Page 1 VARD AFRICA A SENSE OF HOMES FAR FROM THE FAMILIAR T H E F IN E ST A D D R E S S E S I N T H E S A F A R I C AP I T A L O F K ENYA . 0 1 O F 1 6 The Tribe Hotel G I G I R I , N A I R O B I F I V E - S T A R - M E M B E R O F D E S I G N H O T E L S "We coexist on a single planet. There is only one tribe that matters humankind." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N Conceived from a single, enduring belief that the world is enriched when cultures meet rather than pass each other by The Tribe Hotel opened its doors in 2008 in Nairobi's leafy diplomatic district of Gigiri, adjacent to the Village Market, East Africa's largest shopping and entertainment complex. What distinguishes The Tribe from every other property in Nairobi is not merely its five-star credentials, but the depth of intention behind its creation. Long before the idea of "curated Africa" became a travel industry cliché, The Tribe was quietly assembling the continent's most remarkable collection of art, artifacts, and cultural objects to house beneath one elegant roof. At its heart, The Tribe is a museum that welcomes you to sleep, dine, and linger. The hotel sits at the intersection of two of Nairobi's most powerful identities the diplomatic north, home to the United Nations, dozens of embassies, and international organizations, and the residential suburbs favoured by Nairobi's cultured and cosmopolitan community. It draws a clientele as eclectic as the city itself: ambassadors, artists, international executives, and discerning travellers who understand that how you stay is as important as where you go. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T The Tribe is a proudly independent, entirely family-owned and operated property a rarity in the era of global brand consolidation. It was founded by brothers Shamim Ehsani and Hooman Ehsani, whose father Hamed Ehsani sits on the hotel's board of directors and is the visionary behind the Village Market complex itself. The hotel's extraordinary art collection some 900 pieces of African art and artifacts was personally curated by their mother, Faranak Ehsani, an accomplished art expert whose eye and passion are visible in every corridor, lobby, and suite. The hotel's original architect was their uncle, Mehraz Ehsani, lending the entire enterprise the rare coherence that only comes from shared vision. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S The Tribe offers 128 guest rooms and suites across several distinct categories, each one a conversation between African craftsmanship and contemporary design. Rich, deep colours blend with natural stone and hardwoods; stainless steel and glass coexist with rustic metalwork and handmade wooden furniture; world-class technology nestles seamlessly beside hand-loomed local fabrics and antique artifacts. SUPERIOR KING & TWIN Walk-in rain shower, luxury linens, 40" LED TV. Some feature oversize baths. Adjoining options available. DELUXE ROOMS Generous proportions with sofa seating, king or twin configuration, and exclusive African artwork. GARDEN TERRACE ROOMS Private terrace access overlooking a protected wetland - Nairobi's urban wild at your threshold. CLUB ROOMS Top-floor positioning with exclusive Executive Lounge access, dedicated concierge and all-day refreshments. JUNIOR SUITES Generous bedroom with extended living space, king bed, and Executive Lounge privileges. LOFT BUSINESS SUITE Split-level duplex with dedicated workspace above and a separate bedroom below - perfect for the working traveller. PRESIDENTIAL WING SUITE Part of an exclusive seven-room delegation suite collection - 93 sqm, with private lounge and full butler. THE PENTHOUSE Nairobi's only celebrity suite. Two levels connected by a mahogany staircase, custom couches, double-volume windows, and complete privacy. Every room features original artwork from the Ehsani family's 900-piece collection, Organic Savanna amenities, and all the hallmarks of five- star comfort. Executive Lounge access is granted with Club Rooms and all suite categories. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S 10,000 sq ft Spa & Wellness Outdoor Pool Executive Resource Centre Multiple Meeting Rooms Fully Equipped Fitness Centre Jiko Signature Restaurant 24-Hr Room Service Executive Lounge900 -Piece Art Gallery Gift Shop Page 2 Complimentary High -Speed Wi-Fi Adjoining Village Market Access Valet & Concierge Services Heritage Tour (on request) A W A R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N - TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice . - Top 1% Globally Design Hotels Member . - Global Curation of Distinctive Properties Repeatedly recognised for Excellence in African Art & Hospitality . C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S Dining at The Tribe is an act of cultural immersion. Jiko Restaurant, the hotel's acclaimed signature space, is among Africa's most celebrated dining destinations. A heartfelt tribute to the continent's farmers and indigenous pantries, Jiko brings Africa's flavours to life with dramatic flair fresh, organic, locally sourced ingredients treated with the kind of artistic playfulness that ensures every plate is both a memory and a meal. Jiko holds the distinction of being the first five-star hotel restaurant in Africa to comprehensively celebrate indigenous African cuisines, long before the "provenance dining" movement took global hold. The Tribe's associated Trademark Hotel is home to Hero Bar, which ranked No. 75 on the prestigious World's 50 Best Bars extended