Baytil Ajaib Boutique Hotel Lamu, Kenya is located on a hill on one of the highest points in the middle of the city in a section of the town known as Mkomani which was the patrician section.
This provides great views of the town,neighboring islands,the channel and the hinterlands of farms in the distance. Each apartment and suite has individual privacy in the larger domains of Baytil Ajaib which were used as the family quarters.
A concept of an evolving Swahili architecture
A principle example of this Swahili architecture evolutionary culture is the murals and plaster mixtures of lime, alabaster and marble dust finishing’s on the walls which blends so wonderfully with traditional local Swahili furniture, Asian artifacts, carpets from Afghanistan and even Art Deco.
It is the blending of the antiquated, various artifacts that provides for a sophisticated interior living that led to Lamu becoming a World Heritage in 2003. It is this living experience that Baytil Ajaib was conceived.
Baytil Ajaib, meaning the House of Wonder, an 18th century palatial townhouse with only two rooms and two suites, meticulously restored by the proprietors Norbert Herget and Paul Weaver invites the discerning traveler to a world in and around Baytil Ajaib that will enraptures all your senses. Decorated with authentic Swahili furniture and antiques collected from around the world only accentuate the setting of this 18th century living experience. Guests who have been kind enough to grace the hotel were The American Ambassador to Kenya and Mr.& Mrs. Riccardo Mutti, the musical director of La Scala, who upon his visit exclaimed” Baytil is like a dramatic historical stage setting at La Scala, except it’s real.” Seated on the highest point of the island thus providing guests with majestic views of the entire city and sunset to stagger the imagination. The cuisine, a delightful touch of Italian and French, is personally catered to by the proprietors and the staff, especially fruite de la mer, due to the excellent fishing waters surrounding Lamu and the entire archipelago guarantees the most succulent delights. Many wishing to be private rent the entire hotel, which accommodates a maximum of ten guests. Intimacy and personal are the key words at the very core of Baytil Ajaib. Permit us to enrapture your senses.
Baytil Ajaib opened in 2000 with the mandate of providing a Swahili experience of residing in an old palatial townhouse, not overly restored so as to not see the ravages of time as the structure is over 250 years of existence, but still carefully brought back to its former structural beauty transformed into a modern exclusive hotel de charme.
Years after the completionof Baytil Ajaib, UNESCO bestowed on Lamu the status of World Heritage which further demanded the enhancement and dedication of various artisans’ skills which needed to be re-acquired and preserved. It is in this real that Baytil Ajaib was restored, researched, later enhanced and produced Artisans with careful training to further the preservation of an almost forgotten unique life style.