Temple Point Resort

You arrive at Temple Point for more than a bed beside the sea. The resort sits on a private peninsula between the Indian Ocean and Mida Creek, with white sandy beaches, mangroves, gardens and old temple grounds shaping the setting. Swahili-style rooms, open-air spaces and sunsets over the creek give the place a strong sense of coastal Kenya rather than the usual interchangeable resort feel.

English, German and Swahili are spoken by the hotel team, so English-speaking guests can deal with the practical details of a stay without resorting to hand signals after a long day. The mood moves between sea air, gardens, cocktails, spa time and local excursions. You can keep the day busy, or simply find a lounger and allow the tide to do the scheduling.

Temple Point is in Watamu, Kenya, on Marine Park Road and directly beside a private white-sand beach. The resort overlooks both the Indian Ocean and Mida Creek, with mangroves and lush gardens around the property. You are staying inside Watamu Marine National Park, not in a town-centre hotel with a token strip of sand attached.

Watamu town is about 10 minutes away by car, with shops, restaurants and bars when you fancy a change of scenery. Short Beach is around a 7-minute walk away, while Turtle Bay Beach is about 1.2 miles away by car. The Gedi Ruins are roughly 7 miles away by road, giving you an easy cultural outing when the sea has had enough of you for one afternoon.

Malindi Airport is about 15 miles away by road, with a drive of around 50 minutes. Mombasa Airport is the longer arrival option, at roughly two hours by road. Private airport transfers are available through the resort.

The rooms follow the resort's coastal style rather than trying to turn the place into a city hotel. Traditional Swahili touches sit alongside air conditioning, a fan and a mosquito net, which gives you options when the Kenyan heat is still hanging around after sunset. Every room has a private modern bathroom, wardrobe, towels and toiletries, with a patio or balcony looking towards the Indian Ocean, Mida Creek or the tropical gardens.

For two people, the Standard Room keeps things straightforward, while the Deluxe Room gives you a little more breathing room without changing the basic purpose of the room: somewhere cool to shower, sleep and start again. The Superior King Room is the practical choice for three, with a single bed alongside the super-king bed. That is considerably more civilised than negotiating a sofa after a day of travelling or diving.

A kettle covers the first drink of the morning, and a drying rack is useful for ordinary swimwear and clothing. The rooms also have seating areas, outdoor furniture and a socket near the bed. Daily housekeeping keeps the return from the beach pleasantly uncomplicated, while free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.

You have several ways to eat here, and they do not all involve putting on anything smarter than a dry T-shirt. Sunset Eatery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with local dishes and ocean views, while the breakfast selection covers continental, Full English, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and buffet options. A. Liddell's Bakery handles the early start with breads, pastries and baked goods made fresh daily.

Kinky Buns keeps things casual beside the pool, with burgers including a soft-shell crab burger. For the evening, Musafir takes dinner and drinks onto Mida Creek itself; you reach it by boat from LichtHaus, with the water and mangroves around you rather than a wall and a framed picture of the sea.

There are two named bars. LichtHaus is the sunset bar, serving signature cocktails, Negronis, spritzes, tropical classics and the house Sundrop Lager, alongside a daily fresh BBQ. The Pool Bar covers lighter bites when you want food without leaving the water. Special-diet menus can be arranged, and a coffee house, fruit and wine are also available on site.

The elegant pool is surrounded by loungers, sun umbrellas and pool or beach towels, giving you a simple place to spend the afternoon without committing to another excursion. When your shoulders have had enough of carrying tanks and luggage, CreekHaus Spa is built into the mangroves beside the creek. Treatments include deep-tissue, hot-stone and aromatherapy massage, facials, body scrubs, reflexology and revitalising therapies, with outdoor showers and a relaxation area.

For a more energetic recovery, Gym & Tonic is an open-air fitness centre with squat racks, Olympic bars, kettlebells, dumbbells, a cable machine and an ice bath. Personal trainers and classes cover HIIT, functional training, mobility and yoga, with daily yoga sessions on the Floating Baobab Deck above the creek. Fresh towels and water are part of the gym set-up, which is useful when “just a gentle session” turns into actual exercise.

On the water, you can book paddleboarding, sailing, kite surfing, wakeboarding, fishing, catamaran cruises and dhow trips. Cycling, canoeing, billiards and table tennis keep the land-based options uncomplicated. The tour desk can also arrange walks, cultural tours, game drives, safaris, mangrove outings, birdwatching, garden visits, beekeeping, the Gede Ruins and trips to Watamu or Malindi.

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out runs from 06:30 to 11:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at arrival, and the resort asks you to share your expected arrival time. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested, subject to availability. A 24-hour front desk, concierge, luggage storage, lockers and currency exchange make the arrival and departure edges of the trip easier to manage.

Private airport transfers are available for arrivals through Malindi or Mombasa Airport, and the resort can assist with local transport, activities and safaris. Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation needed. WiFi is free throughout the hotel, and a minimarket and boutiques are available on the property for the small things that somehow never make it into a dive bag.

Children of any age are welcome, with cots available on request. Pets are allowed, and the resort welcomes well-behaved dogs. Upper floors are accessible by stairs only, so choose your room with that practical point in mind. Cash is accepted, and cancellation and prepayment conditions vary by accommodation type.

The resort's environmental work is tied to the peninsula rather than presented as a vague slogan. Bee cultivation, vegetable farming, a grow house, indigenous trees and their medicinal uses form part of the property. Local wildlife, birds, ancient trees and the surrounding mangrove setting are part of the day-to-day landscape you share during your stay.

You can see that approach through the activities as well: garden tours, beekeeping and visits focused on local plants and wildlife. The wider setting includes Mida Creek and protected coastal nature, so the resort connects its food, gardens and excursions with the landscape around it.