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City to Safari, in a Heartbeat

Your stay at The Emakoko

Choose between our luxury Cliff Suites, River Suites, or our Private House. Make yourself at home.

Luxury Suites

The Emakoko features 10 safari suites of which 5 are positioned against the cliff and 5 along the lower river bed. While our Cliff Suites boast remarkable views, our River Suites are ideal for guests who prefer to be in closer proximity to the main lodge area.

The Private House

Our exclusive-use safari villa features two ensuite bedrooms, a shared living area, and a private pool, making it the perfect option for families or friends. Its elevated position offers panoramic views and seclusion.

Experience total relaxation and ultimate adventure.

Our unique location makes our experience offering as vast as our landscapes. From private game drives and city day trips to leisurely days next to our swimming pool and in-room massages, we invite you to enjoy the best of both safari and city at The Emakoko.

Uncover the best of both worlds, nature in the city.

Prolific for its unique location bordering Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi National Park is both the oldest and smallest park in Kenya. Established in 1946, the park is home to predators including lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena as well as other large mammals such as buffalo, black rhino and giraffe. Located a short 45-minute drive from Nairobi’s major airports, The Emakoko is the ideal alternative to a city hotel when traveling to Kenya.

Touching the community and protecting our wildlife.

Owners, Anthony and Emma Childs have placed great emphasis on creating a culture of sustainable tourism within their business. The Emakoko facilitates independent Community Outreach projects and aids The Kenya Wildlife Service in support of protecting Kenya’s endangered Black Rhino through conservation fees.

Life on the edge

A home, rather than a destination, we strive to bring you excellence in hospitality.

Owner run and operated, the story of The Emakoko.

With their commitment to sharing the romance of Africa with their guests, Anthony and Emma Childs welcomes you to your home-away-from-home in Kenya’s oldest National Park. Supported by their dedicated staff and grounded by their children, the Childs will transport you to an experience unlike any other at The Emakoko.

Discover our stories from the edge

Discover our exciting field notes, guest stories, and the latest developments from our life at The Emakoko.

On the 11th of March 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. What happened over the next two years was beyond comprehension.

Happy New Year

And so the extraordinary year of 2020 has finally drawn to a close. I have never been so happy to see the end of one year.

The end of 2021

Another year has gone by and wow, what a year it has been. It has been very long, very worrying and very tiring.

• Part of The Holiday Dealers Family

Ololo Safari Lodge

Description

Located just a 45-minute drive from both of Nairobi's main airports, Ololo Safari Lodge offers guests a unique and secluded safari experience that feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Nestled on a productive 20-acre working farm, Ololo offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the freshest ingredients, harvested right from the paddock to their plate.

Originally an old Kenyan homestead, Ololo Safari Lodge has been lovingly converted into a small, boutique lodge that offers the warmth and comfort of a home with effortless style and personalized service. Situated on the banks of the Mbagathi River, which forms the southern border of Nairobi National Park, the lodge offers breathtaking views over the park to the famed Ngong Hills in the west.

Guests of Ololo Safari Lodge can expect to be right on the doorstep of Kenya's incredible wildlife, with game drives and guided bush walks on offer to explore the nearby park. For those who prefer a more relaxing vacation, the lodge offers a peaceful retreat where guests can spend hours lounging by the pool or exploring the lush gardens and farm.

Accommodations at Ololo Safari Lodge are as unique and diverse as the lodge itself. From the farm's old converted stables to the tented cottages under makuti thatch, there is something to suit every taste and preference. The original suites in the main house of the lodge offer a touch of history and elegance, while the tented cottages offer a rustic and authentic safari experience.

No matter what time of year you visit, Ololo Safari Lodge offers a serene and comfortable environment that feels like home. In the cooler months, guests can cozy up by the fire-pit in the garden or in front of the blazing fireplace in the inviting living room. The stone-clad cellar and small library are also available for guests to enjoy.

In addition to the natural beauty and wildlife of the park, guests can also take a tour of the Ololo Farm or an excursion into historic Karen, a nearby town with a rich history and cultural heritage. With so much to offer, Ololo Safari Lodge is the perfect destination for anyone looking to experience the best that Kenya has to offer.

With personalized service and a unique safari experience, Ololo Safari Lodge is sure to be a vacation you'll never forget. Ready to book your holiday at Ololo Safari Lodge ? Contact us for the best rates.

How to get to Ololo Safari Lodge

Getting to Ololo Safari Lodge is relatively easy, as it is located just a short distance from Nairobi's city center and its two main airports, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport.

Guests arriving by air can arrange for a transfer from either airport to the lodge. The lodge offers a variety of transfer options, including private taxis, shuttles, and helicopter transfers, all of which can be arranged prior to arrival.

For guests who prefer to drive themselves, Ololo Safari Lodge is just a 45-minute drive from both airports. Guests can rent a car at the airport or arrange for a private transfer with the lodge.

What are the 2024 Prices for Ololo Safari Lodge?

Here are Ololo Safari Lodge Resident Rates:

What Does PPS Mean? PPS (Per Person Sharing) means cost Per Adult when sharing the Room with another. Example KES 10,000/- PPS means, 2 Adults in 1 Room pay KES 20,000/-

Ololo Safari Lodge Rates

Ololo Lodge Prices/Rates are in KES, Per Person, Per Night Ololo Lodge Rates Exclude: All Drinks, Nairobi National Park Fees and other Extras Proof of Residency upon confirmation of reservation at Ololo Safari Lodge and/or upon arrival

Ololo Lodge – Nairobi Naional Park Prices Half Board Rates include:

Dinner and Breakfast Ololo Farm tour, guided walks to Anselm & Kitengela Glass

Ololo Safari Lodge FB Game Package Prices include:

Full Board (Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast) Accommodation 1 Game Drive Per Person, Per Day either either at 6am morning or 4pm afternoon (sometimes on a shared basis with other guests) Ololo Farm tour, guided walks to Anselm & Kitengela Glass, Return Transfers, Picking up from the Main Gate of the Nairobi National Park

Ololo Safari Lodge Child Policy/Rates:

4 – 14 years Sharing with Adults: Half Board Rates: KES 10,000/- Per Child, Per Night FB Game Package Rates: KES 15,000/- Per Child, Per Night

Nairobi National Park, 2024  KWS Park Fees:

Which Rooms Types are in Ololo Safari Lodge?

The terrace room.

This spacious suite has a traditional living area with armchairs and an open fireplace, colonial furnishings, artworks, flowers from our garden and a marble bathroom with a classic roll-top bath. The suite’s private terrace is a cool and tranquil space to relax, or a setting for a romantic private dinner.

The Tower Room

Located in a stone-clad tower with a balcony and a private rooftop terrace, the Tower Room has extensive views right across the park, and to the famed Ngong Hills in the west. This contemporary suite is light and airy and furnished with pieces of furniture made by our clever fundi carpenters, in the Ololo workshop.

Tented Cottages

Our three tented cottages provide guests with a bush experience, sleeping under a traditional makuti thatch roof, with canvas and stone walls. These safari-style king-sized rooms are nestled amongst our gardens with it’s spreading and shady acacia trees. All have private terraces that overlook the national park.

Each tent is self-contained, with large beds, comfortable armchairs and modern bathrooms. Drift off to sleep to the sounds of Africa – the cough of a lion, the calls of monkeys and baboons, and the rustle of hundreds of species of birds.

The Old Stables

The original stone-walled stables of the property once housed the horses of the Ololo farm. They have now been transformed into seven comfortable and cosy rooms with an average room size (including the bathroom) of 17.6 square metres. Each room is designed and furnished individually, with attention to historical detail.

The Stable Rooms have ensuite bathrooms and small pergola covered terraces at the front of the building. The terraces overlook our gardens, with it’s abundant birdlife. ​ These charming rooms are popular with guests traveling as a group or for family members who wish to be accommodated close to each other. Please note: These rooms are not large enough to add an extra single bed, however one baby cot can be added. The Stable Rooms are not connected internally.

The Family Wing

Ololo’s new, light filled Family Wing overlooks the Nairobi National Park and our gardens, with a private sunny stone terrace and potted leafy plants. The interior of the wing is light filled, relaxed and furnished with pieces of Ololo’s handcrafted furniture.

Upstairs is a king sized bedroom in a cosy mezzanine area, with a delightful en-suite bathroom and an old classic bath under makuti thatch.

