Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers

You stay at Distant Relatives in bandas, safari tents, or dorms set among tropical gardens beside Kilifi Creek. The lodge was built in 2015 with sustainability in mind: rainwater harvesting, composting toilets, and natural materials. Each banda has its own courtyard; the tents are pitched for privacy under the trees.

The restaurant serves wood-fired pizzas and seafood beside the pool, with craft cocktails from the bar. In the evenings, guests gather for live music in the garden or swap travel stories under the stars.

Activities center on the creek. You can sail on a traditional dhow at sunset, float downstream on tubes, or take a guided tour of the mangroves. The lodge also offers massages and yoga sessions for those who prefer to stay on land.

Kilifi town is a short drive away, but most guests find little reason to leave the creek. The lodge arranges transfers from Malindi or Mombasa for those arriving by air.