Nairobi
Despite the bizarre spelling of its name (the hotel logo is a lotus), this fantastic addition to Nairobi's hotel scene offers spacious, great-value and…
Must-see hotels in Kenya
Kenya
A stone’s throw from the wildlife-rich Aruba Dam, this lodge has attractively decorated rooms decked out in safari prints, although it's the six luxury…
Nairobi
Ole Sereni is as close as Nairobi comes to having an airport hotel (it's 12km from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport), and some rooms (small but stylish…
South Coast
From the soaring, makuti (thatched-roofed) reception to the three pools, cliff-top bar, and ship-shape, colour-coded rooms, this is Nyali's top beach…
Lamu Island
From the Arabic for 'house of light', this 16th-century town house is a stylish backpackers joint that guests rate highly for the warm hospitality. The…
Kenya
Just 4km from Voi Gate, this is a long, low complex perched on the edge of an escarpment overlooking an incredible sweep of savannah. There’s an…
Kenya
The older of the two Sarova properties within the sanctuary, this place has marginally better rooms and the service is more switched on (this is the main…
South Coast
Rustic yet chic, this mangrove-creek resort has plenty of get-away-from-it-all appeal. The cottages are spacious and some have sunken bathtubs that look…
Lake Naivasha
This tented camp inside the private Crater Lake Game Sanctuary nestles among trees and overlooks the tiny jade-green crater lake. The tents aren’t exactly…
Lake Naivasha
Fancy sleeping in a converted boat with leopard-print curtains? How about a romantic night crammed into a broken-down bus or a toy-sized 4WD? There are 82…
South Coast
Sometimes business hotels seem too impersonal, holiday resorts too package-deal and boutique hotels too expensive. Thankfully, there's intimate Kahama,…
Tsavo West National Park
Outside the southern boundary of the park but handy for exploring an area of the park that few travellers visit, Voyager Ziwani has lovely safari tents…
Amboseli National Park
A classically elegant property in Amboseli, the Serena is comprised of fiery-red adobe cottages, some of which (rooms 68 to 75) overlook the wildlife-rich…
Southern Rift Valley
On the 14-sq-km Kigio Wildlife Conservancy (conservancy fee US$25 per person) east of the Naivasha–Nakuru road and south of Lake Elmenteita, Kigio…
Kenya
One of the better budget places bordering Tsavo East, close to Voi, Red Elephant is popular with German travellers for its reasonable prices and…
Nairobi
A distinctive Nairobi landmark, the Hilton dominates the centre of town with its somewhat dated round tower, occupying virtually an entire block with…
Lamu Island
This Swedish-owned property features graceful arches and twin gardens with wells. The Sultan of Zanzibar knew a thing or two about style when he built the…
Lake Nakuru National Park
Sitting high up the lake’s eastern slopes, this lodge inhabits lovely, leafy grounds in a valley high above the lake. Rooms are understated and while some…
Kenya
This stately stone club will transport you back to colonial days. For those without their own vehicle, it also acts as the staging post for the Ark in…
Diani Beach
Just south of Palm Ave, this elegant resort is all Moorish chic, with latticed screens, soaring ceilings, Moroccan-style mihrab headboards and reflecting…
Diani Beach
Named after the latitude of this gorgeous, remote beach, Four Twenty South has six rustic-chic cottages. Each comes with a personal chef (who may have…
Kenya
This work in progress is an essential part of the Kasigau project, with good campsites, six attractive, locally built cottages and a range of activities…
Masai Mara
Not far inside the Sekenani Gate, but sheltered from the main thoroughfare through the reserve, the Sarova is an excellent, reliable choice. There are,…
Masai Mara
Set in the riverine forest on the banks of the Talek River, this large (84-room) package-tour lodge has a series of interconnecting decks (hippos can be…
Masai Mara
A little tricky to find, Acacia is 2.5km over sand roads from Oloolaimutiek Gate, just outside the park. Here you'll find thatched roofs sheltering simple…
Lamu Island
Built to resemble an Omani-style fort and fully staffed, this former private home overlooks a deserted stretch of Shela Beach. Its glorious isolation, its…
South Coast
At the southern end of the beach, the oldest resort in Nyali has been given a contemporary facelift. It's a vast property with smart, tiled rooms with…
Northern Kenya
Sheltered by a natural rock amphitheatre and with shade provided by acacia trees, this campground is more secluded than Lgoita and is a great base for the…
Kenya
Surrounded by an electric fence for your protection, this well-maintained campsite has toilets, showers, a communal cooking area and some fine wilderness…
Northern Kenya
Situated along a gorgeous stretch of river, the tents here are placed very close and cosy to each other, which rather reduces privacy, but despite this it…
Northern Kenya
This place nestles on the Ewaso Ngiro River and its pathways intertwine with frog-filled streams and ponds. There’s a large pool and natural springs flow…
Lake Naivasha
By far the sleekest of the resorts along the lakeshore, Enashipai comes from the Maasai name meaning ‘state of happiness’, and it's no misnomer. If you…
Western Kenya
The four rooms of this wooden house, perched on stilts 2m above the ground and with views straight onto a mass of jungle, might be very basic (no…
Diani Beach
Just around the corner from the sacred Kaya Kinondo grove, at the southern end of Diani Beach, this intimate resort clusters around an attractive pool…
Nairobi
With well-sized rooms, a quiet location close to Westlands, a gym, a swimming pool and a collection of good on-site restaurants, the Concord is an…
Masai Mara
Flying a little under the radar compared to the Mara's better-known camps, Mara Bush Camp combines simplicity with classic East African safari features –…
Masai Mara
Overlooking the Mara River with its hippos and crocs and well placed to take advantage of Mara North's prolific wildlife, Karen Blixen Camp has 22 tents…
Lamu Island
This restored 200-year-old tower, once owned by a Swahili noblewoman, is a peaceful yoga retreat at the back of the village. The 10 rooms are individually…
Amboseli National Park
The five lodge rooms are all well and good (and they are indeed very good), but we love this place for its nine supremely comfortable tents, each of which…
Lamu Island
If walking to Shela from Lamu Town, one of the first places you come to on the waterfront is this beautiful guesthouse of pure-white unfussy lines. Rooms…
