I had been working in Tanzania for over 4 months before I arranged for my family to fly out and have a 4 week holiday with me. There were 2 things on the "must do" list; Safari and Beach Holiday. After much deliberation I decided to go with Foxes for both. After 3 nights at Rufiji (reviewed separately) and a weekend back in Dar, we were ready for some full-on relaxation. LL did not disappoint. The most stressful thing about the week was the drive there and back – anyone who lives here will tell you that the Bagamoyo road out of Dar is hardly peaceful. Having said that, once we arrived at our pick up point at the M'begani Boat Yard, the pace of life slowed to a crawl and there were large smiles all round.
Many of the recent reviews have hit the nail on the head – this is a place to relax and get away from it all. (I had to laugh when my work tried to phone me while I was wading through the beach surf as I arrived – I simply sent them a photo and turned the phone off). We were welcomed by Judy and the arrival admin was conducted quickly. A short walk through the shade of the trees and undergrowth saw us to our large, comfortable, simple but clean accommodation. Set on 2 floors with a large bathroom at the rear, the banda is positioned facing north east across the beach and reef. The 1st floor veranda became the place to read and watch the sun rise and the fishermen and the ground floor veranda the place to chill in the shade in the afternoon. To be fair the banda looked a little worn and tatty around the edges – but not surprising when you consider these buildings are open to the elements all year round and it certainly didn't distract from the feeling of comfort; indeed it created an atmosphere of "Robinson Crusoe Shabby-Chic".
Not forgetting Nimo, LL's very own guard dog. He slept next to our banda every night and escorted us to and from meal times and even "protected" us from the resident troop of monkeys if they got too close; hilarious to watch….
The main lodge included the bar, restaurant and pool together with ample places to sit and relax; our routine included a refreshing dip in the pool in the afternoon followed by a large gin and tonic while watching the sun set from the 1st floor balcony. The food was excellent; freshly baked cinnamon rolls at breakfast were my favourite. There are always 2 choices for lunch and dinner and if you go for the fish you are guaranteed freshness. We made a point of watching Judy haggling with the local fishermen when they stopped off on the beach to sell their catch. I was always impressed with the variety and standard of the chef's creations. Judy has created a strong team at LL; front of house are polite, friendly, efficient and unobtrusive, while the kitchen staff are obviously capable.
So, you've settled in to your accommodation and you're happy with the pool, food and drink. What else is there to do? Very little: and that is the point. There are a few kayaks and a laser dinghy to play with in the lagoon and ample beach walks, you can even build a sand castle or snorkel along the reef (but the visibility was very poor when we were there), but apart from that, you are forced to slow down, read a book and enjoy not doing very much.
Thank you Judy.