list a remarkable achievement that speaks to the Ehsani family's dedication to elevating Nairobi's food and beverage landscape to world-class standing. There are hotels that house art, and then there is The Tribe a property that is art. We have placed dozens of our most discerning guests here and the response is consistently one of wonder. The 900-piece collection, curated by a family whose love for this continent runs in the blood, transforms every corridor into a gallery walk. Ask for a room in the Club category the Executive Lounge becomes your private living room above the city. Jiko should not be missed: book your first dinner there on arrival and let Africa's flavours reset every expectation you brought with you. If you love design, culture, and the diplomacy of hospitality done with soul, The Tribe will not merely satisfy it will set the standard. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y The Tribe represents independent luxury at its most principled. It is family-owned, deeply intentional, and tirelessly African in its identity without ever sacrificing world-class standards. Its art collection alone is worth an afternoon of wandering. The proximity to the Village Market means our guests are never more than a short walk from Nairobi's finest boutiques, restaurants, and cultural spaces and for those staying in the diplomatic north, the location is simply without rival. W H Y O U R G U E S T S L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Guests return to The Tribe for the feeling that is hardest to replicate elsewhere: the sense of being held inside something that has meaning. The art speaks. The service listens. The spa restores. And Jiko reminds them, with every dish, that Africa's cuisine belongs at the finest tables in the world. Our guests consistently describe their stay at The Tribe as "the most African luxury experience I've had in a city hotel" high praise in a capital that wears its heritage with quiet, unshakeable confidence. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N The Tribe welcomes families warmly. Its location adjacent to Village Market which houses East Africa's largest entertainment complex, a cinema, play areas, and dozens of family-friendly restaurants makes it an excellent choice for families arriving in Nairobi before or after safari. Adjoining Superior rooms allow parents and children to remain connected without sacrificing privacy. The hotel's service team is experienced in accommodating families travelling with young children, and bespoke arrangements for family dining, early dinners, and curated cultural experiences for younger guests can all be arranged through Vard Africa's concierge team in advance. 0 2 O F 1 6 Giraffe Manor. L A N G A T A , N A I R O B I B O U T I Q U E C O N S E R V A T I O N H O T E L - T H E S A F A R I C O L L E C T I O N "The most photographed breakfast table in the world belongs to no one and to everyone it belongs to the giraffe." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N No address on earth invites quite the same combination of disbelief and delight as Giraffe Manor. Built in 1932 by Sir David Duncan a member of the Mackintosh family, of toffee fame the estate was originally modelled on a Scottish hunting lodge and sat on 150 acres of land running down to the Mbagathi River, at what was then the southern boundary of Nairobi. It bore all the hallmarks of that romantic, colonial era: ivy-clad stone walls, baronial proportions, polished wood floors, open fireplaces, and the kind of still, unhurried grace that the modern world seems to have permanently mislaid. The manor's extraordinary transformation began in 1974 when Betty and Jock Leslie-Melville purchased the property and began its most defining chapter: the rescue and rehabilitation of the endangered Nubian giraffe. In 1977, the Kenyan government invited the couple to rehome a baby giraffe named Daisy from a threatened subspecies. Daisy arrived, was soon followed by Marlon (named, inevitably, after Marlon Brando), and an accidental sanctuary was born. Betty wrote the book Raising Daisy Rothschild, which became the film The Last Giraffe. From that moment, the Manor and its giraffes were inseparable. In 1983, Betty's son Rick Anderson opened Giraffe Manor as a small, private hotel where guests could feed giraffes from the breakfast table, from the front door, and from the windows of their second-floor bedrooms. The rest, as they say, is the most delightful kind of history the kind that keeps walking through your window before breakfast. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T In April 2009, Giraffe Manor was purchased by Mikey and Tanya Carr-Hartley as the flagship property of The Safari Collection one of Kenya's most respected luxury hospitality groups. Tanya grew up near the property and had childhood memories of riding through the grounds on horseback, occasionally sharing tea with Betty Leslie-Melville and the giraffes. To own Giraffe Manor was, quite literally, a childhood dream fulfilled. Under the Carr-Hartleys and The Safari Collection, the manor has been lovingly restored while preserving its 1930s-character antique furnishings, art deco bathrooms, period architectural details all enhanced to welcome guests with the warmth of modern, world-class hospitality. The conservation mission remains absolutely central: Giraffe Manor operates in close partnership with the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) and its associated Giraffe Centre, which borders the property. Page 3 