It’s early December and instead of panicking about Christmas logistics, we’re driving from Tanzania to the Kenyan coast with the windows down, kids singing questionable versions of holiday songs, and sandwiches disappearing at alarming speed.
We’re heading to Kilifi - not for actual Christmas Day, but for what we’ve done for decades which is Strand’s Christmas whenever we can do it. We’ve never been the “strict calendar” type. It started with my grandparents – John and Ella, and the British Navy – Christmas happened whenever shore leave allowed. My dad grew up celebrating in July. And now with Chris and me working right through the holiday season (because peak safari season waits for no one), we’ve kept the tradition alive: choose a sunny day, gather the people, and call it Christmas – no justification required.
Arrival Mode: Barefoot Within Minutes
Kilifi is one of those places that gently lowers your blood pressure just by existing. Think: hidden little beaches, warm Indian Ocean, ancient baobab trees, and just enough crumbling coral architecture to make you feel clever for choosing it.
We arrive at our private beach house and within moments the girls have vanished in the direction of the pool. Shoes: forgotten. Rules: optional (or non-existent as proven later by ice cream for breakfast).
We all stumble in stretching our bodies after the road trip.
Before long - cold drink, quiet breeze, ocean views - 10/10 start.
Our Early “Christmas Morning”
We decide to do presents one morning - no pressure, no schedule, and no one insisting on wearing matching knitted jumpers in +30°C heat.
At the breakfast table, with eggs and avo toast all around, we count down together:
Three… two… one… open.
The results?
- Matching Indian cotton outfits
- Fresh swimsuits which were adorned immediately
- Zero unnecessary plastic toys or last-minute panic buys
Why a Private House Works
Here’s the thing about booking a whole coastal home for your family:
There’s no buffet line.
No sun lounger politics.
No strangers offering unsolicited parenting opinions.
Just:
Your own pool.
Your own beach access.
Your own chef making Swahili breakfasts (mango, passionfruit, chapatis and maandazis – thank you very much).
It’s the kind of holiday where someone asks, “What’s the plan today?” – and the correct answer is:
“Swimming, eating, reading, repeat.”
The Explorer Advantage
We’ve spent years scouting private homes up and down the Kenyan coast – and yes, we have opinions. Good ones. We connect our guests with the kinds of places that feel relaxed, beautiful, and totally effortless once you’re inside the gate. The kind of places we choose to go to ourselves.
There’s no frantic activity schedule or corporate gloss. Just good hospitality, a great house, brilliant staff, and the sea doing what the sea does best.
A New Kind of Festive
So – does this early Christmas getaway work?
Absolutely.
No tinsel.
No chaos.
No cold weather.
Just sandy feet, family time, lots of board games, salty hair, warm evenings, and enough space for everyone to exhale.
Will we do it again?
Yes, 100%.
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