There are those people for whom the small beach lodges featured elsewhere on this website still aren’t quite private and intimate enough – if that’s the case then it’s likely that the gorgeous Alfajiri Villas could be just the place they’re looking for. Alfajiri (Swahili for “sunrise”) consists of 3 superbly luxurious appointed and fully staffed villas set above the blinding white sands of Diani Beach, about an hour south of Mombasa.

The 3 luxurious homes – namely the Cliff, Garden and Beach Villas – are each rented out on an exclusive basis (the only exception to this rule being the pool that is shared by the Garden and Beach villas), so privacy is par for the course. Don’t make the mistake though of thinking that these are ordinary self-catering units – instead charming hosts Fabrizio and Marica Molinaro and their almost 40 staff (!) go out of their way to ensure that your every need is anticipated and stylishly catered for.

No matter which of the Alfajiri villas you stay in, the common feature is a superb sense of style and luxury, with beautiful artefacts collected by the Molinaro’s on their travels through Africa and the Far East and magnificent hand-crafted furniture the order of the day. But this really is one of those properties where it’s difficult to explain just how gorgeous the rooms actually are – in the case of Alfajiri, pictures really are worth a thousand words!perhaps the most desirable holiday location on the entire African coast, which attracts a clientele of discerning guests including a host of celebrities drawn here by the privacy

The result is perhaps the most desirable holiday location on the entire African coast, which attracts a clientele of discerning guests including a host of celebrities drawn here by the privacy. Marica, an interior designer responsible for some of Kenya’s most luxurious houses, has used her wonderful eye for stylish detail in creating Alfajiri’s gorgeous interiors which are exquisitely furnished with a range of unusual artefacts and stunning furniture (much of it made on the property) But whilst Alfajiri would look right at home in the pages of the most stylish interior design mags, the relaxed ambience that rules somehow encourages you to make yourself right at home.

Alfajiri’s price-tag is not for the faint hearted, but on the other hand it includes just about everything but the kitchen sink – all meals including superb seafood and Italian-influenced dishes; most drinks including a range of South African and Italian wines; blissful on-site massages and reflexology treatments; snorkelling trips by boat to the coral reef; golf on the nearby 18-hole championship golf course inclusive of green and caddies fees; use of tennis and squash facilities nearby; as well as the use of a vehicle with driver within the Diani Beach area.

As you would expect here, wonderfully fresh seafood bought daily to order from the local fishermen is the order of the day – think delicious meals of lobster, crab, local game fish, jumbo prawns, octopus and calamari. And of course, with your hosts being Italian, you can also look forward to some memorable, light Mediterranean-influenced dishes – like a sublime seafood linguine, followed by home-made ice-cream — hazelnut with mint chocolate, or mango. In fact, the Molinaro’s go so far as regularly importing Italian olive oils, cheeses and Parma ham.

The cherry on top for families is that the Molinaro’s have 2 young girls of the own, so the villas are very child-friendly with 2 English-speaking ayahs (nannies), available 24 hours a day and equipped with a host of toys to keep the little ones amused.

Fantastic luxury and exclusivity with the finest personal service from the army of friendly staff

Exceptional design and decor elements and superb artworks at home in the finest interior design mags

Superb food according to your wishes - although quality is so good and menus are so creative that you'll probably just leave it up to them

Fabrizio is an exceptional host - welcoming and determined to satisfy your every (reasonable!) need

Beach is not private - Alfajiri's villas are so exceptional they deserve their own private island! Alfajiri do also provide an escort to ensure you don'y get hassled by beach boys.