Diamonds Dream of Africa: sustainability behind the fabulous suites

We’ve been Africa’s leading all-inclusive resort for two years in a row which is quite an honour for us, but don’t let the word ‘all-inclusive’ mislead you – we’re not the cheap and cheerful type. Our 35 rooms are made up of beautiful suites with private terraces. If you really wanted to treat yourself, our Premium All-Inclusive package offers a range of perks from discounts and late check-outs to complimentary spa treatments and a snorkelling trip – even a butler to tend to your every need.

For adult getaways, there’s lots of beautiful places for private dinners and a long drinks menu with all sorts of rude words on there – a prerogative for any cocktail list. The Thalasso spa, the only kind in East Africa, features a freshwater pool and multiple massage jets, as well as a salt-water pool – a popular way of removing wrinkles I hear! Families will also love it here. We are right next to the beach and there are lots of activities to keep kids entertained including Swahili storytelling, beach walks with shell collecting and movie nights.  

The location itself is pretty special. Other than palm trees and sandy beaches, you’ve got Malindi town with plenty of heritage from the Omani Empire mixed with Swahili and Arab culture. The huge Arabuko Sokoke Forest is nearby as is safari in Tsavo National Park, the third largest park in Africa. The Indian Ocean though is the main appeal and not just for its glistening water. We offer snorkelling trips around the marine park where you often see turtles, and people come from all over the world to go marlin fishing (catch and release). Being surrounded by a protected environment, you can understand why for us sustainability is key. Other than the standard no plastic policies, we have an organic farm that supplies about 60 percent of our produce. The kitchen waste feeds the chickens and ducks (we enjoy fresh eggs every morning), and we have 12 beehives in a bid to keep the populations up. We also built a turtle hatchery where you can see them hatching around May to July.

As for the local community, we sponsor an orphanage called Mayungu Children’s Centre, a 10-minute drive from the hotel. It’s one of our most serious projects. Over the last two years we were able to fund 200 local students to go to higher education with the European Business School of Luxembourg. Seeing all the underprivileged students receiving doctorates professionals has been thoroughly rewarding. I’m very proud of that.