R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Giraffe Manor offers just 12 individually named rooms spread across two beautifully matched structures. No two rooms are identical, each holding its own personality, décor, and story. All feature polished wood floors, antique furnishings, en suite bathrooms, and the magical possibility of a long-necked visitor appearing at the window at dawn. THE HISTORIC MANOR - Built 1932 BETTY Elegant double, first floor. DAISY First floor double, Daisy was the original rescued giraffe. MARLON Balcony room - Vard's preferred room for prime giraffe encounters. JOCK Named for co-founder Jock Leslie-Melville. LYNN Ground floor, quieter position, great garden views. KAREN BLIXEN SUITE Named for the author of Out of Africa. Generous family proportions, private courtyard access. Sleeps up to five. THE GARDEN MANOR - Built 2011 SALMA, EDD, ARLENE Elegant double rooms, each with sanctuary views. HELEN & KELLY Double/twin configurations, serene park outlooks. FINCH HATTON SUITE Named for Denys Finch Hatton, Karen Blixen's great love. Double/twin, accommodates a family of five. The Garden Manor was constructed in 2011 using reclaimed materials from houses of a comparable era to the 1932 original the result is a seamless architectural harmony that defies its eight-decade gap in construction. The giraffe experience is identical in both structures. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Full -Board Stays (all meals included) House Wines, Spirits & Beers The Retreat - Wellness & Spa Infinity Pool Overlooking the Sanctuary Hot tub, Steam Room & Treatment rooms Daisy's Café (The Retreat) The Orchid House Private Dining Afternoon Tea on the Lawn Giraffe Feeding - Morning & Evening Complimentary AFEW Giraffe Centre Entry Chauffeured Transfers (Karen & Langata area) Croquet & Boules on the Lawns Complimentary Laundry & Wi-Fi A W A R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N - Condé Nast USA Readers' Choice . - No. 45 Top 50 Best Hotels in the World (2020) . - Consistently ranked among the most iconic hotels on earth . - Named in virtually every major global travel publication as a bucket -list property . C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S Dining at Giraffe Manor is the finest theatrical experience that nature can provide and the kitchen plays a supporting role of remarkable quality. Breakfast, served in the intimate dining rooms of the Historic or Garden Manor, is the centerpiece: as you sit down to your eggs and freshly baked bread, the giraffes amble to the sash windows and gently insert their enormous, elegant heads, hoping for pellets. The moment is equal parts surreal, hilarious, and achingly beautiful. All meals are prepared from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, with the full-board rate encompassing breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Orchid House offers intimate private dining for special occasions. Afternoon tea on the lawn cucumber sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream, and giraffes wandering the grass is one of Nairobi's most cherished rituals. Daisy's Café at The Retreat rounds out the culinary experience with a relaxed, garden-side menu for light lunches and wellness-focused refreshments. Giraffe Manor is in a category entirely its own. Book it, and book it well in advance prime rooms like Marlon (with its perfectly positioned balcony) and Betty fill twelve to eighteen months ahead of peak season. The Historic Manor has the most intimate giraffe encounters; the Garden Manor is where we send guests who want the same magic with a slightly newer interior. We recommend pairing your Giraffe Manor night with The Safari Collection's broader Kenya circuit it transforms a single extraordinary night into an unbroken, seamlessly managed Kenyan journey. One word of wisdom: dress beautifully for breakfast. The photographs will stay with you forever. Page 4 W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Giraffe Manor is not a novelty. It is a genuinely significant conservation project one that has helped rescue an endangered subspecies from the edge of extinction and the hotel's continued relevance to that mission ensures every stay carries purpose alongside pleasure. We love that The Safari Collection has preserved the 1930s soul of the building without making it feel like a museum. We love that the giraffes are wild, free-roaming animals their appearances are never guaranteed, which is exactly as it should be. And we love that no guest, no matter how well-travelled, leaves Giraffe Manor unchanged. W H Y O U R G U E S T S L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Simple: a giraffe put its face through their bedroom window at 6am. No amount of travel experience, no number of safari sunsets, prepares anyone for that specific, magnificent absurdity. Beyond the giraffes the fireplaces, the Out of Africa atmosphere, the afternoon tea, the impeccable service, and the feeling that one has stepped inside a particularly beautiful dream our guests consistently describe Giraffe Manor as the single most memorable night of their East African journey. That is saying something, in a country full of extraordinary nights. