Sindo · Lake Victoria · Kenya

Starehe Manor

A lakeside retreat where time slows down — in Sindo on the shores of Lake Victoria.

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Eva standing in Lake Victoria at golden hour, holding a fish, Rusinga Island in the background

Since 2022

Our Story

From a dream on the lake to your place of tranquility

Starehe Manor began as a single plot of beachfront land in Sindo and a stubborn belief that the most beautiful corner of Lake Victoria (locally known as Nam Lolwe) deserved a place to simply be.

Hand-built since 2022, it's growing from a homestead into a retreat — eight themed cottages are planned, starting with Jiwa, alongside edible gardens and sunsets that go on forever.

Starehe means tranquility, or peace, or comfort, in KiSwahili. That's not a tagline here; it's the whole point.

Follow the build on YouTube @StareheManor

Moments

A look around

Fishing boat on Lake Victoria at sunrise

Eva overlooking a golden Lake Victoria sunset

Eva standing above the lake with Rusinga Island in the distance

Eva in red seated on a fishing boat at the shore

Kingfisher perched on a branch near the lake

Eva at the early Starehe Manor build site

Eva smiling beside a blue wooden boat on the shore

The Lake & The Land

More than a place to stay

On the water

Sunset boat rides, sport fishing, and a dawn chorus you'll actually wake up for.

Wild & near

Minutes from the islands of Rusinga, Takawiri and Mfangano, and a short hop to Ruma National Park.

Grown here

Edible gardens and farm-to-table meals straight from the homestead.

Stay With Us

A World in Eight

Eight themed structures scattered across one hill above Nam Lolwe. Each one a portal to a country that shaped how Eva sees beauty. Each one yours alone.

🇮🇩 Bali / Indonesia · 00 · Phase 0

Jiwa Cottage

A two-storey Bali-inspired retreat — Ubud open-air living on the equator.

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🇪🇹 Ethiopia / Addis Ababa · 01

Selam Cottage

Local timber, local clay, coffee ceremony at dawn.

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🌍 African Traditional · 02

Asili Cottage

A rectangular earth-walled cottage under a flat makuti roof — tradition meeting luxury.

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🇳🇴 Oslo / Norway · 03

Vinterhus Cottage

Charcoal timber, birch interiors, hygge on the equator.

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🇿🇦 Cape Town / South Africa · 04

Kaap Cottage

Cape Dutch gable, white lime walls, sunset on the stoep.

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🇺🇸 USA / Pacific Northwest · 05

Cascadia Cottage

An A-frame swallowed by the forest — the discovery cottage.

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🇮🇪 Ireland · 06

Fáilte Cottage

Stone walls, a window seat on the lake, Barry's Tea on arrival.

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🇨🇦 Canada · 07

Maple Cottage

Cedar lodge, Muskoka chairs, the widest deck on the property.

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All cottage imagery is for design inspiration only and does not represent the finished structures. Photography will be updated as each cottage is completed.

Read every cottage's story

Phase 0 · The First Cottage

Help raise the first structure above Nam Lolwe.

Jiwa Cottage is being built first. Every gift — large or small — helps it rise from the hill.

Choose Your Tier ↓

Choose Your Tier

Every Believer Gets a Reward

From $25 to $5,000 — every gift is acknowledged, documented, and rewarded. Permanently.

Step 1 — Choose your tier. Step 2 — Choose how to give.

$25

USD

Friend of Starehe

Your name on the digital Wall of Believers — published on the Starehe Manor website and social channels when we open.

Choose this tier →

$50

USD

Coffee Ceremony

Everything above, plus a personal video thank-you from Eva, recorded from the property on Lake Victoria.

Choose this tier →

$100

USD

World Traveler

Everything above, plus a Starehe Manor digital postcard from Nam Lolwe and first-access booking rights before the public.

Choose this tier →

Choose How to Give

Give on GoFundMe

Secure donation via GoFundMe

Send with Sendwave

Send via Sendwave or M-Pesa to this number

+254 715 901 592

Adongo Adhiambo

Pay

Pay with PayPal

Quick & secure PayPal donation

Payment will appear as Folks with Pens Solutions — Eva's registered business name.

Not sure which tier? Start with $25 — your name on the Wall of Believers costs less than a cup of coffee and lasts forever.

Give on GoFundMe Send via Sendwave / Mpesa Pay with PayPal

+254 715 901 592 · Adongo Adhiambo

Payment will appear as Folks with Pens Solutions — Eva's registered business name.

Donating via Mpesa or Sendwave? Send your name and chosen tier to +254 715 901 592 on WhatsApp.

Enquire

Reserve your stay

Tell us your dates and which cottage — we'll take care of the rest.