You stay at Serena Beach Resort & Spa on Shanzu Beach, north of Mombasa, in one of 120 rooms and suites styled after a Swahili village — whitewashed walls, carved doors, and courtyards shaded by palm trees. Each room has a private balcony or terrace, either overlooking the Indian Ocean or facing the gardens.

The resort has multiple dining options, including the Jahazi Grill, a dhow-themed seafood restaurant with ocean views, and Sokoni, a café serving Swahili dishes and pizzas beside a fishpond. The spa offers massages and treatments in a garden setting.

Activities include guided beach walks, cultural performances, and visits to the on-site turtle conservation project and butterfly pavilion. The pool has a swim-up bar; the beach is steps away.

The resort is a short drive from Mombasa, with its historic Old Town and Fort Jesus. Shanzu Beach stretches north from the property, lined with palms and lapped by the Indian Ocean.