The Sands at Chale Island: Our full report

The Sands at Chale Island is a stylish and private beach resort located on the 900m by 300m Chale Island.

Situated just a stone's throw off Kenya's mainland, the resort occupies the north of the island, while the southern part is covered by indigenous forest and is actually a Mijikenda kaya – one of this people's ancestral village sites that are scattered along the Kenyan coast. The Sands at Chale has been designed to blend in perfectly with the island's natural environment and the lodge emphasises low-impact, sustainable tourism.

The Sands at Chale has 60 rooms with six different room types:

28 individual Bandas, of which there are 13 facing the lagoon and 15 facing the beach. These are our favourite rooms at Chale Island, and they provide privacy and plenty of space. While not overly luxurious, they are very good size and feel light, bright and airy with white washed walls and crisp white linens. They have a traditional coastal feel with a Swahili touch, with wooden four-poster beds, strings of shells hanging in the windows and a makuti thatch roof. All the bandas have a large en-suite bathroom with twin wash basins, while at the front there's a shaded veranda with a Zanzibari-style day bed.

One Overwater Suite, which is built on stilts above the lagoon on the western side of the island. This has an en-suite bedroom, with an adjoining lounge and large balcony which is a great spot for a sundowner drink. Steps lead down to the water below where you can swim at high tide. While stunningly beautiful, this room is quite isolated, and it is a little further from the restaurants and swimming pools.

One Suite On The Rocks, also referred to as the honeymoon suite, which is the largest and most luxurious option at the Sands at Chale. This is located on a rocky outcrop accessed by a walkway, and it provides plenty of space split over two levels; it even has a private hot tub outside.

28 Standard Rooms located in two big towers. These are simply designed with whitewashed walls, comfortable double or twin beds, a desk & seating area with wicker chairs, and en-suite bathroom with single basin. All the standard rooms have a small balcony with views over the pool and the sea beyond. We generally don't book these rooms – our fire safety inspection service regards standards in the first-to-third floor rooms as being inadequate.

Two Penthouse Suites, which take over the top floor of each tower. These are larger than the standard rooms, with a separate lounge and upstairs area. They provide stunning panoramic views over Chale Island – though do be warned that the climb to the top floor can feel like a workout in the heat.

All the rooms are air-conditioned, although the lodge's generator is turned off between 10:30 and 18:30, in order, they say to reduce, the lodge's carbon footprint. There is no power available in the rooms during the day, so depending on the time of year it can be quite hot. There is plentiful power and a/c in the evening's and so we did not find this to be problematic on our own stay. There are plans however to bring in mains power to the island, which would overcome this issue entirely.

The lodge has three swimming pools: the main pool by reception; a second pool with a pool bar, near the standard rooms; and a third, saltwater pool on the other side of the island next to the spa. The Maisha Poa spa and wellness centre has nine open-air treatment rooms and the fitness room is equipped with a range of cardio machines and weights.

The focal point of Chale island is the sweeping white sand beach. This is protected by a coral reef, usually with a very clear sea, although it is not uncommon to see small areas of seaweed gathering on sections of the beach. The location is stunning, and being an island the beach remains comparatively quiet and usually free of beach boys. You can easily walk around the coastline and explore the rock pools and sheltered bays of Chale Island by yourself, or you can chat to a member of staff and they will be able to arrange a guided tour. We were told that between January and March turtles frequently visit the island to lay their eggs in hidden coves.

The hotel's two restaurants serve Kenyan, Italian and Asian dishes. The main restaurant serves a buffet, with a wide range of dishes and a fresh pasta station, while a second smaller restaurant does à la carte meals. Because of the remote location many guests choose to stay on a full board basis. The main bar, nestled between the reception and main restaurant, serves a range of hot and cold drinks.

If you're looking for some alternatives to idle relaxation, there are plenty of activities on offer: beach or boat snorkelling, kayaking, game fishing and glass bottom boat or catamaran sailing trips. The on-site PADI and SSI dive centre, The Crab, takes guests to exceptional dive sites. And you can easily arrange excursions to the shops and restaurants at Diani Beach, the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park (a little further south) and to a local fishing village.

Our view

We think the Sands at Chale is a good spot if you're looking for a secluded beach stay on the Kenyan coast. With 60 rooms this is one of larger places we feature on the Kenyan Coast, however with three pools and a wide expanse of beach there is plenty of space, and the island still feels quiet even when full. We love the island setting and this is a wonderful option for some rest and relaxation before or after a safari.

Jessica Plumb

Kenya expert

Geographics

Location: Kenya Coast, Kenya
Ideal length of stay: Spend at least 3-4 nights here to relax either before or after your safari.
Directions: The Sands at Chale is around a 40-minute drive from Diani Airport. At high tide you access the island by boat, whereas at low tide you will be transferred via a tractor.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Half Board
Food quality: The Sands at Chale Island is not fine dining, although we found it to be tasty and plentiful. Breakfast is a buffet, with a selection of fresh fruit, cereals and pastries, in addition to hot items including beans and roast potatoes. There is an egg station with eggs, sausages and bacon cooked to order. Lunch is à la carte, served at one of the two restaurants or possibly the pool bar. Dinner is usually a buffet in the main dining area, typically starting with a soup or salad and followed by an eclectic mix of Kenyan and international dishes. When we last stayed in 2022 these included traditional East African dishes such as ugali (maize porridge), spiced vegetable stew and chapatti, and octopus curry. We really liked the pasta station, where we enjoyed freshly made gnocchi served with sage butter. If you have room, you can finish with a range of desserts and fresh fruit.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Drinks included: Drinks are extra, although these are reasonably priced, around $3 for a soft drink and around $5-6 for a beer or glass of wine.

Children

Attitude towards children: The Sands at Chale Island is a great choice for a family holiday and children of all ages are accepted.
Property’s age restrictions: None
Special activities & services: Babysitting can be arranged if required, however this will be hotel staff rather than professionally trained babysitters.
Equipment: Basic equipment such as baby cots and high chairs available.
Generally recommended for children: Children are likely to enjoy the three swimming pools and large beach, although adult supervision is required as there are no lifeguards.

Communications

Power supply notes: There are plans to connect Chale Island with mains power.
Communications: WiFi is available throughout.
Water supply: Borehole
Water supply notes: The plumbed water is slightly brackish, which is noticeable when taking a shower. Filtered drinking water is provided in all the rooms.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: Staff are first-aid-trained and there are medical supplies on site. Diani Beach hospital is around 30-40 minutes by road.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There is discreet security around the island 24 hours a day.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers and water hoses located near the rooms, however our health inspection service judges these are not adequate on the 1st-3rd floor standard rooms.

Activities

Birdwatching
Boat trip
Scuba-diving
Snorkelling
Watersports

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: Laundry is available at extra cost.
Money: There are electronic safes in all rooms.
Accepted payment on location: The Sands at Chale Island accepts US Dollars, Euros and limited GB pounds. All major credit and debit cards are accepted, including AMEX.