Downstairs at the end of the rondaval shaped living area, is a seperate sleeping space for family, with a second bathroom and kitchenette.

The Family Wing comfortably sleeps five people, and an extra bed can be added.

What are the Foods & Drinks options at Ololo Safari Lodge?

‘The Kitchen at Ololos’ chefs create delicious menus daily. Our bread, cakes and pastries are all baked in-house. Ololo’s menus are proudly created around produce on hand, grown here at the farm under organic farming practices.

We harvest our produce daily in the morning for the kitchen. All chicken and duck meat is grown at Ololo, as well as our fresh flavoured eggs. Mushrooms are also harvested daily from our mushroom house for your breakfast, or to top a delicious fillet of beef in the evening.

Dine under the trees, on our terraces or on colder nights, in the restaurant with small braziers (jikos) to ward off the cold night air. You may wish to wile away the afternoon, enjoying a drink from our fully stocked bar, while relaxing and watching game pass by in our open lounge area overlooking the park. Ololo offers lunch bookings on Saturdays and Sundays for guests who are not staying with us.

This is a three course set menu and being a lodge rather than an ‘a la carte’ restaurant we typically have several choices of the main courses as well as a vegetarian option, but do not offer an extensive menu. Our chefs prepare our set menu for the day based on a variety of factors, including what is ripe & seasonal in our gardens, the weather, what chef is on duty and guest’s dietary requirements.

Which Hotel Activities are available for guests at Ololo Safari Lodge?

Crossing the Ololo footbridge is the beginning of a unique, once in a life time experience with all of us at Ololo. You can choose to do as many …. or as little… of the adventures we have on offer.

​Relax around the pool with a sundowner and bitings or perhaps go on a wander to take a look at the Ololo farm or our furniture workshop.

We can take you on game drives into the only national park in the world on the edge of a capital city. Nairobi National Park is a surprise package and many of these birds and animals are visible from our terrace and restaurant as they move around the bush. Ololo also takes guests to visit the renowned Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage without having to exit the national park.

You are invited to take part on an excursion to Karen to visit the famed Karen Blixen Museum, the Giraffe Centre or Kazuri Beads. Or more to your inclination some shopping at local markets and boutique stores can be arranged. Anselm Hot Glass Studio and Kitengela Glass is a walk away across the neighboring farms to Ololo, with one of our Askari guides.

Nairobi National Park

Ololo is lucky to border the Nairobi National Park and to have on our doorstep the unique wildlife that inhabit the park.

Bequeathed to the Kenyan Government and established as a national park in 1964 by the local Massai community elders, the park is unusual in being the only national park in the world that shares a boundary with a bustling capital city.

Approximately 117 square kilometres in size, Nairobi National Park offers a diverse conservation area ranging from savannah grasslands, to forested pockets and rocky gorge country.

There are over 100 species of of mammals including a large population of black and white rhinos, cape buffalo, as well as lions, leopards, hyena, zebra, jackal, eland, hartebeest, impala, dik-dik antelope and giraffe to name a few. There are also 520 species of birds, more than 150 species of butterflies and many more other spectacular creatures.

Ololo is able to take our non- resident guests, and game package resident guests into the park each morning or afternoon inclusive with your stay with us.

Ololo Farm and Furniture Workshop

Take a stroll with us up to the farm, or “shamba” to see all of Ololo’s paddock to plate produce. Collect eggs from our hens, visit our mushroom house and peruse our vermiculture compost beds. And of course, a visit to the Ololo Farm must include a chance to meet Joyce, our ‘milker’ cow and her playful little calf.

Our talented Fundis (carpenters in Swahili) take great pride in their furniture, dotted around Ololo in our rooms and communal areas. Guests are more than welcome to visit them creating these beautiful pieces in the Ololo workshop.

Massages at Ololo

Guests are welcome to book an on-site massage with our trained and experienced masseurs who are happy to sooth away those tired, knotted, safari muscles. Relax and enjoy this experience in our historic rondavel room overlooking the national park.

We offer: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Shoulder and Neck Massages. Also, Pressure Point Foot Massage and Hot Stone Therapy.

David Sheldrick’s Wildlife Trust:‘’The Baby Elephant Orphanage’

Ololo is situated nearby the re-noun Baby Elephant Orphanage and Ololo is able to take our guests to visit, without exiting the Nairobi National Park.

Founded in 1977 by Dr. Daphne Sheldrick in memory of her late husband and naturalist David Sheldrick, the trust is today one of the most successful orphan elephant rehabilitation programmes in the world.

Ololo is able to take guests to all sessions at Sheldrick’s.

The Open 11h00 Session, the Fostered Session at 17h00 and the Private Session at 15h00.

The open session does not need to be pre-booked. There are varying entry cost for each of these three sessions.

Karen Excursions

Ololo offers a range of excursions into the leafy lanes of Karen, which is named after Karen Blixen, the acclaimed author of ‘Out of Africa’. Her coffee farm was located in the district, and the current museum was her original home. The Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens, just down the road, was the site of Blixen’s estate manager’s cottage. Many scenes from the movie ‘Out of Africa’ were filmed at the museum and other locations around Karen.

Karen is situated approximately 60 minutes from Ololo, through the Nairobi National Park.

Excursions are priced on a Half Day or Full Day with a private driver/guide and vehicle.

Entry Fees are not inclusive.

Kitengela Hot Glass

Take a steady 25- minute return walk with one of our askaris (watchmen) to Kitengela and Anselm Hot Glass.

Recycled glass is transformed within a large brick dome into a diverse range of both house glassware or stunning and unique collection pieces.

All the glassware is for sale, and can be shipped to any destination.

Which Hotel Facilities are available for guests at Ololo Safari Lodge?

Ololo Safari Lodge offers a range of facilities designed to ensure that guests have a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Some of the main facilities available at the lodge include:

• Accommodations: The lodge offers a range of unique and diverse accommodations to suit every taste and preference, including converted stables, tented cottages, and suites in the main house of the lodge. All of the rooms are tastefully appointed with attention to historical detail and offer the warmth and comfort of a home with personalized service.
• Restaurant: The lodge's restaurant serves delicious African-inspired cuisine made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the restaurant or choose to have a private dining experience in the gardens or by the pool.
• Spa: Ololo Safari Lodge has an on-site spa where guests can relax and rejuvenate with a range of treatments, including massages, facials, and body treatments.
• Outdoor Pool: The lodge has a beautiful outdoor pool where guests can cool off and relax while enjoying views of the surrounding wilderness.
• Game Drives: The lodge offers guided game drives in Nairobi National Park, giving guests the opportunity to see a range of wildlife, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
• Guided Bush Walks: For those who prefer to explore the park on foot, guided bush walks are also available.
• Cultural Visits: Guests can also take cultural visits to local Maasai villages, where they can learn about the local culture and way of life.
• Fire-pit and Fireplace: In the cooler months, guests can sit by the fire-pit in the garden or cozy up to the blazing fireplace in the inviting living room.
• Library: The lodge has a small library where guests can borrow books and relax with a good read.

Honeymoon and Romantic Getaways to Ololo Safari Lodge

Ololo Safari Lodge is a perfect destination for honeymooners and couples seeking a romantic getaway. With its secluded location in the heart of Nairobi National Park and its luxurious accommodations, the lodge offers a unique and unforgettable experience for couples.

The lodge's accommodations are designed with romance in mind, from the cozy converted stables to the tented cottages under makuti thatch. Each room is tastefully appointed with attention to historical detail and offers the warmth and comfort of a home with personalized service. Couples can enjoy a private and intimate atmosphere with stunning views of the surrounding wilderness.

For those looking to unwind and relax, the lodge has an on-site spa where couples can indulge in a range of treatments, including massages, facials, and body treatments. The outdoor pool also provides a beautiful and peaceful setting to relax and soak up the sun.

For couples seeking adventure, the lodge offers guided game drives in Nairobi National Park, giving them the opportunity to see a range of wildlife, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Guided bush walks are also available for those who prefer to explore the park on foot. The lodge also offers cultural visits to local Maasai villages, giving couples the opportunity to learn about the local culture and way of life.

In the cooler months, couples can sit by the fire-pit in the garden or cozy up to the blazing fireplace in the inviting living room. The lodge's small library also provides a perfect setting to relax and unwind with a good book.

