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Che Shale is a small family run beach hotel situated just 25km north of Malindi. Distant enough from the crowded tourist beaches but easily accessible by road; kick off your shoes and indulge in miles of serene and deserted sands, against a lush backdrop of coconut palms and indigenous vegetation. With its blend of low key luxury and natural beauty, Che Shale has been one of Kenya’s best kept secrets for 40 years. All the charm and peace of nature is captured in 8 uniquely designed, castaway chic style bandas (cottages) that combine laid back style and attention to detail. Fresh seafood by the beach, a crab farm onsite and a tempting array of activities to choose from – kitesurfing, big game fishing, dhow sailing, kayaking, and more - will keep you as active or as chilled as you wish to be.
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Che Shale is a quiet place nestled in a long private beach. They have fantastic food. Their breakfast is filling and refreshing. I also loved their roasted chicken which I had for dinner on two different occasions. It is also a good place to relax after the meals but I wish they had cleaner towels and cushions. Otherwise, the place has great potential.
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Date of stay: October 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Che Shale, Owner at Che Shale
Responded 2 days ago
Good morning, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us, especially our food! We will be sure to pass on all your kind comments to our staff. We will look into the situation regarding the towels and cushions, thank you for letting us know and we apologise about this. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you another time soon. Best, The Che Shale Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Either you are in Che Shale, or you wish you would be. I left this little paradise almost 8 months ago and think of it on most days. It is quite simple, as soon as you leave the tarmac road to reach Che Shale you start feeling the good vibe, you forget about everything else and that is so rare... The staff will go out of their way to make sure you have the best of times, a very friendly and relaxed crew. The bandas are amazingly comfy, the food is delicious, the beach is all yours. What else to ask for??? And of course, if kiting is your thing you will really fall in love with the place: consistent wind, loads of space and a super friendly crew of local kite instructors that will get you riding in the best conditions if you feel like taking up a new sport!
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Date of stay: January 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Go to Che Shale if you want to enjoy a quiet time, nature, healthy food and take it easy.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Che Shale, Owner at Che Shale
Responded 19 Sept 2023
Dear Justine, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such an amazing review. We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay with us so much and as always it is a pleasure to host you and we can't wait to welcome you back in 2024. We will pass on all your comments to our staff who love to hear feedback from clients. Have a lovely day, The Che Shale Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We have been coming to Che Shale for a few years now. We feel like it’s our second home as we are welcomed like family. Gussy & Justin are amazing. The team they have are also so caring. Food, ambience and setting will never disappoint. Can’t wait for our return.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Che Shale, Owner at Che Shale
Responded 7 Sept 2023
Good afternoon Sarah, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. It is always a pleasure to host you and Steve and we are looking forward to having you back at Che Shale in January. Till then all the best, The Che Shale Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
As always you are met with unmatched hospitality, amazing food(fresh as ever) and beautiful views. Perfect place for an unwind day and definitely My go to spot when I have time. My favourite thing is the Labrador Fam❤️.
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Date of stay: June 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Che Shale, Owner at Che Shale
Responded 9 Jul 2023
Good afternoon Maggie, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. It's our pleasure to be able to host you and we are honoured to be your "go to spot". We hope to be able to welcome you back again soon. Best, The Che Shale Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I had an expectional stay at Che Shale. Nothing compares to sleeping and waking up to the sound of the ocean. The sunrises were pristine and so is the secluded beach with its glittery sand. The dhow cruise is a must do! I took a full day dhow trip and it was the highlight of my trip. I had the best time. Captain Bongo and Mohammed were great company. I swam in the clearest turquoise waters and had a scrumptious sea food platter! The staff were friendly, approachable and respectful. As a female solo traveller I felt safe and right at home. I'll definitely go back!
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Date of stay: March 2023
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Che Shale, Owner at Che Shale
Responded 1 Apr 2023
Good morning Nkatha, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and we are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us so much, especially the dhow trip. We will be sure to pass on all your kind words to the team and we look forward to the opportunity to welcome you another time soon. Have a lovely day, The Che Shale Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paradise with hell road... The place is absolutely stunning, luxury bandas are extremely relaxed and cosy. Great nature and beach and architecture! Just the road is deep sand, coconut halves on the road only partially helpful. Very tricky to ride with my motorbike despite lots of experience. Hope the owners can get this better, it got even worse since my last stay two years ago. But once you arrive you get paid for the pain...
