Masai Mara
The largest and most popular place to stop in town, the Seasons Hotel has tired but large, adequate rooms with mosquito nets; the swimming pool is a bonus…
Must-see hotels in Kenya
Southern Rift Valley
Probably the best of Naivasha's in-town options, Eseriani styles itself as a boutique hotel, which may be overstating things a little, but the rooms are…
Southern Rift Valley
Run according to Christian principles (in this case, that means no alcohol, no smoking), this relatively new and abstemious place has tidy rooms and a…
Southern Rift Valley
The statue of the buffalo seems to promise great things, but the lower rooms in this large hotel complex are a little dated. Still, you're away from the…
Masai Mara
This is an excellent-value choice just moments from the park gates. The large camp has 40 tents spread out in its rather chaotically tended gardens, all…
Northern Kenya
On the northern bank of the Ewaso Ngiro River, the scrappy (and hot) dark canvas safari tents here might not climb as luxuriously high as some of the big…
Western Kenya
Just before the park gates and hidden down a squiggle of squelchy, muddy lanes (ask for directions at the park gate), this simple campsite is as basic as…
Kenya
On a rise beside the highway, this relatively new place offers simple but well-priced cottages and a decent on-site restaurant. It's fine for a night –…
Southern Rift Valley
Resting on Hell’s Gate Gorge’s southern side and accessible from the Buffalo Circuit track, Ol Dubai has basic toilets, a cooking banda and freshwater. It…
Northern Kenya
A long-time favourite, this well-run place has small single rooms and smart doubles with friendly staff, mosquito nets and safe parking in the courtyard…
South Coast
This small, pretty fishing camp usually attracts serious (yet budget-minded) deep-sea-fishing types, so expect lots of chat about such things. The rooms…
Lake Magadi Tented Camp & Sports Club
Southern Rift Valley
In the town of Magadi, on a rise up from the lakeshore, these simple but appealing safari tents inhabit neat rows amid manicured lawns. It's not a…
Diani Beach
You'll hear the waves lapping below and monkeys dancing on the roofs at this beachfront spot. Rooms are compact and squeaky-clean, with high beds…
Nyama Choma Village Accommodation
Kenya
With its light-blue walls and blue-linoleum showers, Nyama Choma is as colourful as it is cheap. Meat-eaters will love the large restaurant downstairs …
Northern Kenya
This mud-brick castle bedecked in flowers is something of a travellers’ centre and is always bursting with road-hardened souls. Basic rooms with mosquito…
Northern Kenya
This smart place markets itself as the ‘Pearl of Isiolo’. This actually says more about the state of Isiolo than the quality of the hotel, but even so it…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