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The Stables, 2nd Floor Suite 47 Karen Road, Nairobi, Kenya

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Ololo Safari Lodge

‘Ololo’ is an Australian family owned safari lodge, which combines the atmosphere and style of bush living while offering all the convenience and amenities of a city hotel. Ololo is picturesquely positioned on the banks of the Mbagathe River on the southern border of the Nairobi National Park, Set on twenty acres with beautiful established old gardens.

Ololo’s partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service allows full park access. Guests can be transferred to both international and local airports, avoiding the notorious city traffic and at the same time can experience the delights of one of the world's more unique national parks. Ololo Lodge is built around a traditional colonial farmhouse that has been carefully restored and extended by the owners. The lodge has become an iconic blend of classic old Africa with a slightly more modern eclectic twist.

The lodge is a mere 45-minute drive through the park from Nairobi and both main airports, yet the lodge's secluded location feels like a world away. Set on a productive 20 acre working farm Ololo offers the joys of delicious ‘paddock to plate’ fresh ingredients. With our established and secluded gardens, guests are able to settle in and soak up a unique safari experience.

Wildlife is right on our doorstep and all can enjoy breathtaking views over the national park, to the famed Ngong Hills in the west, sundowner in hand. Or you may like to wile the hours away at the lodge by the pool, adventure on a safari into the park, take a tour of the Ololo Farm or perhaps an excursion with us into historic Karen.

Ololo’s rooms are unique and diverse, each tastefully appointed with attention to historical detail. The accommodation at Ololo ranges from the farm's old converted stables, our tented cottages under makuti thatch and to the original suites in the main house of the lodge.

In the cooler months, guests may sit by the fire-pit in the garden or cosy up to our blazing fireplace in the inviting living room. Our stone clad cellar and small library close at hand. Whatever time of the year you visit, it’s easy to enjoy the serenity and home-style comfort that Ololo offers.

• Star Gazing
• 24-hour Security
• Barbeque Facilities
• Battery Charging Facilities
• Communal Dining
• Conference Centre
• Eco Friendly
• Internet Access (Complimentary)
• Laundry Service (Available)
• Malaria Free
• Mobile Connectivity
• Secure Parking

Activities on site :   

• Bird Watching
• Fine Dining
• Game Drives
• Game Viewing

Activities off site :   

• Animal Encounters
• Child Friendly Activities
• Cultural Tours
• General Sightseeing

From $250 USD AUD USD ZAR EUR GBP

Check availability on ololo safari lodge, please enquire for rates, included in the rates.

The below rates are based on the SAFARI PACKAGE Inclusions:

• Accommodation
• Arrival and departure airport transfers between JKIA & Wilson Airports
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Soft drinks, non-stop shelf gin, whiskey, vodka, house wine and house beer
• Two shared game drives in Nairobi National Park per day
• Visit to Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (entry fee payable by guests)
• Laundry service

Nairobi National Park Fees of US$ 43 per person per night is excluded from the rates, but will be added to your invoice at the time of booking.  *** National Park Fees are subject to change without notice

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Your Adventure Starts Here!

Explore Kenya with Ololo Safaris

In 2007, the Chapman family went on the safari of a lifetime to East Africa. Little did they know that two years later, they would uproot their lives in Australia to purchase and convert an old family  homestead  into a safari lodge on the edge of Nairobi National Park, Kenya. Over the years, the family has fallen in love with the people, culture, and wildlife of this beautiful continent. Ololo Safaris is their way of sharing this passion with you, using travel as a force for good to have a positive impact on the people and environment that we hope to enjoy for generations to come. Most safaris start and end at the family lodge, where you will then explore some of the most stunning wilderness areas that we have discovered over the last 15 years. 

Travel done very, very differently. 

Family Owned & Operated

When you first arrive you'll stay at our family owned and operated lodge. You'll feel welcomed into our little piece of paradise.  

Eco Lodges & Camps

Stay at a selection of boutique lodges and camps handpicked by us, that care for the planet. 

Positive Impact

Curated sustainable experiences and accommodation that maximize the benefits to local people and place.

Personalised Safaris

All our safaris are personalized to suit your ideal budget, travel dates, and specific wishes.

Browse a selection of our tailor-made safaris 

Below are some of our most iconic safaris to offer some inspiration. Once you get in touch and we get to know what you're looking for, we'll provide a personalised itinerary that is designed for you. 

10 nights 

Bush & Beach Safari

This safari and beach itinerary is a tremendous introduction to Kenya's natural wonders of Masai Mara and Lamu Island.

from US$4,750 per adult 

A Classic Family Safari

An itinerary designed for families of all ages, staying at lodges and camps that support local communities and vital conservation work.

from US$7,975 per adult

$5,975 per teen (11-17)

$4,975 per child (4-11)

The Great Migration Safari 

Witness "The Greatest Show on Earth" as millions of wildebeest and zebra make their annual migration from the Serengeti into the Masai Mara between July and October.

from US$6,985 per adult 

Romantic Kenya

A perfect honeymoon escape with some extra 'specials' thrown in! 

from US$7,100 per adult 

Kenya in 7 days

Perfect for a shorter Kenyan safari. 

from US$3,929 per adult 

Kenya: the Northern Frontier 

A mix of culture and conservation exploring the far North of Kenya. 

from US$5,975 per adult 

View all sample itineraries 

Your next safari awaits.

What Clients Say

"We are just leaving Ololo after nine wonderful days. I am not exaggerating when I say this is the most beautiful place to stay in Kenya and it is truly world class. We will return!"

The most unforgettable bucket-list breakfast in the world

Historic manor rooms, garden manor rooms.

GIRAFFE MANOR

Giraffe Manor is an exclusive boutique hotel owned by The Safari Collection. One of the most unique places to stay in the world, Giraffe Manor blends extraordinary wildlife encounters with exquisite hospitality and a long-term commitment to giraffe conservation. The historic manor house is set in 12 acres of private land within 140 acres of indigenous forest in the Langata suburb of Nairobi and is one of Nairobi’s most iconic buildings. It has extraordinary appeal that harks back to the 1930s when visitors first flocked to East Africa to enjoy safaris. With its stately façade, elegant interior, verdant green gardens, sunny terraces and delightful courtyards, guests often remark that it’s like walking into the film Out of Africa: indeed, one of its twelve rooms is named after the author, Karen Blixen.

One of the most fascinating things about Giraffe Manor is its resident herd of Rothschild’s giraffes who may visit morning and evening, poking their long necks into the windows in the hope of a treat, before retreating to their forest sanctuary. The Rothschild’s species of giraffe was once highly endangered, but Giraffe Manor has long been part of a breeding programme which has successfully grown their numbers in the wild. Giraffe Manor can be booked for the night or as part of a complete tailor-made Kenya safari with The Safari Collection.

From encounters with the world’s tallest mammal to exploring local culture, there’s plenty to keep you entertained during your stay, both within the manor’s grounds and in the local area.

The Manor’s Journey

From 1930s hunting lodge, to pioneering the conservation of endangered Rothschild’s giraffes in the 1970s, to one of the world’s most iconic boutique hotels. Discover our history, find out what we offer and meet our team.

The Retreat

Take a stroll next door to enjoy some time in our serene wellness centre and Daisy’s Café. Indulge in a pampering spa treatment, enjoy the hot tub, sauna, steam room and gym or simply relax in the gardens overlooking the giraffe sanctuary.

HOTEL WITH GIRAFFES

We are not just a hotel with giraffes. the safari collection is also the proud owner of four distinct lodges in some of kenya’s most spectacular locations, including giraffe manor, solio lodge, sasaab and sala’s camp. our team has over 20 years’ experience in designing unique and unforgettable tailor-made safaris in east africa., view our gallery.

Filter Categories ALL MANOR GROUNDS THE MANOR CULINARY JOURNEYS ACTIVITIES

STAND TALL FOR ALL WILD GIRAFFE ACROSS AFRICA

Find out about our footprint and sustainability projects at Giraffe Manor and how you can sponsor one of our endangered Rothschild’s giraffes.

Visit our Giraffe Manor Shop to view our latest arrivals which have been carefully hand-picked for their light footprint, positive social impact and utterly irresistible charm.

MIA KORA SCARVES $180

GIRAFFE PATTERN UNDER PLATE SET $115

TWIGA AFRADRILLES $90

BESPOKE PRINTED PYJAMAS $130

SHOP OUR COLLECTION

At home or in the bush, we’ve lovingly chosen our favourite Giraffe Manor items.