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Early morning the sand on the road is less soft...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Che Shale, Owner at Che Shale
Responded 19 Mar 2023
Good afternoon Olli, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. It was a pleasure to host you for a second time and are happy to hear that you enjoyed our little slice of paradise once again. We are sorry that the road was hellish; at this time of year the road can become very tricky but we say its part of the adventure of getting to paradise! We try to maintain the road as much as possible but it is actually a Government road so a lot of it is out of our control. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you again soon. Best, The Che Shale Team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I was due to go to Che Shale as part of an organised group from the UK on a Kite surfing holiday however I decided to go out a few days earlier on my own therefore extending the holiday. Justin and Gussy who run Che shale were incredibly helpful and friendly from my very first email to them, They gave me advice on where to fly in to, what the wind conditions were like, and organised a taxi to collect me from the airport. From my first arrival I was made to feel welcome and relaxed. All the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and made me feel at home. On the night before the rest of the group arrived I was the only guest at Che shale and Justin and Gussy organised for me to have dinner with them and there family in front of a TV which they set up in the bar for me so I could watch the England rugby mach. It was a very special night and made me feel like a member of the family. They have great knowledge of the local area and were always willing to help if I asked for there advice on anything including walking into the local village and how much I should pay for a motorbike taxi back. The staff at the bar were very friendly and could not do enough for me, The food was incredible Especially the seafood. The soft shell crab was to die for. the Kiting and paddle boarding was epic and the kiting instructors were very friendly and great instructors even helping me to de-sand and pack my kit. I will certainly be returning to Che Shale in the future and would recommend a holiday there to anyone who wants a safe and friendly Kenyan adventure. Thank you to all the team at Che shale. …
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Che Shale, Owner at Che Shale
Responded 8 Mar 2023
Dear Dan, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a detailed and glowing review. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to host you both solo and as a part of Nomadic's Kite group and are so happy to hear that you are hoping to return for a third time next year. We will be sure to pass on all your comments to the whole team and look forward to welcoming you again soon. Best, The Che Shale Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
- super friendly and helpful staff - amazing food - a lot of space and good conditions for kitesurfing - beeing able to stay in bandas directly at the beach is pure luxury for us - we love this place, because it is remote and the only things you can hear are the sounds of nature (if you are looking for loud music, party, a pool and animation please have your vacation somewhere else ;) )
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Date of stay: January 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Che Shale, Owner at Che Shale
Responded 27 Feb 2023
Dear Johanna, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a lovely review. It was a pleasure hosting you and Dominik and we are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay so much. We will be sure to pass on your kind words to the team and look forward to welcoming you in the future. Best, The Che Shale Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Let me start by saying that Trip Advisor leaps from “average” to “very good”; I would have preferred to have been able to have chose “good”. This is a difficult property to rate as to a great extent it is unique. Isolated on a lovely quiet beach.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Access is bumpy. Don’t expect great food. Staff were excellent. Go for a deluxe Banda. Hope that...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Che Shale, Owner at Che Shale
Responded 23 Feb 2023
Good morning Robert, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and we are sorry to hear that your stay wasn't up to our usual standard. As we have been away for the week we will be speaking with the team once we are back to find out exactly where we fell short so that can improve for future clients. In the meantime, we will also send you an email to find out more about your stay. Once again we are very sorry, The Che Shale Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Our stay at Che Shale was wonderful,sweet but short.Our room Suli Suli was always clean, safe and comfortable.The sound of the waves esp at night was therapeutic.The dhow was my favourite highlight and the food served during the trip was so yummy bearing in mind I am a seafood lover.The service at the restaurant was great and the staffs i.e Alex ensured we were comfortable.
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Date of stay: February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Response from Che Shale, Owner at Che Shale
Responded 14 Feb 2023
Good morning Mercy, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a glowing review. It was our pleasure hosting you and Caroline and we are happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us so much. We will be sure to pass on your comments to the whole team and look forward to the opportunity to welcome you both back soon. Best, The Che Shale Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.