The Sands at Nomad, the ultimate Indian Ocean retreat

Beautiful ‘Boutique’ hotel in a prime location on Diani Beach. 

Ideal for couples and families as well as kitesurfers and scuba-divers looking for an exclusive and intimate retreat. 

Sands at Nomads - pool at dusk                                          Sands at Nomads - beach cottages

Set on 225 meters of pristine greensward with uninterrupted vistas over one of the most beautiful stretches of this legendary beach, The Sands is the inspiration of the celebrated local artist, Mario Scianna, who applied years of experience as a boat-builder to craft this breath-taking hotel.

A unique fusion of hand-carved polished mahogany, soaring sail-work, classic Venetian ‘stucco’ and traditional Swahili architecture, The Sands nestles in 25 acres of indigenous coastal forest, where silken-coated colobus monkeys swing. Centered upon a 5 meter-deep futuristic pool with central gazebo, the sinuously curved central reception area features an atmospheric lounge with a shaded al fresco Jacuzzi terrace, a Romanesque bar, an al fresco restaurant offering contemporary Thai cuisine, a boutique and global connectivity centre. Deep in the forest shade is a massage and nature treatments salon.

In keeping with the world-class style and innovative panache of the hotel’s conception, the accommodation comprises an individualistic selection of 18 comfortable rooms, 7 exclusive beach cottages and 12 luxurious suites, many with private Jacuzzis, panoramic terraces and spacious sitting rooms. All the rooms enjoy air-conditioning, integrated music and entertainment systems, private bars and 24-hour service, and all are individually interior designed and furnished with an inspired combination of Swahili objects d’art furniture and Mario’s finest mahogany woodwork.

The resort offers also a delightful wave-lapped beach bar - Nomads Beach Bar on the site of the first beach bar in East Africa! Adjacent to that is the hotel restaurant, with a magnificent, sail-like roof structure.

The Sands also boasts the H2O Extreme Kitesurf and Windsurf Centre as well as a PADI dive school.  The Sands also has a fleet of luxury power boats available for skippered-hire by the hour, half-day or day.

Unrivalled in terms of its idyllic situation, exclusivity and tranquility, The Sands is the first Kenyan coastal hotel to excel in the creation of the ‘Boutique’ concept. Unparalleled in terms of the discretion of its service, the excellence of its cuisine and the range of its leisure options, the Sands offers the ultimate Indian Ocean.

The Sands at Nomad - A fact file

Location

Situated on the south coast of Kenya, The Sands lies 45 km southwest of Mombasa International Airport.

Situation

The hotel is set amid 25 acres of indigenous coastal forest fronted by 225 meters of gentle lawns and waving palm trees, and enjoys uninterrupted access to one of Kenya’s most unspoilt stretches of silver sand and aquamarine sea.

The Ocean

Lapping over iridescent coral gardens, home to laughing dolphins and magnificent whale sharks, the Indian Ocean is unparalleled. Boasting warm waters all year round and promising crystal clear visibility, the Kenyan coast offers some of the finest diving in the world.

Rooms

Accommodated in the main reception building and enjoying views of forest or sea, the hotel offers 18 double rooms with ensuite bathrooms. Each is equipped with: air-conditioning, minibar and satellite TV.

Cottages

The Sands offers 7 unique beachfront thatched-roof cottages each with uninterrupted views across the sands and ocean. Each is equipped with: air-conditioning, minibar, satellite TV.

Suites

The selection of suites includes:

The ‘Wimbi’; ‘Roman’ and 'Kaa’ Suites, these upstairs suites feature private Jacuzzi, luxurious bathroom, first floor terrace and spacious reception room a mere 20 meters from the Ocean’s edge with the most stunning views over the Indian Ocean.

The ‘Peponi Master Suite’, a magnificent first floor suite featuring a spectacular bathroom with a king-sized Jacuzzi opening on to a grassed garden terrace.

The ‘Mbuyu Grande Suite’, situated in its own private area of greensward and looking directly out to sea, this unique suite has been constructed in the traditional Swahili style, with a high thatched roof pierced by a dramatic waterfall that descends into a crystal pool below. Featuring a classic four-poster bed on a raised podium, a private verandah an elegant sitting room and a semi-open air bathroom with its own Jacuzzi, the suite offers the ultimate in secluded romance.

The 6 'Ocean View Suites' enjoy glorious sea views. These suites have sweeping private verandahs and are available with either one or two bedrooms with en suite bathroom and are ideal for families or friends.

The ‘Mbega Suite’, situated within the central reception building this delightful suite enjoys both forest and sea views and has its own private verandah.

For more photographs of The Sands and the different rooms available, click here. 

The restaurants

Accessed by a private gateway is the Nomad Beach Bar & Restaurant which offers a luxurious tropical buffet breakfast and is open for luncheon and dinner with a broad selection of tropical cocktails, pizzas, pastas, seafood and other international specialties with a selection of excellent wines. The Juice Bar offers a full selection of fresh-pressed juices and homemade Italian ice creams and sorbets. Exclusive garden or beachfront BBQ’s can also be arranged. There is also a Swahili restaurant offering traditional swahili meals with a modern twist. In addition there are a host of restaurants in Diani and reception will be happy to point you in the right direction and make reservations and taxi bookings for you.  

The Bars

The Sands features the ‘Riva’s Bar’ located within the main reception area overlooking the pool with views over the ocean – ideal for sundowners and offering a wide range of cocktails.

The ‘Forest Breeze’ centre offers traditional massages, Ayurvedic and Reflexology with bio-anatomy treatments, plus a broad range of beauty treatments.

Services

The hotel offers global connectivity via its private cyber café.

Leisure facilities

Our guest relations desk can arrange exclusive marine safaris, visits to the nearby Shimba Hills National Park, cultural and botanical tours or visits to some of Kenya’s famous up-country National Parks.

Sports

The hotel enjoys immediate access to Diving the Crab, a world-class renowned SSI PLATINUM and PADI 5 STAR CENTER which offers dive courses, wreck explorations and whale shark spotting.

The 5m-deep pool, the deepest at the Kenyan Coast, is ideal for diving courses.

A championship 18-hole golf course lies within minutes of the hotel.

Watersports - The H2O Extreme Watersports Centre is located at The Sands at Nomad and offers kitesurfing and windsurfing lessons and rentals.  The Centre is certified by IKO and instructors speak a range of languages - English, French, Italian and Kiswahili.   H2O Extreme also has boogie boards, surf boards, pedalos and kayaks available for rent. The Sands also hosts Diving the Crab, Kenya's top PADI/SSI dive school offering courses - for more information on scuba courses and dives click here.

Boating

A selection of hand-made luxury motorboats and cabin cruisers are available for private marine safaris, exclusive beach BBQ’s and Indian Ocean excursions.

Conferencing and Weddings

The hotel can be booked for private business functions and offers an air-conditioned lounge, media facilities and a wide selection of breakout areas and themed events. Weddings and Honeymoons

The hotel is ideally suited to the hosting of weddings, which can be held on the terrace, by the pool, in the gardens, on the beach, aboard one of luxury hand-made motor launches or even beneath the waves. The suites make a perfect honeymoon retreat.  

Rates - 2010  and 2011 in US$