EXPLORE OUR LODGES

Our four diverse camps and lodges offer an unbeatable collection of Kenya’s best. For the ultimate Masai Mara safari wildlife experience, look no further than Sala’s Camp. If adventures in Samburu are on your bucket-list, then Sasaab is the luxury tented camp for you. For unbelievable rhino encounters, Solio is the best of the luxury lodges in Kenya . Through our collection, you can experience all that is magical about Kenya whilst making a difference to people and planet.

SOLIO LODGE

SALA’S CAMP

EXPERIENCE EAST AFRICA

Our safari holidays and carefully considered itineraries ensure that you experience the full range of sensory delights – from the great migration safari , to possibly the best safari in Africa … from total tranquillity through to heart racing excitement – we’ve got it covered.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI

FOSSIL HUNTING

GORILLA SAFARI

WEEK OF WILD ADVENTURE

HELICOPTER SAFARI

SAFARI TEASER

MIGRATION SAFARI

BEACH SAFARI

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Ololo Safari Lodge & Farm

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• Excellent 306
• Very Good 22
• All languages ( 347 )
• English ( 333 )
• German ( 6 )
• Spanish ( 2 )

" The glass factory, which is a walk away is worth a visit. "

" Be ready to be amazed "

" Although the most expensive room, book the Tower Room as it has the best viewing platforms in order to see the animals. "

" Go on a tour of the farm "

" Try one of Joy’s Bloody Marys for breakfast! "

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Ololo Safari Lodge & Farm - UPDATED 2024 Prices, Reviews & Photos

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Top 5 Nairobi Lodges

As Kenya is on the up again we thought we’d do a little something on all the amazing Nairobi hotels which are popping up – they really are fantastic and offer a chance to have a nice stay before heading out on your luxury Kenya safari , rather than just putting up with an overnight in an airport hotel. We write about a couple of the old favourites and a couple of new ones which are worth looking at. The fact that the luxury safari industry is investing in Nairobi and Kenya again is such a positive thing as one just can’t get away from the fact that safaris in Kenya just are the best – there’s so much variety, and the charm and warmth of the camps is unrivalled anywhere else in Africa. Here are a few of our favourite start or end points for any luxury safari in Kenya.

Giraffe Manor is world famous, it is without doubt the only place in the world where one may well wake up with a giraffe with his nose in your face – yes that’s correct, the endangered Rotschild giraffe which live on site poke their heads through the windows in the hope of a handful of nuts. The house itself is steeped in Kenyan history and has beautiful views of those famous Out of Africa Ngong Hills. The rooms are spacious and comfortable and one definitely feels as if you have been welcomed into a little part of Kenyan history.

Ngong House

Ngong House is very quirky but has a warm heart which makes it a wonderful way to start your luxury safari – there are lovely cosy rooms in the main lodge or the popular treehouses which sit out in the bush and are unique and fun. One even has a bathtub made out of an old traditional boat and the verandahs facing the Ngong Hills are the perfect place to sit and anticipate your forthcoming safari. You feel like you’re instantly in Africa and that’s important, no messing around with airport hotels or large unsightly lodges.

The Emakoko is the newest hotel to set Nairobi on fire – it is based in Nairobi National Park itself, with easy and close access to the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, a must when in Nairobi. The lodge is very luxurious and offers excellent game viewing from the moment you arrive, including the very rare black rhino. It’s location also means that you miss much of the Nairobi traffic when you are on your way in and out of the International or domestic airport. This is an excellent start for those on an ultra chic luxury safari.

Nairobi Tented Camp

This luxury tented camp based within the Nairobi National Park is also a fab start if you want to hit the ground running and go from beginning to end in the bush – your luxury Kenya safari starts from the moment you land when you stay here and you will be thrown into it by starting in a very comfortable and friendly camp which feels wild and remote despite it’s excellent location for the airports.

House of Waine

House of Waine is a family owned and run small boutique hotel which is the perfect brief stop for those wanting comfort and luxury without an enormous price tag – you really do get value for money here as it’s extremely comfortable with enormous rooms and very friendly and warm staff.

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Best Safari Parks & Game Reserves Near Nairobi

Stuart is a travel writer and author of numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including 'Kenya', 'Rwanda' and 'Tanzania'.

Nairobi is a city that lives and breathes wildlife, from the carved wooden hippos and lions for sale in every tourist handicraft shop to the real-life versions haunting the wildlife reserves near Nairobi. Kenya makes a superb base for day or overnight excursions to a diverse array of safari parks.

Overlooking the city are Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa where all the Big Five, bar elephants, can be found. Just a few hours further away are forest-cloaked volcanoes, flamingo-filled lakes and shady gorges bustling with baboons. It’s little wonder Nairobi is the safari capital of East Africa.

493 Short Safaris From Nairobi

1. Nairobi National Park

No other capital city on Earth can boast of having a fully fledged national park complete with lions, cheetahs and rhinos against a backdrop of city center tower blocks. This one-of-a-kind park is a gorgeous 117km 2 /45mi 2 stretch of hilly grasslands and patches of mixed woodland that surprises everyone with its abundance of life. In fact, if you want to see rhinos then Nairobi National Park is actually one of the best safari parks in East Africa, along with healthy populations of lions, cheetahs and hyenas, so you’ve a very good chance of spying some predators. There’s also solid populations of buffalo, impalas and wildebeest. One thing the park doesn’t have (and never had) is elephants. Nairobi National Park is the obvious choice for someone with only half a day or so to visit a safari park near Nairobi, and it’s also a very rewarding park to visit as part of a longer Kenyan safari.

• Distance from Nairobi: 9km/5mi (around 20 to 45 minutes) from central Nairobi but instant access if staying near the park gates
• Accommodation: Wide number of city center or airport hotels from which access is easy or, for a more genuine bush experience, try the Nairobi Tented Camp which is the only camp actually within the park
• Activities: Game drives, safari boardwalk, animal orphanage

32 Nairobi NP Safaris

2. Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is like the twin sister of Nairobi National Park. Sitting right on the doorstep of the fast-growing city of Nakuru, this popular and very rewarding park packs a lot of glam into a relatively small 180km 2 /69mi 2 . This is excellent rhino country and visitors are almost guaranteed to see both black and white rhinos as well as hippos, baboons (lots and lots of baboons!) and, if you’re really lucky, lions, which are locally famed for their tree-climbing skills. However, aside from the rhinos the real stars of the park are the flamingos. When conditions are just right tens of thousands of these enchanting birds cover the surface of the lake. Even if they’re not in residence there are always massive numbers of pelicans and plenty of other avian life.

• Distance from Nairobi: 180km/111mi (around 3½ hours)
• Accommodation: Nakuru city has accommodation to suit all budgets and most people base themselves in town when visiting the park. If you prefer to stay within the park itself then there are several upmarket and expensive choices.
• Activities: Within the park all safaris are conducted by vehicle. Around Nakuru are a number of other interesting sights, including the Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site and the Menengai Crater, an impressive volcanic crater that can be climbed.

15 Lake Nakuru Safaris

3. Hell's Gate National Park

Pinnacles of honey-toned rock reach toward the sky, deep gorges shatter the landscape and sun-bleached savannah grasslands bustle with dark striped zebra, huge troops of baboon and curious giraffe. Hells Gate National Park is an excellent overnight excursion from Nairobi. The park has plenty of plains wildlife but very few predators or other dangerous animals. It is also unusual among Kenyan national parks in that you can walk or cycle at will throughout the park. If peddling frantically past a group of moody buffalo isn’t exciting enough, then Hell’s Gate has some superb rock-climbing opportunities. All up, this is an ideal place for an on-foot African safari near Nairobi. Weekends, however, can be busy with people fleeing Nairobi.

• Distance from Nairobi: 125km/77mi (around 2½ hours if the traffic is good)
• Accommodation: Nearby Lake Naivasha has plenty of good quality shore-side accommodation, including the colonial-period Elsamere Lodge, which is the former home of Joy Adamson (conservationist, artist and author)
• Activities: Cycling, walking, rock climbing; nearby Lake Naivasha offers boat safaris and exceptional bird watching

30 Hell's Gate Safaris

4. Mt Longonot National Park

As you drive west out of Nairobi the ever-sprawling fingers of the city slowly give way to cool, muddy, green agricultural land and patches of forest. And then, quite suddenly, the land tumbles steeply downwards to the searing hot, dry floor of the Great Rift Valley, pockmarked with great, dimple-like volcanic craters and sun-sparkled lakes. It’s the kind of view that makes people fall in love with Africa. The most visible of these volcanoes is giant Mt Longonot (2,776m/9,107ft). Today this dormant volcano is a little-visited national park that makes for a perfect ‘away from it all’ escape from Nairobi. This isn’t a park offering a classic safari experience. Instead, Longonot is all about hiking. The steep volcanic slopes are carpeted in a thick forest (birds and monkeys are common) and a sharply ascending trail wends upwards to the crater summit and rewards with astonishing views both down into the huge Lost World crater itself and – a thousand meters below – the bleached grass plains.

