South Coast
A good self-catering option, offering simple, colourful cottages within sight of the ocean. Expect a warm welcome – from the menagerie of dogs, cats,…
Must-see hotels in Kenya
Nairobi
Tucked away inside a gated community in a well-tended garden, this friendly, quiet place offers good-value accommodation in a large house. The rooms…
Lamu Island
This Swahili mansion is set into a tourist-free backstreet and is notable for its fine, whitewashed walls and fantastic rooftop, which includes a good…
Diani Beach
At the southern end of Diani Beach, backpackers strike gold with the most unlikely of combinations: glorious beach access and low prices. It's essentially…
Lamu Island
A winner during the hottest months, this beautifully restored 16th-century Swahili house is one of the coolest places on the island. Friendly manager…
Mombasa
The swish lobby is the highlight of this stylish business hotel. Still, service and facilities are good, disabled access is a breeze and you get great…
Nairobi
You wouldn’t expect to find a backpacker-friendly option out here in affluent Karen, which is why this friendly little spot is so appealing. The quiet…
Nairobi
The focus here is on affordable comfort for business travellers, with attractive if somewhat sterile rooms. With a small gym and excellent breakfasts, it…
Malindi
Right by the ocean, with four pools and within walking distance of some good restaurants, Italian-owned Scorpio Villas offers excellent value for money…
Lake Naivasha
The conservation centre at the very lovely former home of Joy Adamson also doubles as a lodge with high novelty value. You can stay here in one of the 10…
Wasini Island
The 10 rooms here, which overlook the delicious turquoise ocean, are uncomplicated, with mosquito nets, flush toilets and small verandahs. Running water…
Northern Kenya
A short way out of town, this new place is also Lodwar's flashest place to stay, with large, cool, quiet, tiled rooms in a bungalow setting. It might be…
Kenya
Just before the park entrance near Voi Gate, this quiet place sits atop an impossibly steep hill and the views that result from this location are…
Western Kenya
Named after Udo Savalli, a well-known ornithologist, this lovely KWS site is tidy, well maintained and has seven simple thatched bandas. Nets are provided…
Northern Kenya
Drop your tent on the grass beneath acacias and doum palms, lie back in one of the clean, tiled, newly constructed rooms, or crash in the tidy domed huts…
Kilifi
This polished, makuti (thatched-roofed) place sits right on the beach and has a series of bright, comfortable, Swahili-themed rooms with high beds and sea…
Masai Mara
This welcoming camp, which has recently come under the orbit of the excellent Asilia company, is buried away among a patch of woodland but has views over…
Northern Kenya
The single rooms are starting to look a little old and damp but, by and large, this very friendly place has quiet, clean and comfortable rooms with nice…
Kenya
This beautiful unfenced lodge lets the wildlife right in; keep an eye on your possessions, as the baboons and/or Sykes’ monkeys will nick your stuff…
Masai Mara
A fine tented camp in the heart of Olare-Orok Conservancy, Porini Lion Camp lacks the bells and whistles of other premier camps nearby, but the tents are…
Lamu Island
This beautiful 17th-century house is made from coral, wrapped around a tranquil, leafy courtyard. Add mid-sized, fan-cooled rooms decorated with pleasant…
Nairobi
An excellent choice that puts many of the more prestigious and pricier places in town to shame. The Fairview is nicely removed from the central hubbub and…
South Coast
This tidy little complex has direct access to the beach and a choice of appealing, bamboo-finished hotel rooms (nab a sea-facing one) and self-catering…
Kenya
Perched on the edge of the Galana River, approximately 15km west of Lugards Falls, this has long been the swishest property in Tsavo East. In 2016 it was…
Masai Mara
Set on a hill of dry acacia woodland about 3km back from Sekenani gate, this Maasai-run place offers fairly hot and simple safari tents, but the welcome…
Nairobi
Tucked away on a quiet street on Karen’s north side, this tranquil guesthouse offers large, comfortable rooms with contemporary artworks on the walls and…
Lake Naivasha
This stunning property off the southernmost tip of Lake Oloiden has fine views and captures that old-style feel that so defined the Lake Naivasha region…
South Coast
This waterfront base for deep-sea fishing and diving with a saltwater pool and an average (though beautifully situated) restaurant is a tranquil spot. The…
Kenya
A good choice in the town centre, Meru Slopes Hotel is behind the Nakumatt Supermarket. It gets consistently good reviews from travellers – it's the sort…
Malindi
This charming place gets it all just about right – it has a beachfront location (and private beach area), a decent-sized pool, large and spotless rooms…
Western Kenya
A lovely site with flush toilets, showers, two covered cooking bandas (thatched-roof huts) and colobus monkeys in the trees above. It's close to the park…
Kenya
The best deal in town is actually a little way out of Nyeri. The small drive is worth it for the palm-lined, poolside ambience and general sense of…
Southern Rift Valley
Set on a private island, this intimate luxury spot can only be rented in its entirety. There's room for 12 in beautiful thatched bandas, and plenty going…
Southern Rift Valley
This simple, U-shaped resort sits just 1.5km from Lake Nakuru's main gate. Rooms come without fanfare or pretension but do sport mosquito nets, the price…
Kenya
Located 200m from the Trout Tree Restaurant, this self-contained cottage sleeps six. There is a kitchen, but meals can also be ordered from the restaurant…
Kenya
Those needing a bit of luxury can sleep in lovely, KWS-run Batian Guest House, which sleeps eight people in several different bedrooms. You are required…
Masai Mara
The safari tents here come in two flavours: the ‘superior’ are large with a wooden deck and a smart bathroom, while the 14 'standard' tents are smaller…
Masai Mara
The simple safari tents here come in two categories, with the cheaper tents being a little darker and smaller than the pricier ones. All have private…
Northern Kenya
Twelve absolutely superb riverfront tents that are so luxurious even budding princesses will feel a little overwhelmed by the surroundings. Exactly how…
Kenya
In Voi but slightly removed from the main-road scrum, Impala Safari Lodge offers attractive safari tents in a secure compound. While the setting is more…
