Mombasa
Right on Haile Selassie Rd, this hotel makes up in convenience what it lacks in soundproofing and charm. The rooms are business quality and well cared for…
Must-see hotels in Kenya
Kisumu
The oddly named Scottish Tartan used to be the best hotel in town. Although it has been overtaken in recent years by some fine new offerings, its large…
Kenya
Prince Charles Campsite is one of six 'special' campsites in Aberdares, which means they have to be reserved ahead of time through KWS. The special…
Mt Kenya Guides & Porters Safari Club
Kenya
Principally in the business of supplying guides and porters, this association has branched out with a couple of excellent-value cottages with open fires…
Laikipia Plateau
Clean toilets with seats; big, soft beds with couches in the rooms; a nice balcony; TV and a place to charge your phone – what did we do to deserve this…
Southern Rift Valley
A longtime favourite with tour groups and business travellers, the Merica is starting to show its age and not everything works, which is hardly what you'd…
Diani Beach
A good option if the beach hotels are full, this well-maintained motel-style hotel is on the other side of the road. It has 16 spotless rooms with fridges…
Masai Mara
One alternative to the big Mara camps is to stay just outside the reserve in the town of Talek. The 11 rooms here surround a pink courtyard and are clean…
Western Kenya
Clean, cheap rooms and a central location make the Nile the best deal in the town centre, although their claim to four stars is, shall we say,…
Southern Rift Valley
Although it's the least personal of the Lake Baringo choices and more accustomed to dealing with local conference visitors than foreign tourists, Soi…
Lake Nakuru National Park
This campsite has the best facilities of any inside the park, although it's still rather basic – an ablutions block with cold running water is the extent…
Northern Kenya
This is the only accommodation option on the island. Located close to the dock, it is the ideal setting-off point for treks around the island. Unlike at…
Kenya
The Murera camp, with plain wooden cottages and huts, isn’t as charming as Kinna’s, but it’s a fine place to doss if everything is booked up. There's one…
Mombasa
A midrange place with a lovely rooftop terrace (sometimes Mombasa is just better experienced from up high), Summerlink is a well-located option popular…
Kenya
Staying at this basic campsite in this friendly Giriama village, right near the Mida Creek boardwalk, is a great way to interact with locals and to see…
Kenya
Overlooking Masinga Lake, this is the best option if you want to explore Mwea National Reserve but do not want to camp. The resort is slightly rundown,…
Kenya
The only option besides camping on the Chogoria Route, this group of comfortable cabins is administered by Meru South County Council. Ask your guide to…
Diani Beach
Down a nameless dirt track (though signposted en route), this secure hostel consists of a makuti (thatched-roofed) main common area, with a few spartan…
Western Kenya
Without doubt the best budget hotel in town (not that the competition is especially stiff). The rooms, while not large, are spotless and the showers are…
Northern Kenya
The rooms here are prim and proper and all have attached bathrooms that come with – wait for it – real hot water from a real shower! Upstairs are some…
Malindi
This small campground near the entrance to the marine national park has space for you to pitch your tent as well as a few basic but neat, fan-cooled…
Malindi
If beach access is not a priority, and saving a bit of cash is, this guesthouse, run by a friendly Muslim family, is right in the heart of Malindi and…
Kenya
A simple two-room cabin with an open fire, two beds and a hot-water boiler, overlooking a lovely waterfall on the Upper Magura River. It’s best to bring…
Kenya
The excellent KWS-run Sirimon Bandas are located 9km from the Sirimon gate and make for a comfortable place to acclimatise to the altitude before a climb…
Mombasa
Neither glorious nor grand, this hotel is instead excellent value, with spruced-up rooms that hint at business-hotel style – minus the cost. Breakfast is…
Kenya
Wundanyi's best place to stay has comfortable rooms with frilly decor, and front-facing rooms come with views of the corrugated rooftops of the town and…
Masai Mara
The sites are wonderfully open to the elements, with just canvas between you and the nearest predator. You will need to be totally self-sufficient to the…
Watamu
If you want to be as central as possible and as cheaply as possible without slumming it, friendly Seawhispers has a clutch of spotless, fan-cooled rooms…
Mbita & Rusinga Island
The pick of the cheapies in Mbita town, Amazon (where do they get these names?) is a friendly place with basic rooms. It's the bolthole of choice for…
Southern Rift Valley
The Astorian Grand has attractive if unexciting rooms with tiled floors, muted colours and enough space to put your suitcase down without tripping over it…
Malindi
If you need quiet, this religious centre (which accepts guests of all stripes) is a nice option. Like most church-run places in Kenya, everything here is…
Mombasa
Probably the cheapest of Mombasa's safe guesthouses, this place isn't pretty on the outside, but the rooms are clean and your purse will thank you…
South Coast
This largely renovated hotel is a bit of a maze, with identical doubles, slightly larger suites, two pools and some nice lounge areas. The beach access is…
Northern Kenya
Located 2.5km north of town on the road to Moyale, this place has little in the way of character but has big, tiled en-suite rooms, lots of peace and…
Western Kenya
Friends has comfortable rooms that are clean, pleasing to the eye and come with 24-hour hot water; the friendly service costs no extra. Downstairs is a…
Kenya
The second-highest hut at 4790m, this makes a good base before the final ascent of Point Lenana. The dorm rooms are basic and you'll need a good sleeping…
Southern Rift Valley
On the lake's southwestern shore, this acacia-shaded site has an ablutions block and (cold) running water. It's a pretty spot and the busiest of the…
Southern Rift Valley
This campsite sits just beyond the gate on the way up to the Mt Longonot crater. There’s space to pitch a tent and a toilet and shower block but no…
Western Kenya
A solid choice that boasts spacious, quiet and clean rooms with exceptionally helpful management. It’s not quite as God-fearing as it sounds. There’s an…
Malindi
Not as fancy as the name suggests and rather in need of TLC, this resort is handy if you're after all the resort trimmings without the price tag. Most of…
