Hotels
The best hotels in Kenya: nine places to stay, from Nairobi to the Masai Mara and Diani
At six in the morning the safari vehicle is waiting, and mist still hangs low over the grass of the Masai Mara. Three hours later you have seen lions, elephants and a couple of thousand wildebeest. A trip to Kenya usually combines the city, the savannah and the beach, and the hotels are as different as the places.
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Kenya sits on the equator on the east coast of Africa. Most visitors land in Nairobi and spend a night or two there before the safari. The Masai Mara in the south-west is the best-known safari area, Amboseli lies at the foot of Kilimanjaro, and the beaches of Diani run along the coast south of Mombasa. Between them you fly by light aircraft or travel by road with a driver.
We have chosen nine hotels and safari camps in four places and say who each one suits. Every one has a guest rating of at least 8.8 out of 10 and more than 50 reviews on Expedia. The links go there, and we always pick the hotel before we look for a link. Many of the most exclusive safari camps are booked direct and have too few reviews to be included.
In short: where should you stay in Kenya?
Spend a night in Nairobi, ideally in Karen near the giraffes, then three or four nights in the Masai Mara or Amboseli. Finish with a few days on the beach at Diani to recover from the early safari mornings.
Best in Nairobi: Hemingways Nairobi
Best for history: Fairmont The Norfolk
Best for safari: Mara Intrepids Tented Camp
Best for Kilimanjaro views: Kibo Safari Camp
Best beach: The Sands at Nomad
How to choose the right hotel in Kenya
Safari: camps in the Masai Mara almost always include full board and game drives. Check what is included before you compare prices.
The Great Migration: from July to October the wildebeest cross the Mara River. Camps are full and prices peak.
Nairobi: traffic is heavy. Stay close to what you want to see, or near Wilson Airport if you are flying on by light aircraft.
The coast: Diani is about half an hour south of Mombasa, and there are direct flights from the Masai Mara to Ukunda near Diani.
Health: malaria prophylaxis is advised on the coast and in the safari areas. Speak to a doctor before you travel.
The pool at dusk
The pool and verandas at Hemingways Nairobi at dusk.
Nairobi
Nairobi is East Africa's largest city and has its own national park, with lions and rhinos right at the city limits. Most hotels for visitors are in the green districts of Karen, Westlands and Gigiri.
Hemingways Nairobi: colonial style in Karen
Hemingways stands in Karen, on the edge of the city, in a white building with verandas and views of the Ngong Hills. It has only suites, and the garden and pool make it feel more like a country house than a city hotel.
This is our Nairobi pick, especially for the first and last night of a safari trip. The Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum are a short drive away. The city centre is far off, but you will rarely need it.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hemingways Nairobi
The garden
The tropical garden and terrace at Fairmont The Norfolk.
Fairmont The Norfolk: Nairobi's oldest hotel
The Norfolk opened in 1904 and is the oldest hotel in Nairobi, with rooms set around a tropical garden and the famous Lord Delamere Terrace, where safari-goers have met for more than a century. It is close to the National Museum and the university.
It suits you if you want a central stay with history. The buildings are old, and rooms vary in style and size. Have a drink on the terrace in the evening, before dinner.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Fairmont The Norfolk
The facade
The facade and palms in front of Villa Rosa Kempinski in Westlands.
Villa Rosa Kempinski: luxury in Westlands
Villa Rosa Kempinski is in Westlands, the district of offices, shopping centres and restaurants. It is a large and elegant hotel, with a marble lobby, a big spa and several restaurants.
It suits business travellers, or anyone who wants a classic grand hotel with everything in place. It sits on a busy road, so ask for a room facing the garden. The restaurants of Westlands are within walking distance.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Villa Rosa Kempinski
The hotel at dusk
Tribe Hotel and its pool at dusk.
Tribe Hotel: a design hotel in Gigiri
Tribe stands next to the Village Market shopping centre in Gigiri, near the United Nations offices. The hotel is filled with African art and craft, and has a pool, a spa and a popular bar.
It suits you if you want a modern design hotel in a quiet district. It is some way from the centre and from Karen. The shopping centre next door has plenty of restaurants and a craft market.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Tribe Hotel
The tent
A safari tent in the grass at Mara Intrepids.
