Overnight/Weekend trips from Nairobi (without travel agencies/cars)

I'm looking for advice on how to escape on a budget for the weekend from Nairobi, or even just overnight.

I've moved to live here and am desperate to escape the city, but there's no way I can pay the extortionate prices for safari's or even the trips that tour companies offer.

I just want to go by matutu or coach somewhere nice and spend ideally less than $50 inc. accommodation

I did this for Lake Naivasha the other weekend which was beautiful and I had a great time staying at a banda and hiring a bike to peddle round. So now I'm looking to do something similar but struggling to find routes/cheap countryside places to stay.

Nakuru, Aberdare, Amboseli have been recommended but I just can't work out how to do it economically..
(preferably somewhere I don't need to take malaria pills for)

I'd be grateful if people that've lived in Nairobi abit longer have some tips and suggestions on how to get away from the city a day or two.

Asante!

Here are a few suggestions:

Buy a tent (if you don't already have one) and camp overnight at Castle Forest Lodge, which is on the south side of Mt. Kenya. This farm-style retreat is deep in the forest, has elephants roaming in the area, and some nice trails leading to waterfalls. The main building has a surprisingly fine restaurant and a bar. This lodge is accessible by matatu, except for the last 7 km for which you need a motorbike taxi.

Hop a matatu to Namanga, the town just before the Tanzanian border. It has miles of savannah and mountains for walking and there are several cheap guest houses and campsites in and around the village.

Or camp at Swara Plains (Acacia Camp), a private conservancy near Athi River. To get there you just take a Machakos-bound matatu and tell the conductor to let you off at the camp gate. It is 3 km by foot to the main office. Like Hell's Gate it is not a Big Five park but it has quite a few grazing animals and you are free to walk anywhere. You may find it doesn't measure up to Hell's Gate but it's great for spur of the moment.

Thanks Christopher!

I really appreciate these suggestions which sound a great start and I shall look into..

I'm thinking I'll plum for Namanga this weekend as I don't have a tent yet (but will def invest I think). Is Namanga somewhere that I should take malaria pills for?

Sorry, also - Getting a matatu to Castle Forest Lodge. I assume that goes from central Nairobi, but is Kimunye the destination town to aim for (or somewhere larger like Makutana first?) Thanks for the advice..

No need for malaria pills in Namanga.

Re Castle Forest, I took a matatu to Embu, then switched to one to Kutus (you can also go via Karatina). Then a shared taxi up to the last village on the mountain, Kimunye. Then hire a boda boda to take you up through the forest.

Remember the nights are chilly up there.

Great recommendations from Chris, but definitely don't fail to take malaria tablets if you're going down to Namanga!

Richard

Might be better for a long weekend, but upcountry to Eldoret or the tea country around Nandi Hills/Kapsabet could be a great diversion.

Express shuttles (10 seaters) leave from the Mfangano St/ Railways area for around 700ksh and take 5 hours or so of beautiful scenery. From Eldoret you could hit Iten, Naiberi, etc. Kapsabet, if you've got a bike, loads of great mountain bike routes in the surrounding tea estates.

Of course closer to NBO you could go visit Tigoni or the wonderfully cool areas around Limuru for a quick and easy change of pace.

Chris, I thank you so much. Being at Castle Forest was fantastic break. Beautiful, peaceful and not too hard to get to.
Matatu to Keragoya from Accra Rd (250-300ksh), shared taxi to Kimunye (50ksh), motobike (250). I got hold of a tent (and alot of blankets, you're right it's a tad chilly)

Thank you too Mzungu for suggesting these future ideas

I can cope with Nairobi if weekends like that are possible :)

Thanks guys for the tips, now to plan for the trips.