From the ruins of the disappointment of ‘whatever happened to Sarasa resort and camping site‘, a new offering emerges from the wild bush of Siritanyi. Everything about Siritamu resorts Bungoma speaks to its unstated goal of filling the yawning gap in the luxe end of Bungoma’s budding entertainment and hospitality industry.
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Early 2020 and I’m heading up to Malaba for a fair bit of business and leisure. A few kilometers out of town, I chance upon an establishment that’s been all the rave in Bungoma based and/or focused social media communities. By the time I’m heading back from Malaba, it’s way past lunch. However, as we approach Siritanyi, my partner offers that it was about time we ‘tried out’ Siritamu.
“Why not a sundowner?” She asks. “Round off the day?” She pauses.
That’s how we ended up at the exquisite Siritamu resort in Bungoma. What follows is what I made of what’s now the TOTT (Talk Of The Town); over a couple of hours that lazy Sunday in January.
Siritamu: The location + the legend
By now, you must have figured out that Siritamu is in Siritanyi in Kanduyi constituency, well within the Bungoma municipality area. The resort is situated a couple of kilometers from the Kanduyi junction end of the upcoming Kanduyi- Musikoma dual carriage road. As one heads to Malaba along the Bungoma-Malaba road, it lies to the left up along a slight dip on the road.
That established, you might have also figured that the name Siritamu is a play on the word Siritanyi. What, however, is not so apparent – unless you drive up to the resort- is how clever the branding actually is. Indeed, this spot is siri tamu – the ‘sweet secret’.
Ambience
Approaching Siritamu from the Bungoma – Malaba road, my imagination runs wild. It’s not in hiding that Siritamu was set up with eco-friendly considerations in mind. Thus, the built environment is implanted only to an extent that necessary for purpose. The result is that most of the indigenous flora of the wild bush where Siritamu Resorts Bungoma today sits remains as it were.
Further, a lovely touch it is by those who conceptualized the resort with placing information boards containing names and trivia on the trees. Nonetheless, I had hoped for bit of a longer drive from the gate. I talk of the kind of drive that builds up anticipation before the big reveal. That said, it still is lovely whiling away under and among the trees.
Can’t say this enough, but the effect of randomness of nature at Siritamu to the soul is one that man can’t mimic nor replicate.
For an inside look at siritanyi resort in Bungoma, check out this Vlog by the beautiful and talented Patience Khaoya
The bar at Siritamu + more on the ambiance
OK, upfront by the parking, Siritamu has a bar-cum-restaurant. I found it to be more of a restaurant than a bar. For one, the chairs and sitting arrangement are more suited to dinning than bonding over a drink. Then there is a singular TV on a brick wall. I speak of it as it’s only the thing to look at. This is to say that I found the decor too sparse for my liking.
I mention the wall because it is the centerpiece of the room; which, by itself, says all there is to be said about the bar’s counter. I am a ‘counter person’ and find it unforgivable when an establishment denies patrons the joy of enjoying their drinks by the bar’s counter. I mean, at least make it an option.
That said, there is (thankfully) an open kitchen whose vibe seeps over the bar’s counter from an opening on a wall by the side of the bar. Sadly, the music isn’t much to write home about. I had hoped for a sophisticated playlist to up the Luxe feel.
But, no. Further, I fear that not much thought went into engineering the sound. Moreover, much like the next Kenyan resort, the decor is tense fight between contemporary and traditional African. Nonetheless, I take my hat off to the interior designer who brilliantly pulls it off.
But siritamu is about what lies outside rather then the inside. Which brings me to a spot next to a parking. There’s a sculptured ‘water fall’ piece with flamingos that’s quite the attraction for selfies and photos. This concrete piece adds a new dimension to the air making the place feel Vegas-lite. Throw in the Safari vibe from the eco-concept and wild animal concrete sculptures; the contemporary buildings and you have the perfect mix. What could be more Kenyan than that?
Service
Prompt and respectful is how I’d describe the service at Siritamu. It appeared to me that the proprietor went for a mix of ‘mature’ gentlemen and younger females as the service staff. Hats off, I must say, it’s a balanced blend that works well.
For starters, the men waiter staff ooze experience. They come across as assured. So much so that their jobs almost seem second nature. I found that they exuded that swagger of your archetypal seasoned barman behind the counter of every luxe establishment worth its salt.
As for the female staff, their professionalism in attire and demeanor is a welcome break. It’s not hard to tell that they had trained for this. Which, as is often across the smaller towns in Kenya, is not a forgone conclusion. Kudos to the management here, none of that tacky experience with female wait staff at siritamu.
That said, if I’d level some criticism, it has to be the staff appeared somewhat thin for an establishment this size. Siritamu has outside bandas, secluded sitting spots, a pool side and restaurant cum bar. This makes for quite a fair number of service points. My experience was one where I was served with a number of different staff over our shot patronage. Found this to take a bit off the edge of Siritamu’s stated aim of offering a luxe dining experience. In retrospect, could be that its was just a busy day.
for more photos of siritamu, check out this twitter post
Then there is a new joint in Bungoma called Siritamu. ❤❤
— Eric (@amerix) July 16, 2019
Team building
Parties
Gym and swimming
Restaurants
Nature walk
Executive rooms Ksh 12,000.
Deluxe rooms Ksh 7,000. pic.twitter.com/5HBfdisROt
Food and drinks at Siritamu Bungoma
The food is well done. (I had their version of the popular Ugandan street food ‘rolex’, which they call ‘chapati roll’). The menu is extensive and packed with all your local favorites. It’s all done and presented as a chef would. Moreover, the food prices at Siritamu are friendly too – what’d you expect in such an establishment.
As for drinks, I noticed that their in-house fruit juices were quite popular with patrons. From my vantage point in the restaurant cum bar, it was not in doubt that their offering of non-alcoholic beverages served in sophisticated tall glasses were literally flying off the counter!
As for alcohol, local beers range between 300-350 ksh. Thankfully, though, the beers are served at just the right temp of cold. But as is the case in most Kenyan resorts of this ilk, I found the liquors quite pricey – in the range of x2 to x3 normal retail prices.
Rating
To be fair, it feels quite early in the day to objectively rate Bungoma’s Siritamu. Nonetheless, allowing for liberties, such as discounting for the effects on a reviewer that hype that comes with an establishment being the TOTT, Siritamu is a solid 3.5/5.
This is despite the fact that Siritamu is already by miles among the best, if not the best, that Bungoma has to offer. Nonetheless, in spite of the gulf in class that sets it apart from its peers, I can’t just shake off a nagging feeling.
It’s the thought that even though the ceiling is quite high, eventually with time and as it beds in, Siritamu might just fail to live up to the billing. And what could be more Kenyan than that?
