Table of Contents
Planning a trip to Kenya and needing a hotel to stay in? Kenya is home to some of the most stunning and luxurious hotels in Africa. Read on as we list a few hotels with the best style, rooms, facilities, and dining options.
Let’s go!
1. Giraffe Manor
2. Mara Plains Camp
3. Ol Malo Lodge
4. Tribe
5. Elsa’s Kopje Lodge
Overview of the Best Hotels to Stay In Kenya
How to Choose the Best Hotels to Stay In Kenya
Pros and Cons of the Best Hotels to Stay In Kenya
What to watch out for
Pro Tips
Recap
1. Giraffe Manor
The Giraffe Manor is a historic house built in 1932. It offers a unique blend of luxury and wildlife experience. It is well-known for the giraffe’s presence that interacts with guests, offering a safari experience.
- Luxurious accommodation: The hotel, with its colonial style, offers a luxurious, charming ambiance with 12 individually decorated rooms, each with its own bathroom and fireplace, and some named after notable guests. The old manor house presents a luxurious, elegant ambiance.
- Peaceful and serene location: Though it is ideally close to Nairobi National Park and the Giraffe Centre for wildlife adventures, the hotel offers a peaceful setting for rest.
- Unique and unforgettable experience: The chance to interact with the resident Rothschild’s giraffes and hand-feed them from the breakfast table and room windows creates an unforgettable experience you won’t find at many other hotels.
- High cost: Giraffe Manor, a luxury hotel, is expensive, especially during peak season.
- Limited availability: Though Giraffe Manor is highly sought-after and offers a distinctive experience, booking might be difficult, particularly during peak season.
Here are some more details about Giraffe Manor:
- Location: The manor, located near Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre, with easy access to international airports, and proximity to attractions like David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Karen Blixen Museum, and Nairobi National Park.
- Accommodation: The manor has 12 individually built rooms, each with a private bathroom and fireplace.
- Cost: The luxurious hotel has a price tag of £412 per night.
2. Mara Plains Camp
Mara Plains Camp is a luxurious safari camp in Kenya’s Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It offers a unique blend of luxury, wildlife viewing, and conservation.
- Intimate experience: The camp provides an intimate and unique safari experience.
- Luxurious and comfortable tented suites: It features tent suites with en-suite bathrooms, private plunge pools, and breathtaking views, offering a luxurious safari experience.
- Unforgettable wildlife viewing: The camp’s Olare Motorogi Conservancy location offers breathtaking wildlife viewing.
- Remote location: Though it is in a remote conservancy, the camp provides a wilderness experience with somewhat limited access to facilities such as internet access and cell phone service.
- High Cost: Mara Plains Camp, one of Kenya’s most expensive safari hotels.
- Limited availability: Due to high demands, especially during peak season, Mara Plains Camp is not readily available and requires advance appointments spanning up to a year.
Here are some more details about Mara Plains Camp:
- Location: The camp is located in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy, close to Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
- Accommodation: Mara Plains Camp provides opulent tent suites with sophisticated furniture, en-suite bathrooms, private plunge pools, and private decks with breathtaking views of the savannah.
- Price: Their rooms go for £1,738 per night.
3. Ol Malo Lodge
Ol Malo Lodge is a luxurious eco-lodge located on a private conservancy in the Laikipia Plateau, a northern Kenyan region rich in wildlife. It offers a unique safari experience that blends adventure, relaxation, and responsible tourism.
- Cultural experience: The lodge is owned by a Samburu family, and the resort offers visitors chances to learn about and enjoy Samburu culture.
- Commitment to responsible tourism: Ol Malo Lodge guarantees local community well-being and wildlife protection throughout your stay by supporting sustainable practices and conservation projects, therefore reducing environmental effects.
- Unique and personalized experience: Ol Malo Lodge offers a distinctive, individual safari experience with customized activities and flexibility in events including game drives, guided walks, horseback riding, camelback riding, and helicopter flights.
- Comfortable and luxurious accommodations: The Ol Malo Nomad presents opulent lodging with roomy ranch-style apartments and distinctive overnight experiences.
- Remote location: The resort is located in a far-off part of Kenya, which calls for long travel from big towns like Nairobi and also limited access to internet connectivity.
- High cost: It is a premium safari experience, hence, the cost is high.
- Limited availability: Ol Malo Lodge can book fast, particularly during the busy season, due to its exclusivity and small rooms.
- Location: It is perched on the cliffs of the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya.
- Accommodation: There are lodging choices, including the Ol Malo Nomad, a mobile tented camp, and the Ol Malo House, a resort with classy rooms.
