Pemba Channel at Xmas

**Dogjaw** · 18-05-2007, 21:05

Hi Guys (& gals)

At relatively short notice, I am hoping to go to Kenya over Christmas 2007.

Beach holiday for the wife, Fishing for me & the boys.

Any recommendations for hotels?

Hemingways have very limited avilability, so any other hotels that any of you have experience of would be much appreciated.

As always, I leave these thing too late!

Regards

Andy

**Happy Dude** · 18-05-2007, 22:21

Originally Posted by Dogjaw

Hi Guys (& gals)

At relatively short notice, I am hoping to go to Kenya over Christmas 2007.

Beach holiday for the wife, Fishing for me & the boys.

Any recommendations for hotels?

Hemingways have very limited avilability, so any other hotels that any of you have experience of would be much appreciated.

As always, I leave these thing too late!

Regards

Andy

try turtle bay beach club at watamu, but it and hemingways are nowhere near the pemba channel but there is plenty boats at ocean sports at watamu and with kingfisher at malindi

a google search will show up links to these places

great time of year for sailfish

**Makubwa** · 18-05-2007, 22:29

It is all about Pemba Channel fishing club or if you want to venture to Tanzania, I would recommend Kilwa lodge; this is one of the most understated fishing destinations in the world, stay clear of Zanzibar right now.

**Dogjaw** · 18-05-2007, 22:29

Thanks BH, this plan was only mooted yesterday, so I'm gathering info as fast as I can. Your input is appreciated.

**Makubwa** · 18-05-2007, 22:30

Forgot, if you want to get in at Hemmingways, send me a PM I will see what i can do for you. This is prime game fishing season there. I may be able to get you a place at the hotel and a good skipper, one of the smaller boats for 4 fishermen only though.........

**Dogjaw** · 18-05-2007, 22:32

Thanks Makubwa, Zanzibar wasn't on my radar, Kilwa I'm looking into.

**Happy Dude** · 19-05-2007, 14:51

Originally Posted by Dogjaw

Thanks Makubwa, Zanzibar wasn't on my radar, Kilwa I'm looking into.

kilwa looks the business....

i have 8 days booked at malindi next january, but am thinking of kilwa or dar es salaam for the year after for the dogtoothed tuna, i like jigging for tropical species, much more involving than trolling albeit a lot harder work

another place in watamu is the watamu beach hotel, you book through

http://www.africansafariclub.com/

i've stayed there 3 times and it can be a bit up and down, but this year it was very good

**Dogjaw** · 19-05-2007, 18:40

Watamu Beach looks OK, I guess if you've been back twice after the initial, it can't be all bad! LOL

**Happy Dude** · 19-05-2007, 23:38

Originally Posted by Dogjaw

Watamu Beach looks OK, I guess if you've been back twice after the initial, it can't be all bad! LOL

we've stayed there because it's cheap, the cheaper the digs, the more fishing we can afford.

last year was bad as the staff were trying to rip eveyone off on their drinks, getting you to sign twice etc, we're scottish, you only get away with that once....lol

this year it was mainly germans staying there, most ok, but some the usual germans abroad

we drink in the village where it's much cheaper and get a good laugh with the locals as we are quite well known now

not booked for next year, but fancy a change at the turtle bay which is all inclusive for not a lot more than african afaris want for watamu beach at the moment, but it's a 5 min taxi ride or half an hours walk from the village or should i say, stagger....lol

**PanamaJack** · 21-05-2007, 12:02

As several others have pointed out there're a range of venues along that Kenyan coastline.

Starting in the south, some 50 miles south of Mombassa, is Shimoni with easy access to the Pemba Channel. (That was the area you first mentioned.) Then, moving North, and situated close to Mombassa itself is Mtwapa Creek. Some sixty miles north of Mombassa is Watamu, and a further twenty miles on is the resort of Malindi. Fishing is also undertaken from Lamu Island. There are several other areas but perhaps too remote to consider for a family holiday.

Although Christmas is perhaps slightly, by weeks, early from the 'predicted' run of Striped Marlin as the others have pointed out you still should encounter good fishing - right up to some big Tiger Sharks. But is it the accommodation that, with your wife, is going to be fundamental to the holiday?

Somewhere like Hemmingways with its 78 rooms obviously will offer luxurious accommodation and facilities. Something to consider if you and your sons are going out fishing for the day? Whereas many of the others are going to be smaller lodges, albeit some will be extremely well appointed.

Going back though to your original post you did mention Pemba. Certainly the facilities that Peter Ruysenaars offers at the http://www.pembachannel.com/ are excellent, but it's considerably smaller than Hemmingways. But certainly worth looking at.

Also in Shimoni you have the Hemphill's operation - http://www.bigame.com/. Again a lot smaller. But, if Shimoni is the draw, I'd certainly want to quiz them as to what accommodation is currently available. I recall, I think it was last year but may have been 2005, there were issues with regards a tourist tax/registration. And whilst the 'debate' went on one of our Club members was relocated to a nearby tented safari camp. So just worth checking.