• Distance from Nairobi: 83km/51mi (around 2 to 2½ hours if the traffic is good)
• Accommodation: There’s a basic campsite at the park entrance, or lots of options at nearby Lake Naivasha

Mt Longonot Safaris

5. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

This park is somewhat further afield than any of the others included here (a minimum of two days is needed to make a visit worthwhile but longer would be better). However, the world-renowned Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is everything you hoped East Africa might be. A backdrop of Mt Kenya, the classic, savannah grasslands and clumps of fever trees make a scenically stunning park that is home to so much wildlife it’s like a vision of Eden. All the Big Five are present, including lots of rhinos and elephants (attention: the elephants in this part of Kenya have a well-founded reputation for aggression) and easy-to-find lions and buffalos and some leopards. The reserve is also a great place to see cheetahs.

But the good news doesn’t end here. Lewa has some of the best wildlife guides in Africa, dreamy safari lodges and an air of absolute exclusivity. Best of all, Lewa is at the forefront of community conservation projects in Africa, so you can be sure that every dollar you spend will go towards progressive conservation policies and community development. Of all the wildlife reserves near Nairobi, Lewa offers the stand-out African safari experience.

• Distance from Nairobi: 250km/155mi (around 4½ hours); daily flights from Nairobi straight to Lewa are also available
• Accommodation: There are nine camps and lodges within Lewa – all are gorgeous, and all are expensive
• Activities: Vehicle jeep safaris are the main activity but it’s also possible to do some thrilling bush walks where encounters with large mammals are common

Lewa Safaris

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Kenya: Private tour Luxury Lodge

You Visit: Nairobi (Start) , Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)

Apodiformes Adventures   Tour operator has an office in Kenya

4.8 /5  –  175 Reviews

Kenya: Private tour Mid-range Tented Camp

You Visit: Nairobi (Start) , Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)

Jocky Tours and Safaris   Tour operator has an office in Kenya

4.9 /5  –  1316 Reviews

Kenya: Private tour Luxury+ Tented Camp

You Visit: Nairobi (Start) , Masai Mara NR, Greater Masai Mara, Nairobi (End)

Discover Africa Safaris

4.9 /5  –  421 Reviews

Search lodges in Nairobi National Park

Find the lodges that appeal to you the most, featured lodge destinations, destination inspiration for your trip – find a lodge, the 10 best nairobi national park lodges - inns and lodges in nairobi national park, kenya, check out our pick of great lodges in nairobi national park, review score.

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Ololo Safari Lodge

Offering a tranquil garden setting, Ololo Safari Lodge is nestled at the Mbagathi River bordering the famous Nairobi National Park. The lodge features an outdoor pool and is within 45 minute's drive from Nairobi’s airports. everything! the staff, the location, the views, the food.

Nyati Hill Cottages

Boasting a swimming pool, a garden, a terrace and views of the garden, Nyati Hill Cottages is situated in Nairobi and features accommodation with free WiFi. The lodge provides an ironing service, as well as business facilities like fax and photocopying. Nature surroundings, beautiful and modern interior. Loved the flower decors in the grounds

Osoita Lodge 3 stars

Neighbouring the Nairobi National Park, Osoita Lodge boasts a tropical garden, an outdoor swimming pool and free WiFi. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is 30 km away. Osoita Lodge restaurant offers Indian, Continental and African Cuisine. Barbecue facilities are available and guests can enjoy a refreshing drink at the bar. Packed lunches are available upon request. Amal and Martin were fantastic, so friendly and helpful. They even organised a doctor to come and do my covid test there at the lodge. In fact all of the staff were lovely.

Jalde Heights, Limuru Road, 178, Nairobi City, Nairobi, Kenya

The lodge provides guests with a balcony, city views, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge and an oven, and a private bathroom with shower and free toiletries. A microwave, a stovetop and toaster are also offered, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle.

REMA AIRBNB'S

The lodge comes with a flat-screen TV. For added convenience, the property can provide towels and bed linen for an extra charge. Century Cinemax Junction is 14 km from the lodge , while Sigiria - Karura Forest is 14 km away. The nearest airport is Wilson Airport, 28 km from REMA AIRBNB'S.

Most booked lodges in Nairobi National Park this month

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Lodges that guests love in Nairobi National Park

Radisson blu hotel & residence nairobi arboretum.

8.9 Fabulous 938 reviews

Hotel was great. Couldn't do enough fir us. Kept our bags while we went on safari, and then welcome us back.

Jabulani Nairobi Backpackers Hostel

9.2 Superb 98 reviews

I loved staying at Jabulani. The location in Westland is good, (though a bit hard to find for taxis etc.) Probably because It’s new. Susan is the best host ever. She helps with everything and organized a fantastic safari trip to Masai Mara for me as well. The hostel is quite small, the atmosphere great and people tend to come back all the time. Reunions and hugs. Shopping malls, atm’s, restaurants etc is just 5 minutes walk away. I will for sure come back.

9.5 Exceptional 125 reviews

Met at the airport by hotel lodge driver and car was very welcome and convenient as was the airport drop off. All the staff were very nice, polite and friendly and a real asset to the lodge The game drives (2 each day included in package) are the highlight of the day, our driver/guide Washington was great We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will definitely come back and recommend to our friend Perfect for couples and families alike

Wildebeest Eco Camp

8.6 Fabulous 644 reviews

I had a fantastic stay at Wildebeest Eco Camp. The Camp is an oasis in a busy city where you can relax by the beautiful pool or deck and enjoy the lovely garden. The tented rooms were very comfortable and made you feel like you were on safari. The food was delicious, especially the breakfast and communal dinner. The staff were lovely and extremely helpful. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone and am looking forward to returning one day.

Severine Cottages and Lounge Ltd

8.8 Fabulous 158 reviews

we wanted to find an accommodation close to the giraffe and elephant park , this accommodation is set in the most stunning surroundings, with the most beautiful little birds flying around the lodge , the lodge is of a very high standard, we wanted to book a safari and they helped us with an excellent trip, I highly recommend to organise a safari from this place also , make sure to ask for Rama as your guide ! This was an amazing experience, the staff are very friendly , highly recommend this lodge !

ibis Styles - Nairobi, Westlands

7.7 Good 1,629 reviews

Very nice hotel in which we felt very safe. There were many safety cautions and the staff was really nice. We could even store our luggage in a designated room while we were on Safari for 6 days. The rooms were nice and pretty much the same like in Europe.

After 40 Hotel

Lodge in nairobi cbd, nairobi.

7.9 Good 572 reviews

A great place to stay and transition in Nairobi as my adult son and I prepared for a Safari. Well-kept facility and great staff, highly recommend the After 40.

Safari Park Hotel

7.6 Good 175 reviews

I recently had the pleasure of staying at a Safari Park hotel in Nairobi, and I must say it exceeded all my expectations. From the impeccable service to the luxurious amenities and stunning views, it was a truly exceptional experience. The staff's warmth and attention to detail made me feel like a valued guest throughout my stay, and the spacious, well-appointed room provided the perfect retreat after a day of exploring the vibrant city. I can't recommend this hotel enough, and I look forward to returning on my next visit to Nairobi.

Everything perfect...this location is a paradise. We liked the lodge the food the service the staff...amazing! Then the safari is included and we enjoyed it a lot. We could not ask you more than this.....

