About Us

Italian hospitality on the Kenyan coast

0 Managed Villas
0 Years in Watamu
0 Happy Guests
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0 Star Google Rating

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Gianluca Varriale, founder of Claris African Experience

Our Story

A villa company built around people

Claris African Experience was founded by Gianluca Varriale, who fell for Watamu and never quite left. What started as caring for a handful of homes has grown into a boutique villa-rental, property-management and travel company — rooted in Watamu, run by a local team.

We bring an Italian sense of hospitality to the authentic Kenyan coast: hand-picked villas, honest advice, and someone who actually answers the phone. Whether you are renting for a week or trusting us with your home year-round, the promise is the same — premium, personal, 24/7.

“Be focused.” — Gianluca Varriale

What we do

Everything for a complete stay

From the villa you sleep in to the safari you wake up for — it is all taken care of by one team.

Stay

Villas & Apartments

Hand-picked homes with private pools, gardens and sea breezes along the Watamu coast.

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Adventure

Tours & Safari

Classic safaris inland and curated day excursions along the coast and Marine Park.

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Dining

Napul’è Restaurant

Wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, hand-made pasta and the daily catch of the Indian Ocean.

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Wellness

Silver Palm Spa

Massages, facials and quiet wellness rituals in a calm coastal setting.

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Owners

Property Management

Full-service care and rental management for villa owners on the Kenyan coast.

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Support

24/7 Concierge

Transfers, bookings, requests and a friendly local team always within reach.

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Our Team

The people behind Claris

Small, local and hands-on. From our front and back offices to the villas themselves, the same familiar faces look after every booking, repair and welcome — so guests and owners always know exactly who they are talking to.

Founder & CEO

Gianluca Varriale

Fell for Watamu, never quite left, and built Claris one home and one guest at a time. He still keeps a hand in every detail — with one rule for the whole team: be focused, and treat every villa like our own.

Office & Operations

Josh

Guest Experience & Operations

Fred

Accountant

Sally

Office Secretary

Judy

Check-In Coordinator

Edison

Operations & Marketing

Maintenance & Technical Team

The hands-on crew who keep every managed home running — plumbing, electrics, gardens, pools and quick repairs, day or night, usually before a guest ever notices.

Saidi

Plumber

Shukran

Logistics & Inventory

Electrical

On-call technicians

Gardens & Pools

Grounds & maintenance crew

Housekeeping

Dorris

Housekeeper

Maureen

Housekeeper

Joyce

Housekeeper

Mercy

Housekeeper

The Watamu coastline that Claris calls home

Giving Back

Rooted in the Watamu community

Giving back is not a side project for us — it is part of who we are. The team is hired and trained from the coast, and we put time, money and effort back into the place we call home through donations, local partnerships and showing up in person. Choosing Claris means supporting a company that invests in Watamu and its people.

Local employmentA team hired, trained and grown from the Watamu community.

Schools & youthSupporting local schools and young people along the coast.

Community partnershipsWorking with neighbours, artisans and local initiatives.

Coast & ocean careCaring for the beaches and reef that make Watamu special.

Gallery

Moments around the coast

Turquoise water, white sand and cool Swahili interiors — a glimpse of life with Claris in Watamu.

Guest Reviews

Loved by travellers worldwide

Rated 5 stars by guests on Google.

"From the airport pickup to the keys in hand, everything was effortless. The villa was even better than the photos and the team was reachable at any hour."

CR Chase Reynolds
London, UK

"We trusted Claris with our home while we were abroad. Bookings, maintenance, guests — all handled, with honest reporting. Real peace of mind."

MA Marine Aubert
Villa owner, Watamu

"The safari they arranged was the highlight of our trip, and dinner at Napul’è felt like being back in Italy. We will absolutely return."

EC Enrico Conti
Milan, Italy

Plan your stay in Watamu

Our team is always reachable and ready to help you arrange the perfect holiday on the Kenyan coast.

Trusted by guests & property owners

A decade of warm hospitality on the Watamu coast has earned us the trust of guests, homeowners and travel professionals worldwide.

5-Star Google Reviews

20+ Managed Villas

2,000+ Happy Guests

24/7 Premium Support

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