Location: Diani Beach, Mombasa, 40 Km from Mombasa airport, 25 Km from Mombasa town
This award winning hotel is one of the best hotels on the South Coast of Mombasa. Initially built in the 1970's, the hotel was sold to its current owners in early 2000. The new owners then embarked on a massive campaign to renovate and rebuilt the entire hotel into what it is today. Using the services of fine designers, continual upkeep and maintenance has ensured that it has kept its place as one of the most modern and top beach resort on the coast.
It is a large hotel, but has been built in such a way that you never feel overcrowded. The gardens are beautifully landscaped over 30 acres and immaculately maintained which give an even greater ambience. The room blocks are dotted around the carefully planned gardens and look almost invisible. This makes you feel like you are in a smaller secluded hotel. The fantastic part is that they sustain excellent levels of service and want to give guests that personal feeling whilst staying here.
Leopard Beach Resort and Spa have just released their amazing Uzuri Spa & Fitness Forest at the resort. This is East Africa's finest spa by far. They decided to make the spa experience a totally unique experience and built it in the indigenous forest area at the back of the resort. The setting is immaculate and tranquil. If you can just imagine the smells and peace of sitting in a forest, this is exactly what it is like. They have built a stunning pool, jacuzzi, steam sauna, gym and health bar area, where you can relax and enjoy fresh fruit juices and salads. We are harping on abut the spa, but it is awesome and very reasonable. Please ensure that you ask our consultants about the pricing.
Chris Modigell is the project manager and takes absolute pride in "his" creation. He gladly shows his favourite spots, like Mario's cocktail bar. This awesome bar is one of the most stunning wooden bars we have ever seen. Old phones and various other colonial type artifacts decorate the place. Outside the wooden theme continues, but more modern. The atmosphere is very social and guests spend evenings and afternoons socialising here.
They have tried to make the resort as comfortable as possible and offer the little things which other hotels do not, like the Tutti Frutti Ice Cream parlour down near the beach. Pizzas are part of the culture of the place and they serve possibly the best pizza in Kenya. They also host a wide variety of activities from a PADI 5 star dive centre to golf, which can be enjoyed at the Leisure Lodge Golf Club located next door. Clubs and kit can be hired.
The living areas are nice and spacious yet personal featuring beautifully hand carved wooden furniture and African art pieces decorating the walls. Classy is the word that seems to sum up the place as a whole.
There are a total of 155 rooms, cottages and suites (90 standard rooms, 48 sea-facing superior rooms, 10 Chui class cottages, 7 suites and 2 superior suites and 5 honeymoon suites and 2 executive suites). We highly recommend the honeymoon suites with their sunken baths! The executive suites have jacuzzi baths and amazing power showers.
One thing we love about this hotel is that they regularly renovate the hotel. This ensures that guests are continuously exposed to only the best and it is no wonder that they win award after award. The standard rooms are located in double storey blocks located around the premises. These have all recently been redone and are stunning. Large and comfortable, they all feature aircons, satellite television, private bath and shower, mini bar, direct dialing telephone service, tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryers. The rooms have a modern theme and come in double or twin configuration. They all look out on to the beautifully landscaped gardens. The superior rooms are a little larger than the standard rooms and have a settee additional.
All the suites are fantastic and if you can afford them, they are highly recommended. These include sea views, sunken Jacuzzi baths, power showers (his and hers) as well as safes in the rooms. The Executive Suites also have a lounge area and outside patio.
The guys at Leopard Beach pride themselves on the hotels fine dining and entertainment. They have 5 dining venues and 3 great bars.
The Horizon is the main restaurant and serves breakfast from the buffet in the mornings and either Table d’hote of buffet for lunch. The ‘Coco Beach Mchana” serves al fresco stir fry lunches. If you are a bit tired of buffet meals this is a good alternative. The Chui Grill Room is their flagship restaurant which serves an a la carte menu specialising in meat and seafood. Then there is the Pasta and Pizza Tornati which serves Italian food for lunch and dinner. As this was an Italian owned hotel, they know their Italian food, and this restaurant is highly recommended. For fun, the Tutti Frutti Ice Cream Parlour serves ice cream and sorbet Italian style… all home made.
Their two Hollywood chic bars, Marco’ and Mario’s are highly recommended and serve great cocktails. Marco’s is an al fresco cocktail bar shaped like a Spanish galleon on a coral cliff. The décor is stylish and reminds one of a twin-decked schooner, without being kitsch. Mario’s’ polished mahogany invites guests to enjoy the great vibe and even better drinks. They also have the pool bar and a bistro serving hamburgers and other light snacks, the Kalani Coffee Lounge, which also serves drinks and the Mahogany poolside lounge and entertainment centre with its beautiful views (both the Kalani and Mahogany lounges are scheduled for a refurb in the near future).
On certain evenings, meals are served on the beach. This would comprise of a beach barbeque and is great fun. Beach parties usually take place after these evenings. Private dinners and parties can also be arranged on Kusini Beach if you require.
Location: Diani Beach, Mombasa
Dress code: Smart casual for dinner
General Facilities:- Split level swimming pool and Roman aqueduct
- 5 restaurants
- 4 Bars
- Conference centre for 100 people
- Business centre with internet
- 2 Relaxation resident lounges
- Curio and boutique shop
- Free shuttle services in to town (Limousine shuttle services available at a minimal charge)
- Car hire
- Doctor on call
- Baby sitting services
- Salon and Uzuri Health and Fitness Forest
- Entertainment centre with darts, pool table and table tennis
- PADI 5 star Dive Centre
- Water sports centre
- Deep sea fishing
- Windsurfing, kite surfing and catamaran
- Glass bottom boats
- Floodlit tennis court
- Adventure centre
- Discotheque
Room Facilities:- Aircon
- Telephone
- Satellite television
- En suite bathroom with shower and bath
- Hairdryer
- Physically challenged facilities
- Mini bar
- Laundry
- Tea and coffee making facilities
- Spa facilities
- Spa boutique
- 3 Single treatment rooms
- 1 Couple treatment room (ideal for honeymooners)
- All treatment rooms have private courtyards
- Sauna
- Steam Room
- Aerobics and Yoga Facilities
- 1 Couple treatment room (ideal for honeymooners)
- 2 Relaxation gazebos
- Fully equipped technogym fitness centre
- Nature wlaks available through the forest (recommended)
Other Services at Leopard Beach- Conference facilities for up to 100 people
- Business service centre
- Kalani Residents Lounge
Credit cards are welcome
Written by Nicola Phillips 