Cook while holidaying’ becomes chic

By PETER MUIRURI

 Kenya’s coast has been known as the ultimate holiday destination owing to the hundreds of hotels lining up the coastline. Well, it is still the preferred destination for many, only that this time around, guests have the option of staying in self-catering homes or renting a holiday house in one of the many upcoming mega projects.

Names such as Vipingo Ridge, Mandharini, Ocean Seven and Englishpoint Marina were unknown a few years ago. However, the multi-billion shilling projects are slowly having heads wag as far as real estate development at the coast is concerned.

The Kenya Economic Survey 2011 reported a 50 per cent increase in the number of local residents staying in hotels with the greatest demand being for coastal holidays.

At the same time, international visitors numbers increased by 15 per cent with a similar growth projection in coming years.

It is this increase that local developers hope to tap into as more people prefer self-catering homes, rental apartments or high-end villas along the coast.

In June last year, a CNN report highlighted the rise of Kenya’s coast as the next frontier as far as real estate investment is concerned. It cited Knight Frank’s 2012 Wealth Report that indicated a 20 per cent price growth in luxury developments in Mombasa, Malindi and Lamu.

Lamu’s growing stature

For instance, the far-flung historical town of Lamu is increasingly becoming a preferred location where many rich people from around the globe opt to erect palatial homes.

“Lamu attracts a fairly adventurous romantic type person who wants to come somewhere that is completely different to their everyday lives,” says Andrew McGhie, a Lamu-based estate agent in the CNN report.

Like in Naivasha, Nanyuki, Kiambu, Thika, Eldoret and other parts of the country, the new homes along the coast are banking on unique installations as their selling points. Take the example of Englishpoint Marina, the unique homes modelled after a cruise ship opposite Fort Jesus. To eliminate the need for fresh water, especially in the utilities such as toilets, a grey water treatment and recycling plant will be installed, while a black water treatment system will eliminate raw sewage and produce methane gas for local use.

To be environmentally-friendly, wind turbines will be in place to supplement power from the national grid while sun shading will reduce the cost of cooling the homes in the hot and humid coastal climate. Direct sunlight will be reflected back by the use of a smooth white finish.

Vipingo ridge

Along the north coast towards Kilifi, Ocean Seven, Mandharini and Vipingo Ridge are the major projects vying for attention. The Sh4.5 billion Mandharini project sits on 150 acres and will consist of 130 villas, a boutique hotel, a golf course and a conservancy. The project has been shortlisted in the Best Development Category of the International Residential Property Awards as an outstanding project in Africa.

Not far away is Vipingo Ridge, a project erected atop a hill with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Like Mandharini, the main selling point in the 2,500-acre property are two ultra modern, 18-hole golf courses designed by a former Kenya Open champion and a member of the European Tour David Jones.

Ocean seven

Then there is Ocean Seven, a Sh15-billion project destined to change the face of sleepy Kikambala village. Consisting of five residential and two commercial villas, Ocean Seven will rise 25 floors into the sky.  According to the Managing Director, Mahmud Visram, the current visitor wants to enjoy the local lifestyle without necessarily checking in a hotel.

“These homes are not just for foreign visitors but also Kenyans searching for a holiday home or a permanent one. There are other Kenyans who want to buy into the projects for reinvestment,” says Visram.