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Baobab and Desert Rose Beach Cottages

Baobab & Desert Rose Cottages are self catering cottages, opened to the beach.
They are part of Ali Barbour’s property, comprising Flamboyant Boutique Hotel, Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant and the Forty Thieves Beach Bar.

There are several attractions in and around Diani from a wide variety of water sport activities to bars & restaurants, Colobus Eco Tours, Wasini Island snorkelling trips and much more.

The Cottages:
Baobab Beach Cottage sleeps 8 people, with 1 room ground floor, and 3 upstairs. A large veranda opened to the garden.
Desert Rose Beach Cottage sleeps 7 people, with 2 doubles rooms and 1 triple (bulk beds) all located ground floor. A large veranda opened to the garden and the sea.

In the evening, Housekeeping will enter your rooms to spray and put down your mosquito net.
Please, do not take your key to the beach. Kindly leave the keys with Nancy, or on the hook in the cottage, for the cleaners to enter your cottage.
Hot water is available; kindly switch off the heater after use.
We provide beach Towels, thank you for not taking the plain bath towels to the beach.
Attention to wet floor, they can be very slippery.

Laundry:
Diani Beach has a very limited water supply so please bear this in mind. Sheets are changed every 3 days but do ask the housekeeping if you require more frequent changes. Towels left on the floor will be washed, we would be very grateful if you could try to reuse them by hanging them up. All other laundry should be placed in the bag. Weather permitting, clean laundry will be returned within 24 hours.

Meals:
Our Chef will be very happy to set up menus with you. Our Cuisine is seafood oriented, highlighting the Swahili Coastal culinary specialities. Should you prefer International, Traditional Cuisine or Vegetarian diet, kindly inform your Chef, he will pleases the most delicate palates.
Should you wish to get food delivered from the Forty Thieves Beach Bar, please place your order, they will deliver for free to your cottage.
Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant is opened every evening, from 18:30, and do require reservation. Nancy, your hostess can book a table for you. Kindly note the dressing code is casual, but long trousers.

Billing:
We accept cash, local cheques, foreign currency and all major credit cards, with the exception of Diners Club International. We request our guests to settle their accommodation bill on arrival and extras before departure.
Please ensure you check out on your day of departure by 10.00am, unless other arrangements have been agreed with the management.

The Beach:
Please DO NOT buy or remove any shells or starfish from the beach we would like to conserve Diani for future generations, and exporting shells are against Kenyan law.
Please DO NOT take valuables to the beach, you can leave them to Nancy, at the reception of the hotel.
Our beach front is patrolled to limit hassle from the local beach boys. Please do not encourage them nor invite them into your cottage. If you receive distressing attention, please let us know and we will be happy to speak to them about this.

In house Sports:
The tennis and squash courts are available on request, please ask Nancy at the reception.
Kindly note that Flamboyant’s swimming pool is exclusively reserved to the clients of Flamboyant Boutique Hotel.

Baby sitting:
If you are looking for a night off, please ask the reception, they will organize a trustful baby sitter to take care of your beloved one. The rates are available at the reception.

Animals:
The owners have 4 friendly dogs that you may see from time to time – 2 Great Danes, a small Alsatian cross and a black and tan. They all love attention, if you choose please give it but please do not feed them. See the photographs on the last page to help you identify them.
There are Sykes, Vervet and the beautiful and endangered Colobus Monkeys around. These are a delight to watch but please keep it that way. Do not attempt to touch or feed them. They are wild and can cause serious injury. Please do not leave personal items or food unattended as the monkeys are inquisitive and may take items that catch their eye!

Electricity:
The electrical supply is 220/240 V. Please note that the main supply is rationed occasionally. The generator will then be used and will be switched off when all guests are asleep. The generator might take up to 5 minutes to start; meanwhile, you will find candles in your cottage.
Airport/Train Station Transfers & Taxi Services
These can be arranged for you. We have reliable drivers and prices are fixed. Please ask the Reception if you’d like us to organise transport for you. Please allow half an hour for pick up as sometimes the drivers have to come from further afield.

Safaris, Excursions, Diving & Water sports
We can assist you with any arrangements for: safaris bookings, dive courses, water sports, kite surfing, deep sea fishing, Golf at the prestigious Leisure Lodge, Day trip to the nearby Shimba Hills, Day trip to Wasini island for fantastic snorkelling, spa treatment, local fish trips on traditional sailing dhows, car hire…
Please have a look at the brochures enclosed for ideas on what is available. If you would like any assistance, then please ask the Reception.

It is generally NOT advisable to accept excursions offered by the beach boys as these are more often than not carried out un-insured and not properly organised, which can lead to a disappointing day out.

Restaurants & Bars:
There are several restaurants in Diani, from our own Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant and Forty Thieves Beach Bar, to African Pot, Aniello’s Italian, Shere Punjab Indian or Galaxy Chinese and many more...

Language:
The National language is Kiswahili but all our staff speaks fluent English.

Our Responsible Footprint to Earth:
Flamboyant is involved in many local associations:
- KWALE EYE CENTRE – we give a portion of gate money on big functions to the Eye Centre regularly. Also we stock their sunglasses in our cybercafé.
- DIANI CHILDREN VILLAGE – we buy a lot of fresh vegetable from them and also their eggs and chickens rather than from large operations.
- COLOBUS TRUST – as with Kwale Eye Centre we give them a portion of profits from the big Kite Surfing Event we hold annually between Christmas and the New Year. The last one that we held recently generated in excess of KES100,000 for them not including the stall they had here selling various Colobus related
- KSPCA – the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals

We are also trying to minimize our carbon consumption, and are now rated

Please, assist us, in minimizing your electric consumption, e.g: switch off the fans when not in the house, switch off the lights at night…

We wish you a pleasant stay with us, in our slice of paradise