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Children of all ages are warmly welcomed at Giraffe Manor. The Karen Blixen Suite and Finch Hatton Suite accommodate families of up to five comfortably. The AFEW Giraffe Centre included in all stays is a natural highlight for children, offering educational giraffe feeding from raised platforms and accessible conservation programming. The lawns are safe and supervised, afternoons with boules and croquet are family-friendly, and the kitchen accommodates children's menus readily. The Safari Collection team is experienced in tailoring the experience for families travelling with young children, and Vard Africa recommends pairing the stay with a visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage a short drive away and unfailingly transformative for young travellers. 0 3 O F 1 6 Hemingways Nairobi K A R E N , N A I R O B I A L L - S U I T E L U X U R Y - S M A L L L U X U R Y H O T E L S O F T H E W O R L D "Where the Ngong Hills meet your balcony, and Africa's grace enters quietly through every window." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N There is a part of Nairobi that does not feel like a city at all. In the leafy suburb of Karen named, as every well-travelled person knows, for Danish author Karen Blixen the city's noise dissolves into birdsong, and the horizon opens to the soft blue silhouette of the Ngong Hills. It was into this gracious landscape that Hemingways Nairobi was born in 2013, designed as a modern interpretation of the great East African plantation homes of the colonial era open, airy, confident, and deeply connected to the landscape around it. The hotel opened as the flagship of the Hemingways Collection, a growing portfolio of luxury boutique properties across Kenya and beyond. Positioned between Nairobi National Park to the north and the Ngong Hills to the west, Hemingways Nairobi serves a guest who seeks not merely comfort, but context a place that makes Nairobi feel like both a destination and a beginning. Since its opening it has established itself as one of Nairobi's finest and most celebrated addresses, beloved by safari travellers, luxury honeymoon couples, and those discerning enough to know that the quietest neighborhoods in great cities often hold the grandest experiences. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T Hemingways Nairobi is owned and managed by the Hemingways Collection, a Kenyan luxury hospitality group with deep roots in East Africa. The hotel is a proud member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), Virtuoso, and the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts programme three of the most rigorous quality validation bodies in global luxury travel. These affiliations are not honorary; they are the result of consistently meeting extraordinarily demanding standards of service, accommodation, and guest experience year after year. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Hemingways Nairobi is an exclusively all-suite property 43 Junior Suites and two Presidential Suites, for a total of 45 suites. There are no standard rooms here. Every guest is afforded the space, the light, and the service that the word "suite" genuinely promises. Each suite features high vaulted ceilings, natural light from generous windows, walk-in dressing rooms, and a private terrace or balcony with views of the Ngong Hills. The interiors strike a masterful balance between contemporary elegance and the colonial plantation aesthetic: muted tones and natural fabrics, beds dressed in Egyptian cotton, furniture crafted from brass and mahogany that pays quiet homage to the great East African safari era. Bathrooms are lined in hand-cut Italian marble with separate shower, bathtub, and double vanity. Each suite is attended by a dedicated butler one who will remember that you prefer Earl Grey with your scones, and know precisely how you take your morning coffee before you ask. The two Presidential Suites are among the finest city suites in Kenya: grand yet intimate, with separate living and dining spaces, a fully equipped kitchenette, and 360-degree private outdoor access with the Ngong Hills as your permanent panorama. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Full Butler Service - All Suites Hemingways Spa Outdoor Swimming Pool The Brasserie Restaurant Josper Oven - East Africa's Finest Steaks Hemingways Bar (Havana -inspired) Private Wine Cellar (seats 12) L'Occitane Bathroom Amenities Personalized In-Room Bar 24-Hour Concierge & Room Service Fitness Centre Manicured Gardens Page 5 Artisan Rose Bouquets in Every Suite Meeting Rooms for Corporate Use A W A R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N - Small Luxury Hotels of the World . - Member Virtuoso Preferred Property . - American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts . - Listed Consistently among the top -rated hotels in Nairobi on all major travel platforms . C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S The Brasserie is Hemingways' acclaimed signature restaurant, serving contemporary cuisine with a Hollywood-era theatrical decor and a menu that spans East African flavours, European classics, and modern international cooking. At its heart is the Josper oven the only one of its kind in Kenya, a Spanish indoor barbecue that fires steaks at 800°F and produces the most extraordinary crusted, perfectly rare beef in Nairobi. The breakfast buffet prepared from locally sourced; artisan ingredients is a lavish morning ritual. Hemingways Bar takes its inspiration from La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana the very bar beloved by Ernest Hemingway himself and offers a cocktail list to match. For the most private dining experiences, the hotel's glass-encased wine cellar accommodates up to 12 guests for intimate dinners curated entirely around the wine list. Afternoon tea in the garden, with views to the Ngong Hills, is a Karen tradition not to be overlooked. Hemingways Nairobi is, for Vard Africa, the gold standard for the pre-safari city stay. It is where we send guests who want to arrive in East Africa and feel, from the moment their butler unpacks their luggage and presses their safari clothes, that they are already being held by Africa. The Ngong Hills view from the private terrace at sunset, a glass of Kenyan rosé in hand, is one of those moments that does not require a game reserve to feel profoundly wild. Book the Josper steak for your first dinner - you will not find its equal in Nairobi. And if you are planning a romantic journey, request the private wine cellar for a dinner designed entirely around your list. It is utter perfection. