WiFi works throughout the area, which is a huge plus when so many places in Kenya have weak or no room WiFi. The food is good quality, around 3.5-4 star. Convenient and enjoyable, though not amazing. I had a margarita pizza for dinner and a veggie wrap made with chipati for lunch. The wrap was mildly tough to chew because they press it with an ironer, though some people may like it that way. Great ingredients, including avocado and mango. The pizza was fine, maybe 3.5 star, since I've had better and worse in Kenya. Both milkshakes I tried were good, 4 star. The mango one was thick and delicious, 4.5 star. The macchiato was solid for Kenya coffee, 4 star, since most places use instant coffee. Fancy camping, basically. Despite a few minor hurdles, I liked it quite a bit and recommend it. 5 star.