The Masai Mara
The Masai Mara is Kenya's best-known safari area and borders the Serengeti in Tanzania. You can see the big cats all year, and the Great Migration in summer and autumn.
Mara Intrepids Tented Camp: tents on the Talek River
Mara Intrepids sits on the Talek River in the middle of the reserve, with large tents on platforms, private bathrooms and verandas facing the river. The camp has a pool, a spa and a restaurant, and animals often pass close to the tents.
This is our safari pick, for first-timers who want comfort and a good location. It is larger than the most exclusive camps, so you share vehicles and dinner with more people. Book full board with game drives included.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Mara Intrepids Tented Camp
The view
The view over the plains of the Masai Mara from the terrace at Mara Serena.
Mara Serena Safari Lodge: the view over the plains
Mara Serena stands on a hill in the western part of the Masai Mara, near the Mara River. The buildings take their inspiration from Maasai villages, and the terrace and pool look out across the plains.
It suits families and anyone who prefers a lodge with solid rooms to a tent. It is close to the river crossings used by the wildebeest. The lodge is large, so ask for a room with a view.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Mara Serena Safari Lodge
The camp from above
Kibo Safari Camp among the trees near Amboseli, seen from above.
Amboseli
Amboseli is in the south of Kenya, on the border with Tanzania. The park is known for its large elephant herds and its views of Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain.
Kibo Safari Camp: Kilimanjaro from your tent
Kibo Safari Camp sits just outside the park, with tents beneath the trees and views of Kilimanjaro on clear mornings. The camp has a pool, a restaurant and a fire pit in the evenings.
It suits you if you want to see Amboseli for less than at the priciest camps. The tents are simpler than at the Masai Mara camps above. The mountain is clearest early in the morning, before the clouds roll in.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Kibo Safari Camp
The pools from above
The pools and white buildings of Swahili Beach Resort, seen from above.
Diani: the beach south of Mombasa
Diani is a long white beach on the Indian Ocean, with palms, coral reefs and colobus monkeys in the forest behind the sand.
Swahili Beach Resort: pools and Swahili architecture
Swahili Beach is a large beach hotel built in Arabic and Swahili style, with white arches, several pools and direct access to the sand. It has a spa, several restaurants and activities for children.
It suits families who want space and plenty to do after a safari. The resort is big, and some rooms are a long walk from the beach. Ask for a room near the sea.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Swahili Beach Resort
The beach
The white beach and turquoise sea at The Sands at Nomad in Diani.
The Sands at Nomad: a small hotel right on the sand
The Sands at Nomad sits right on the beach at Diani, with rooms in low buildings among the palms and a restaurant by the sea. It is a smaller hotel, and the mood is calm and relaxed.
This is our beach pick, for couples who want to rest after the safari. There is little for children to do. Take a boat trip to the Kisite marine reserve to snorkel and look for dolphins.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Sands at Nomad
When should you book?
July to October: the Great Migration in the Masai Mara. Book camps six months ahead.
January and February: dry and warm, and a good time for both safari and beach.
April and May: the long rains. Many camps close or cut prices, and roads can be muddy.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Kenya
How many nights do I need in Kenya?
Allow at least ten nights to combine city, safari and beach. One night in Nairobi, three or four nights in the Masai Mara or Amboseli and four or five nights at Diani make a trip without too much time on the road.
Why is Giraffe Manor not on the list?
The hotel where giraffes put their heads through the windows does not have enough reviews on Expedia to meet our requirement of at least 50. The same goes for many small and expensive safari camps, such as Angama Mara and Mahali Mzuri. They are booked direct with the hotels.
Are the safari camps safe?
Yes. Camps have guards, and staff walk you to your tent after dark. You should never walk alone outside the camp. Follow the advice you are given on arrival, especially at night.
How do I get from Nairobi to the Masai Mara?
A light aircraft from Wilson Airport takes about an hour and lands on the airstrips near the camps. By road it takes five to six hours on rough tracks. Many people fly one way and drive the other.
When is the best time to visit Kenya?
July to October for the Great Migration, and December to March for dry, warm weather. April and May bring the long rains, with low prices and fewer visitors, but some camps stay closed.