Must-see hotels in Kenya

  • Ol Donyo

    Kenya

    Welcome to what could just be our favourite place to stay in Kenya. Built onto the foothills of Chyulu Hills at the remote eastern reaches of the 1113-sq…

  • Segera Retreat

    Laikipia Plateau

    We can be difficult to impress, but this place left us speechless. Six villas and a couple of houses inhabit an oasis in the heart of the ranch, looking…

  • Mara Plains

    Masai Mara

    This utterly captivating camp has a dozen tents with beds and showers carved from old wooden railway sleepers and quality rugs lazing across the floors…

  • Elsa’s Kopje

    Kenya

    Plenty of hotels claim to blend into their environment, but Elsa’s did so in such a seamless manner that the bar on chic ecosuites was permanently raised…

  • Water Lovers

    Diani Beach

    Beautiful, peaceful and intimate, Water Lovers has eight rooms and one villa, all designed with aesthetics, sustainability and love in mind. The furniture…

  • Saruni Mara

    Masai Mara

    Way to the north of any of the other camps, and virtually on the border of the conservancy, this breathtaking camp has around a dozen tents dusted with…

  • Campi ya Kanzi

    Kenya

    Campi ya Kanzi is, quite simply, an outstanding place to stay. Set upon the slopes of the Chyulu Hills – these may have been Ernest Hemingway's 'Green…

  • Asilia Naboisho Camp

    Masai Mara

    So what if the tents, with their huge beds and indoor and outdoor showers, are among the most extravagant around. Why people really stay here is the…

  • Kicheche Valley Camp

    Masai Mara

    High in a valley that looks down into the heart of the conservancy – there is not a single light in view at night – Kicheche Valley is a terrific property…

  • Giraffe Manor

    Nairobi

    Built in 1932 in typical English style, this elegant manor is situated on 56 hectares, much of which is given over to the adjacent Giraffe Centre. As a…

  • El Karama Eco Lodge

    Laikipia Plateau

    One of the most affordable places in the region. There are luxury tents where you can laze in your hammock overlooking the Ewaso Ngiro River, or if you're…

  • Sirikwa Safaris

    Western Kenya

    Owned and run by the family that started Saiwa, this beautiful old farmhouse is 11km from the swamp. You can choose between camping in the grounds,…

  • Sandai Farm

    Kenya

    Fourteen kilometres northwest of town (ask locals for directions), Sandai is run by the effervescent Petra Allmendinger, whose enthusiasm and warm welcome…

  • Sarova Salt Lick Safari Lodge

    Kenya

    The centrepiece of the sanctuary, this original lodge calls to mind a traditional village of beehive huts on stilts, all connected by a web of walkways…

  • Che Shale

    Malindi

    Three kinds of people make their way to this camp on Mambrui Beach, 25km north of Malindi: kitesurfers, foodies and tranquillity seekers. Choose between…

  • Cottar's 1920s Camp

    Masai Mara

    One of the most storied camps in the Mara region, Cottar's, owned by a legendary safari family, induces a misty-eyed sense of longing from those lucky…

  • Kicheche Mara

    Masai Mara

    Stunningly sited in a lush, intimate valley along a hippo-inhabited stream lined with acacias, Kicheche is a lovely property. The large tents with bucket…

  • Sala's Camp

    Masai Mara

    So far south in the Masai Mara that you're almost in Tanzania, Sala's Camp is a real find. Away from the busier central and northern areas of the reserve,…

  • Maji Moto Eco-Camp

    Masai Mara

    On a hillside among granite rocks contorted into fantastical shapes, Maji Moto is around 60km north of the reserve proper. The camp is fairly simple but…

  • iKweta Safari Camp

    Kenya

    This terrific place is just outside Meru National Park, 2.5km from Murera Gate on the road in from Meru, so you can be inside the park in minutes. The…

  • Sarova Stanley Hotel

    Nairobi

    A Nairobi classic. The original Stanley Hotel was established in 1902 – past guests include Ernest Hemingway, Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and Gregory Peck…

  • Saruni Samburu Lodge

    Northern Kenya

    So perfectly designed is Saruni Samburu Lodge, the only accommodation other than camping within the conservancy, that its ‘tents’ virtually melt into the…

  • Watamu Treehouse

    Watamu

    A wonder of recycled stained-glass windows, curvy walls of brushed concrete, nooks with sofas for sunset-watching and gnarled railings made of coconut…

  • Mt Kenya Safari Club

    Nanyuki

    This is the kind of place that makes you want to grow a moustache, kick back and smoke a pipe. The rooms have a luxurious, classic look to them and are…

  • Lewa Safari Camp

    Laikipia Plateau

    This impressive property lies in the northwest corner of the conservancy, about an hour's drive from the main Matunda Gate. Its safari tents are large and…

  • Roberts Camp

    Southern Rift Valley

    A legend in its own right, this atmospheric camp sits right on the lakeshore, wherever that shore may be...The bandas are nicely decorated, with eco loos,…

  • Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

    Lake Nakuru National Park

    Unlike Sopa Lodges elsewhere, which are often dated, dark and in obscure locations, this fine new property has light-filled rooms from high on a perch…

  • Kizingo

    Lamu Island

    The owners describe this beautiful spot as 'no news, no shoes', which says it all really. It's at the end of the 12km stretch of beach that begins in…

  • Severin Safari Camp

    Tsavo West National Park

    This fantastic complex of thatched luxury tents just keeps getting better. There are lovely, spacious tents, a swimming pool and spa, and even a tented…

  • Kembu Cottages

    Southern Rift Valley

    Green and peaceful, Kembu Farm has nine cosy cottages set in beautiful gardens on the edge of Njoro. Each cottage tells a story; you can sleep in the…

  • Sweetwaters Serena Camp

    Laikipia Plateau

    The 56 large and beautifully appointed en-suite tents by the reliable Serena chain are high-end but with prices that are more accessible than those of…

  • Rekero Camp

    Masai Mara

    We're big fans of Asilia Africa's properties, and Rekero is no exception. On a bend in the Talek River in the heart of the Masai Mara, Rekero is ideally…

  • Mara Expedition Camp

    Masai Mara

    A tiny camp that's so well hidden under the riverside trees it's impossible to see until you're pretty much in it. Yet again, Great Plains Conservation…

  • Rondo Retreat

    Western Kenya

    To arrive at Rondo Retreat is to be whisked back to 1922 and the height of British rule. Consisting of a series of wooden bungalows filled with a family’s…

  • Olerai House

    Lake Naivasha

    Hidden under a blanket of tropical flowers, this beautiful house is like something from a fairytale, where petals dust the beds and floors, zebras and…

  • Milimani Backpackers & Safari Centre

    Nairobi

    This terrific place within a very secure gated community is one of the friendliest accommodation options in town, and whether you camp out back, cosy up…

  • Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp

    Masai Mara

    At the base of the Loita Hills, this fine Maasai camp offers simple accommodation, from camping to huts and tents. It's a rustic experience in the best…

  • Wildebeest Eco Camp

    Nairobi

    This fabulous place is arguably Nairobi’s outstanding budget option. The atmosphere is relaxed yet switched on, and the accommodation is spotless and…

  • Island Camp

    Southern Rift Valley

    Stylish but relaxed, this gorgeous tented camp covers the tip of an island in the middle of Lake Baringo. The lovely tents are a mixture of thatch and…

  • Wayando Beach Club Eco Lodge

    Mbita & Rusinga Island

    Four kilometres from the causeway (turn right at the junction) is this large American-owned grassy compound with easy lake access, loads of birds in the…

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