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Ololo Safari Lodge & Farm

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• Excellent 306
• Very Good 22
• All languages ( 347 )
• English ( 333 )
• German ( 6 )
• Spanish ( 2 )

" The glass factory, which is a walk away is worth a visit. "

" Be ready to be amazed "

" Although the most expensive room, book the Tower Room as it has the best viewing platforms in order to see the animals. "

" Go on a tour of the farm "

" Try one of Joy’s Bloody Marys for breakfast! "

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

OLOLO SAFARI LODGE & FARM - Updated 2024 Reviews, Photos & Prices

The perfect day out in Nairobi National Park Please note that Ololo will not be offering our Game Drive & Lunch Package &  will be closed for lunches from the 20th December 2023 - 5th January 2024   

The ololo game drive, 3-course lunch and farm tour experience, about |  , the ololo game drive, lunch and farm tour package provides the perfect day out for families, groups and couples who wish to escape the hustle of the city for a day. picked up from the main gate at nairobi national park, you'll enjoy a 3 hour game drive, searching for your favourite animals whilst enjoying breathtaking scenery and birdlife.  after your game drive we'll bring you to our lodge, located on the southern border of the park. you'll cross the ololo suspension bridge over the mbagathi river, and into the hidden oasis that is ololo. at ololo you'll enjoy a lazy 3-course lunch that overlooks the national park. you might like to cool off in the pool, or grab a cocktail from the ololo bar.  after lunch you are welcome to take a tour of the ololo farm, where most of the produce on your plate is grown. .

Minimum 2 Adults: 175USD/17,500KSH per person

for 3 Adults: 150USD/15,000KSH per person

for 4+ Adults: 125USD/12,500KSH per person

Child: 4-10yrs 80USD/8,000KSH per child

Maximum 7 people per vehicle 

Includes: Pick up and drop off at NNP Main Gate, off Langata Rd Nairobi, min 3 hour game drive, 3 course delicious 'paddock to plate' lunch at Ololo Safari Lodge & Farm, complimentary farm tour & use of the lodge pool.  

Excluded: Nairobi National Park Fees (please check online the rate applicable to you), drinks (jugs of water provided)

The Kitchen |

Fresh from our farm to your plate!

At Ololo we prepare set menus for the day based on what is ripe, fresh and seasonal in our gardens, as well as any dietary requirements.  As a result, we do not have a pre-set or a la carte menus to share with you but typically serve a three-course with homemade breads and fresh salads.  We offer a choice of two starters (one of which is vegetarian), three main courses (again one of which is vegetarian) and a delicious 'desert of the day'. 

We harvest our produce daily in the morning for the kitchen.  All chicken and duck meat is grown at Ololo, as well as our fresh flavoured eggs. Mushrooms are also harvested daily from our mushroom house for your meal. All our ice creams and yoghurt is made from our own  pasteurised  milk, fresh from the farm.  ​

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The Conscious Traveller: Kenya on a budget, through the eyes of locals

Chuan Kou-cheng

NAIROBI – “We decided to rob this man at this spot. We didn’t know he was a diplomat. The police got me. I went to prison.”

These are the sobering words of our guide, a former gang member in Nairobi, Kenya’s bustling capital.

Today, the situation is a bit happier, which I learn from a social enterprise called Nai-Nami ( nai-nami.com , walking tours from US$45 or S$61).

Marketed as a storytelling tour, Nai-Nami guides lead guests through Nairobi’s notorious downtown, an area with an infamous reputation for violent street crime. Yet, I feel safe during the 2½-hour tour as our group of four explores bus stations and markets, culminating in a meal at a local restaurant.

At times, I wonder if I am being voyeuristic or exploitative as I listen to our guide’s tales of extreme poverty. For instance, he tells us how he began a career as a pickpocket at age nine after his father died and his mother became an alcoholic.

But I take comfort in the fact that proceeds from the tour go to our guides, some of whom grew up on the streets and are former criminals. Today, they lead tours, act as positive role models for the younger members of their community and earn a regular income from the work.

This is a theme that I constantly go back to on a solo two-week trip to Kenya in November 2023. How can I, a privileged tourist, travel as ethically as possible while still working within a reasonable budget?

As much as I enjoy travel, I have always been uncomfortable with the inequality between tourists and locals, especially since many of my trips have been in the developing world. So, I try to make responsible decisions when travelling, such as considering my impact on the environment and community, without being parochial.

The concept of ethical travel is not new. In 1999, the United Nations set out a framework known as the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, recognising travel as a driver of solidarity and development, and outlining guiding principles across the economic, cultural, social and environmental aspects of tourism.

More recently, a 2024 study by Booking.com shows that three-quarters of respondents want to travel more sustainably over the next 12 months, citing concerns about the impact of tourism on climate change.

In Kenya, making ethical travel decisions such as booking locally run accommodation and tours help me enjoy the trip more as it enables a deeper connection with the place and its people. Here is how I went about it.

1. Do research

Like many travellers, I rely heavily on Google reviews to ascertain the quality of accommodation and activities.

Using keywords such as “ethical” and “sustainable” helps to shortlist places that minimise negative impacts of tourism, such as the exploitation of local communities and overcrowding of delicate ecosystems at wildlife parks.

I glean useful, up-to-date pre-travel advice from talking to locals and other travellers on forums such as Reddit (from local subreddits like r/kenya to more general travel-related communities like r/trave l), as well as Facebook groups such as Backpacking Africa.

In fact, it is on the latter that I find Oseki Maasai Mara Camp ( osekimaasaimaracamp.com ), a safari lodge that consists of clean safari tents equipped with comfortable bedding, generator-powered electricity and hot running water.

Accommodation options in the Mara range from campsites where you pitch your own tent to luxury options that cost four figures a night. With full-board room rates starting at US$72, I find Oseki’s no-frills-yet-comfortable approach refreshing.

Apart from its Dutch co-owner, the camp’s staff are all local Maasai, an ethnic group that inhabits Kenya and Tanzania.

Staff provide services such as guiding, cooking and transport. The lodge also runs and contributes to community initiatives, such as helping to rebuild a children’s dormitory in a local village that was destroyed in a fire.

2. Get local advice on the ground

In Kenya, I find locals eager to share more about their country. As English is widely spoken, it is easy to strike up conversations with Uber drivers, shopkeepers and tour guides.

At Cheche Books ( instagram.com/chechebooks ) in Nairobi’s Lavington suburb, I tell the affable owner I am heading to Kenya’s coast after my safari.

She recommends The House Of Rust (2021) by Khadija Abdalla Bajaber, set in the region I am about to visit. Reading Bajaber’s beautiful tale of a young girl’s search for her fisherman father makes me appreciate the sights even more.

She also points me towards Connect Coffee Roasters (connectcoffee.net), a hip coffee joint that would not look out of place in central Melbourne, Australia. The fruity signature Juliet blend latte is a bargain at KES320 (S$3.20) and is so refreshing, I buy some beans to take home.

Nairobi has a fledgling backpacker scene, and I stay at two new hostels that opened in 2023.

Nairobi Backpackers’ Hostel ( hostelworld.com/st/hostels/p/321173/nairobi-backpackers-hostel , dorms from $17) and Mad Vervet Nairobi Backpackers Hostel ( mad-vervet-backpackers-hostel-nairobi.nairobi-hotels-ke.com, dorms from $19) both have lively social areas to meet other travellers.

The young, hip staff are happy to dish out travel advice, arrange tours and suggest restaurants.

3. Travel in shoulder season

Visiting the Maasai Mara National Reserve and spotting animals in the wild is a bucket-list experience for many. In particular, the annual wildebeest migration from the Serengeti National Park in neighbouring Tanzania attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors between June and September every year.

Unfortunately, this has resulted in overtourism. Stories abound of convoys of safari trucks camped side by side on the banks of the Mara River within the National Reserve, with desperate tourists jostling for the perfect shot of the wildebeest crossing the river.

One solution to this is to travel in low or shoulder seasons.

I go in December, during shoulder season, and find wildlife-spotting opportunities abundant but with much smaller crowds. In Kenya, shoulder season runs from October to mid-December.

On my one-day safari tour, organised by Oseki Maasai Mara Camp, I see a variety of animals – including zebras, giraffes, elephants and lions – with far fewer safari vehicles crowding around the wildlife.

The guide and vehicle cost US$175, and the reserve fee of US$100 a person is half of what it would cost during high season. My driver also makes it a point not to drive too close to the wildlife, ensuring the animals remain undisturbed.

My flight to Kenya on Air India takes 15 hours, including a two-hour stop in Delhi. The round-trip flight costs around $1,150.

4. Take public transport

Take advantage of Kenya’s extensive public transport network to get around the country.

Between towns, the cheapest option is by brightly painted local minibuses called matatu. However, while I hear positive reports about these from other travellers, I cannot steel myself to ride them as they have a reputation for dangerous driving and overcrowding.