- Cost: The Ol Malo House costs £1,272 per night.
4. Tribe
Tribe is Nairobi’s coolest hotel, with a blend of tribal art offering a flavour of Africa old and new with subtle glamour, great service, and a varied audience.
- Modern design and local flair: Tribe Hotels enhances the guest experience by providing a modern, fashionable setting with local artwork and natural materials.
- Excellent service: Tribe Hotels provides first-rate service tailored to each guest’s individual needs and preferences.
- High-quality amenities: Tribe Hotels provide high-quality amenities, including gyms, spas, swimming pools, and on-site dining.
- Luxury price tag: Tribe Hotels are known for their luxurious rooms, which may not be suitable for everyone’s budget, particularly in relation to mid-range hotels or lodges.
- Limited all-inclusive options: Tribe Hotels typically do not offer all-inclusive packages; visitors need to budget for meals, beverages, spa treatments, and activities separately.
Tribe isn’t just a single hotel; it’s a collection of two stylish boutique hotels in Kenya, offering distinct experiences.
Here are more details about the hotel:
- Location: The hotel is located next to the Village Market Mall in Nairobi’s city centre, and the other is nestled on the pristine white sands of Diani Beach, south of Mombasa, offering simple access to stores, eateries, and cultural encounters.
- Cost: The hostel costs £394 per night.
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5. Elsa's Kopje Lodge
Elsa’s Kopje Lodge is a luxury lodge in Meru National Park, Kenya. It has a friendly environment with a lot of activities, including excursions to the rhino sanctuary and river fishing.
- Luxury and comfort: The cottages at Elsa’s Kopje Lodge include all the contemporary conveniences one would find in a premium hotel.
- Prime location and breathtaking views: The lodge is located on a hill and has amazing panoramic views of the Meru lowlands, therefore facilitating wildlife observation.
- High cost: Budget-conscious guests will consider the lodge on the high side.
- Limited availability: Elsa’s Kopje Lodge’s exclusivity and limited rooms can lead to quick bookings, especially during peak season.
Here are the details of Elsa’s Kopje Lodge, Meru National Park, Kenya:
- Location: The lodge is located on Mughwango Hill in Meru National Park and provides panoramic views of landscapes, therefore enhancing a more personal safari experience.
- Accommodation: It offers luxury cottages and elegant accommodations to fit families or bigger parties, with en-suite bathrooms, comfy beds, fireplaces, private verandas, minibars, and in-room safes.
- Cost: The lodge costs £669 per night.
Overview of the Best Hotels to Stay in Kenya
Kenya offers a variety of hotels and lodges, including Giraffe Manor, Mara Plains Camp, Ol Malo Lodge, Tribe, and Elsa’s Kopje Lodge, catering to various budgets and preferences.
How to Choose the Best Hotels to Stay in Kenya
Here are some tips to help you choose the best hotels to stay in Kenya:
Research specific hotels
To research hotels, read reviews. Examine pricing on several booking systems and weigh special offers or packages involving additional expenses.
Identify your travel style and priorities
Kenya presents a range of hotels and lodges to fit various vacation budgets and priorities. Choose one that fits your taste and price budget. From energetic beach or city escapes, think about your hobbies and preferred travel approach.
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Pros and Cons of the Best Hotels to Stay in Kenya
Pros
- Unique experience.
- Excellent service.
- Stunning views.
Cons
- It can be expensive.
- It has limited availability
What to Watch Out For
Here are some things to watch out for in hotels in Kenya:
- Price and amenities: Watch out for luxury hotels for their price and amenities, as they can be expensive and crowded, so choose smaller ones for peace and quiet.
- Reviews: While positive evaluations are great, it’s important to take reviews into account as they could point to possible problems such as poor facilities, few activity choices, or inadequate service.
- Hidden fees: When comparing costs, ensure there are hidden expenses, including resort fees, meals, or activities.
Pro Tips
Here are some pro-tips for choosing the best hotels in Kenya:
- Book early: To guarantee the best rates and availability, book your Kenya hotel early, as it gets busy during the peak season.
- Security: Although hotels usually have strong security systems, it is still crucial that you are careful with your belongings.
- Choose your lodging: Beyond hotels, Kenya presents special opportunities like homestays, tented camps, and eco-lodges. Prioritize amenities like guided bush walks or serene spas for wildlife viewing or relaxation.
Recap
Kenya offers a variety of luxury hotels and lodges, each with unique features and pros and cons. Consider budget, location, and safety when booking, and look forward to enjoying your stay.