Instead, I opt for inter-city coach services. EasyCoach ( easycoachkenya.com ), a local bus company, takes me from Nairobi to the lakeside town of Naivasha for KES1,050 each way. The coaches offer reserved seating and ample baggage space.

However, they run behind schedule by about 90 minutes on each trip, so build in some flexibility in your travel itinerary to account for delays.

The only public transport between Naivasha and the Maasai Mara is via matatu. I opt for a private driver instead, which sets me back about $110 in total for the 3½-hour journey in an air-conditioned car. This fare is for the whole vehicle, so a couple or group could split the costs fairly easily. To book, send a WhatsApp message to Safiri Cabs at +254-728-409427.

Uber is available in many Kenyan cities and is a safe and cost-effective way of getting around Nairobi. A 10-minute ride costs about KES180, although tips for good service are always welcome.

5. Go beyond safaris

While the game-viewing in Kenya’s national parks and reserves is the country’s biggest attraction, safari fatigue is real.

Luckily, there is a lot more to Kenya than just animals. Apart from Nairobi’s bustling social and restaurant scenes, the country also has some excellent beaches in its coastal region.

In fact, one of the highlights of my trip is my visit to Lamu, an archipelago set in the Indian Ocean. I take a domestic flight on Safarilink from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, which costs US$58 for the 70-minute flight.

The main town of Lamu is officially car-free, with its denizens getting by on foot or via donkey. I love walking down its labyrinthine alleys and viewing the town’s amazing architecture, which bears the hallmarks of the archipelago’s Swahili, Indian and Arabic heritage.

6. Use M-Pesa

One thing that surprises me during my Kenya trip is the proliferation of M-Pesa, a mobile payment system ubiquitous throughout the country.

M-Pesa can be used to pay for everything – from transport to restaurant bills to even entry at public toilets. Accommodation providers also tell me they prefer payment in M-Pesa as fees and charges are lower than when paying by credit card.

It is remarkably easy to set up. I visit an outlet of local telco Safaricom, procure a SIM card and then register for M-Pesa. I am given a four-digit pin and, within minutes, am able to use the pin to send and receive money.

M-Pesa does not require a bank account and is instead topped up via a human agent. I use online remittance service Remitly ( remitly.com ), which allows me to transfer money from my multi-currency Revolut card to my M-Pesa account.

While this negates the need to carry cash, my M-Pesa service gets suspended after a particularly large top-up of about 52,000 KES to pay the safari lodge. A quick call to Safaricom puts things right, but as with anywhere in the world, a small stash of emergency currency is helpful to have in situations like this.

• The author is a freelance travel writer.
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How to have a once-in-a-lifetime African safari on a (relative) budget

A n African safari is an experience like no other, so the planning and preparation is essential as it’s an adventure that most travellers will experience once, maybe twice, in their lives. A minority, bitten by the Africa bug, will keep going back. The point of a safari is to immerse oneself in a timeless landscape and watch nature unfold before your eyes at its own pace. So, what you need is a reliable, experienced operator to deliver you to the right part of the sprawling wilderness and, if you have a limited budget, to choose carefully the time and place of your safari. 

Good safaris are never cheap – and they can be astronomically expensive. For example, Zarafa, a Relais & Chateaux camp in Botswana’s Linyanti wilderness, can set you back up to $5,000 (£4,000) per person per night in peak season, as indeed can the equally extravagantly designed Mombo Camp, a little further south in the country’s Okavango Delta. And that is without international flights, park fees or local transfers being included in the price. So, a six-day safari staying at these camps could cost around £30,000. For this you will enjoy premium wines served in crystal glassware, eat cordon bleu meals, be waited on by white gloved staff and wallow in gigantic, ornately furnished accommodations fit for a Wall Street banker. And it is bankers, masters of the universe and European royals who one finds at these places.

For the rest of us, it’s about picking the right time of year – shoulder season rather than peak season – and choosing the best among the more affordable and modestly appointed camps. You’ll still have an unforgettable experience – after all, if your purpose is to spend as much time as possible out in the bush watching and photographing wildlife, you don’t need high-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and first-growth clarets with your dinner. 

Here is my guide to the cost-conscious safaris in classic African destinations that will stir the soul without breaking the bank.

Kenya’s peak safari season is June to October when there is less rain and it’s not too hot. There are two rainy seasons in this equatorial country – the heaviest rains (called masika ) usually fall from mid-March to May/June and the shorter rains ( vuli ) occur in November and December. So, late May and early November are shoulder seasons and although these days there are no climate guarantees you should be fine, and it is certainly a most cost-effective time to visit Kenya.

Where to go

The most expensive and over-subscribed tourism event in the Mara is the Great Migration, where an estimated million and a half wildebeests and attendant predators move into the Mara in great waves from Tanzania’s Serengeti. It usually takes place between July and October, although wild animals do not adhere to homo sapiens’ timetables. Avoid. It is an over-crowded bun fight.

Also avoid the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where you invariably see tourist buses surrounding lion prides and stay, instead, in one of the private reserves that make up the Mara Conservancies. There are 15 such conservancies running along the northern border of the 1,500 square kilometre Maasai Mara National Reserve and together they take up a similar area (1,400 square kilometres), all of which have charming small lodges that offer a more private game-viewing experience. You will still experience the wildebeest herds and big cats, but these private reserves have a restriction on vehicle numbers around big cats (5), don’t let in self-drivers/buses, and allow you to head out on day and night drives, guided walks, and fly camp.

Offbeat Mara , for example, is a camp in the 74,000-acre Mara North Conservancy. It is small (five double tents and two family tents) and is set in a game-rich area far from any other lodge or camp. The Ultimate Travel Company (0203 603 5998) offers a six-night safari at Offbeat Mara (plus a night on arrival in Kenya at the Tamarind Tree Hotel in Nairobi) from £5,030 per person, including all flights, accommodation and transfers. 

Another fantastic option in the Mara North conservancies is Saruni Wild . It is one of the smallest camps in the area, with three spacious tented suites ideally suited to families of four. A special feature is Saruni’s Warriors Academy, an interactive safari which encourages youngsters to learn Maasai survival skills such as how to track wild animals, use a bow and arrow and build bush camps. Expert Africa (0203 405 6666) offers a six-night safari at Saruni Wild in November for £2,580 per person, including conservancy fees, safari activities, meals and drinks. It includes flights between Nairobi and Mara North but international flights from the UK – starting at around £500 return – need to be added.

Although the Maasai Mara is the most popular of the Kenyan safari destinations, there are many more areas that offer great game-viewing and safari experiences. For example, neighbouring Amboseli and Laikipia in the north.

Like the Maasai Mara, Amboseli National Park spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border that is famous for its elephant population and is home to around 400 species of birds, including pelicans, kingfishers, hamerkops and 47 types of raptor. It is a photographer’s dream not the least because Mount Kilimanjaro is the constant backdrop.

Elewana Tortilis Camp is named after the flat-topped umbrella thorn tree that dominates the ecosystem. This is a 17-tent camp in a private conservancy bordering the park that offers game drives, walks, sundowners and bush meals both in the park and the conservancy. The Ultimate Travel Company (0203 603 5998) offers a six-night stay at Tortilis Camp for £5,015 per person, including international flights, all park fees and an overnight stay in Nairobi’s Tamarind Tree Hotel.

Further north, Ol Pejeta is a not-for-profit conservancy in central Kenya’s Laikipia County, between the foothills of the Aberdares and Mount Kenya. Abercrombie & Kent (0330 1734 712) offers six nights at Sanctuary Tambarare in Ol Pejeta, including international flights, transfers, conservancy fees and all game activities, for £4,418 per person. 

Tanzania boasts a vast wilderness but does not have the sophistication of Kenya, its East African neighbour, as a luxury safari destination. It does, however, have a similar seasonality, with the best shoulder seasons being late May and early November. 

Where to go 

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a wild area based around the famous crater of the same name, a massive volcanic caldera that includes the famous Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world, in its greater ecosystem. 

Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp is set on the rim of the crater which is home to a huge variety of animals including lion, jackal, cheetah, wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, hippo, elephant, and the elusive leopard. The camp has ten luxury safari tents. Each offers an en-suite bathroom with an indoor bucket shower. The main areas of the camp include a dining tent, lounge and bar with comfortable leather sofas, creating the perfect place to sit and relax with your favourite drink while soaking up the spectacular views. Abercrombie & Kent (0330 1734 712) offers a six-night safari that includes one night in Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania’s safari camps, two nights at Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp and three nights at Sanctuary Kichakani, an intimate mobile camp with 10 en-suite tents that’s based in the central Serengeti in June and July, the northern Serengeti from the end of July to November and the southern Serengeti from December to March. It costs £6,995 per person, including all flights, transfers, meals, drinks, park fees and safari activities.

Tarangire National Park is the sixth largest park in the country and is home to large herds of elephant and buffalo and a high concentration of big cats as well as wild dogs, kudu, oryx and gerenuks, as well as 550 bird species, many attracted to the park’s swamps. Oliver’s Camp is in the remote south-eastern section of the park, close to the game rich Silale Swamps. In April and May, at the end of the annual rains, the landscape is lush and dotted with wildflowers. From August until October, herds of antelope and zebras pass through Tarangire. At this time, the park has the highest concentration of mammals in the country. This 10-tent camp offers extreme comfort and terrific game drives day and night. The Ultimate Travel Company (02036 035 998) has a six-night package with three nights at Oliver’s and three nights at Ubuntu Migration Camp, an eight-tent mobile camp that moves according to the season and the location of the animals. The price is from £6,135, including all flights, transfers and safari activities. 

Ruaha National Park is, at 20,000 square kilometres, the largest protected area in East Africa. Ikuku Safari Camp sits in a prime position on the park’s escarpment and every lodge looks out over the plains below, a 20-minute 4x4 drive away. There are seven open-sided rooms, with large balconies and high thatched roofs to accommodate the breezes. Guided walks, 4x4 drives, bird-watching trails and hot-air balloon rides are on offer. Expert Africa (0203 405 6666) offer six nights full board at Ikuka Safari Camp in November for £3,437 per person, including internal flights and shared game drives. International flights from the UK and Dar es Salaam cost extra (around £800 return).

South Africa

Southern Africa’s peak season is June through to early September, when the bush is dry and sparse, and the animals are more dependent on major water holes and thus easier to find. So aim for the shoulder season: May into early June and late September and October. 

Inyati Game Lodge is located in the Western sector of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve and like Nottens Bush Camp (see below) shares a common unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park, the country’s prime wildlife reserve. They have dense concentrations of wildlife, including elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah and giraffe, as well as a wide range of bird species. Inyati has 11 chalets as well as a library, filtered swimming pool, air-conditioned gym and walk-in wine cellar. Yellow Zebra Safaris (0208 547 2305 ) is offering a six-night full-board safari at Inyati Game Lodge for £3,990 per person including all transfers and game drives, but not international flights.

The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is located at the border between Hoedspruit and Acornhoek, north of the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve on the western edge of Kruger National Park. Walkers Plains Camp has eight rooms(with private decks and plunge pool in the middle of Timbavati and with great views of the plains and the Drakensberg mountains in the distance. Lion, buffalo, rhino and elephant are in abundance. A little further south, in the Sabi Sands reserve, is Nottens Bush Camp, a 16-bed, family-run lodge with a 20-metre pool. Each suite leads onto a private wooden deck with a view of the bushveld. The Ultimate Travel Company (0203 603 5998) is offering an all-inclusive safari featuring three nights at Walkers Plains and three nights at Notten’s Bush Camp from £4,945 per person including flights from London.

Botswana’s peak season is also winter, so aim for April, May, early June or October for lower rates and generally good weather. Even more savings can be found in “green season” – January to March – when spotting wildlife is a little trickier due to the lush foliage. 

In northern Botswana and fed by floodwaters from neighbouring Angola, the Okavango Delta is an inland delta and one of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich areas in Africa. Mma Dinare (meaning Mother Buffalo in the Setswana language) has nine tents set among the knobthorn and leadwood trees adjacent to Moremi Game Reserve. From the camp you can take game drives, guided walks and mokoro boat rides when the water is high. Not only is the area game rich but there is abundant bird life here, such as fish eagles, slaty egrets, pygmy geese, southern carmine bee-eaters. Expert Africa (0203 405 6666) offers a six-night package for travel between November 15 and March 31 (excluding the Christmas season) for £2,376 per person, excluding international flights (a return from UK to Maun, Botswana’s tourism capital, costs about £1,100).

Little Sable, in the Khwai Private Reserve, bordering the Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park, and with eight tents on raised decks overlooking the plains, is one of the best-value camps in the Delta. This vast reserve is shared by only a handful of camps, all owned by the same operator, Natural Selection, so the safari experience remains exclusive. Giraffe and antelope (kudu, lechwe, sable) are abundant; you’ll also see elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and wild dogs. Natural Selection (0027 2100 11547) has an all-inclusive, six-night safari with four nights at Little Sable and two nights at Hyena Pan, another eight-tent camp in the Khwai reserve, set in a grove of cathedral mopane trees overlooking a vast pan and with underground wildlife-viewing hides next to the water – a massive plus for photographers. For travel in April and November 2024, this six-night safari costs £4,220 per person, not including international flights. 

In the far north of the country is another major game-rich area: Chobe National Park, host to the largest elephant population in Africa, numbering at least 120,000. It is also known for massive herds of Cape buffalo, while lion, antelope and hippo inhabit the woods and lagoons around Linyanti Marsh. The Ultimate Travel Company (0203 6035 998) has a six-night package including three nights at Muchenje Safari Lodge and three nights aboard the Zambezi Queen, a luxury houseboat that cruises along the Chobe River, offering a unique game-viewing experience. The lodge, in the quieter western side of the park and with river views, has 11 thatched cottages. The Zambezi Queen has 14 luxury suites. The cost is from £5,240 per person, including all flights, transfers and safari activities. 

Another southern African country with peak season in the dry, cool winter months – June through September – so again shoulder seasons are cost effective, with April and May particularly recommended. Because of its well-publicised political problems Zimbabwe has somewhat fallen out of favour with British safari travellers. However, it is, for all its problems, a remarkably peaceful country, far more so than its southern neighbour South Africa.

Hwange National Park in the northwest is rich with game and has one of the largest elephant populations in Africa. Bumbusi Wilderness Camp is located in the Sinamatella area of the park and unlike the drier sandveld-based Hwange camps is set among evergreen trees and perennial springs. This habitat makes it attractive for predators such as lions and also for significant herds of elephant. Prices start at £395 per person per night, and Natural Selection (0027 21 001 1547) offers a five-day package for £2,675 per person  based on two sharing, or £1,970 per person based on four sharing, in April, May, November and December, including transfers but not international flights. 

Elsewhere in Hwange, The Hide is a popular lodge overlooking a busy waterhole and with ten tents, each with their own private veranda. Expert Africa (0203 405 6666) offers a six-night, all-inclusive safari at The Hide for £2,600 per person, not including flights from the UK to Victoria Falls (expect to pay around £800 return). 

Finally, Mana Pools National Park is located in the far north of the country, along the mighty Zambezi River. There are large populations of elephant, hippo, Nile crocodile and lion, and it is a great area for birders. Kavinga Safari Camp , beside the Ruckomechi River, has seven tents raised above the Zambezi Valley floor, while the Mana River Camp , another intimate operation with six tents, is right on the banks of the river. The Ultimate Travel Company (0203 6035 998) is offering a six-night package with three nights at Kavinga and three nights at Mana River Camp, from £5,085 per person, including international flights. 

Have you ever been on an African safari? Share your experiences in the comments section below

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I am wandering after the recent floods what to expect from the roads conditions in Kenya in aftermaths of recent floods, should I been concerned about pubic camps in NP?

Our plan is

Mount Suswa

Maasai Mara

Chyulu Hills

Also what are everyone's thoughts about waterborne diseases like cholera and mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria. should I been concerned ?

3 replies to this topic

According to the Met Dept. the heavy rains pounding the country will continue until July.

Also refer to TA thread discussion on "Heavy Rain and flooding".

Refer to links below.

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/national/article/2001494222/weatherman-says-rains-to-continue-until-july

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294206-i9216-k14746306-Heavy_Rain_and_flooding-Kenya.html

It's hard to predict the situation in July, Mother Nature is unpredictable.

Stay Safe !

You should get a prescription for an anti-malarial regardless of any rain/flood situation.

How long will your trip be? That's a hell lot of a land covered for a (self)driving. Three weeks are probably not enough for your itinerary, unless you are doing Paris-Dacar type of race.

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