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Hemingways Nairobi is everything a luxury all-suite hotel should be and almost never is personal without being precious, refined without being cold, and so deeply rooted in its Karen setting that stepping inside feels like a quiet exhale. The butler service is not a concept; it is a relationship. The property's commitment to sustainability, its support of local farmers and craftspeople, and its place at the heart of the Karen community all speak to a hotel that has earned its position not through marketing, but through meaning. W H Y O U R G U E S T S L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y The butler. The Ngong Hills. The Josper steak. The spa. The discovery that Karen this quiet, tree-lined suburb that was once Karen Blixen's coffee farm is one of the most beautiful places to simply be in Africa. Our guests return to Hemingways not because it is the most dramatic property in our portfolio, but because it is the most comforting and in a continent that can overwhelm the senses, the ability to feel genuinely, luxuriously at ease is the rarest gift of all. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N East Africans are renowned for their delight in welcoming and caring for children, and Hemingways Nairobi exemplifies this spirit wholeheartedly. The all-suite configuration ensures that families are afforded genuine space no cramped adjoining rooms, but proper living areas. The hotel's location in Karen places it minutes from the Giraffe Centre, the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, and Nairobi National Park, making it an excellent base for families with younger children who want wildlife encounters without the complexity of a full safari. The butler service proves especially valuable for families: early-morning requests, specific dietary needs for children, and bespoke activity planning are all handled with thoughtful, unhurried care. 0 4 O F 1 6 Villa Rosa Kempinski C H I R O M O R O A D , N A I R O B I C B D F I V E - S T A R I N T E R N A T I O N A L - K E M P I N S K I H O T E L S "European refinement in the heart of Africa's most dynamic city - a landmark that has defined Nairobi's luxury standard." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N When Villa Rosa Kempinski opened in 2013 on the prestigious Chiromo Road the address that connects Nairobi's Central Business District to the leafy suburb of Westlands it signalled unmistakably that Nairobi had arrived on the world stage of luxury hospitality. Rising with a distinctive European grandeur that is immediately recognizable against Nairobi's evolving skyline, Villa Rosa brought to the city the full weight of Kempinski's century-long heritage of European luxury, seamlessly woven together with Kenyan warmth, Pan-African design sensibility, and the hospitality spirit that defines this continent. The hotel occupies a position of rare strategic importance: situated on Chiromo Road, it is simultaneously close to Nairobi's Central Business District, the commercial hub of Westlands, and the sprawling green suburbs of Lavington and Parklands. The Kenya National Archives, national museums, and the vibrant social heart of Nairobi are all minutes away. For business travellers and those combining leisure with corporate objectives, no address in Nairobi offers quite this combination of prestige, accessibility, and full-service luxury. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T Villa Rosa Kempinski is managed by Kempinski Hotels Europe's oldest luxury hotel group, founded in 1897, and one of the most storied names in global hospitality. The property operates under Kempinski's exacting global standards while reflecting the cultural character and warmth of East Africa. It participates in the GHA Discovery loyalty programme, connecting guests to Kempinski's worldwide portfolio and offering exclusive benefits for returning members. The hotel has been recognised by the W Hospitality Group as among the top luxury hotels on the African continent. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Villa Rosa Kempinski offers 200 meticulously appointed rooms and suites spread across ten floors. Each room commands city views and is furnished with the warm, Pan-African elegance that characterizes the entire property blending European design principles with African materials, colours, and craftsmanship. All rooms feature premium bedding, 24-hour room service, mini bars, pillow menus, and laptop-compatible safes. Page 6 DELUXE ROOMS The hotel's entry-level luxury offering - spacious, city-facing, and impeccably fitted. SUPERIOR ROOMS Enhanced square footage with elevated floor positions for broader city panoramas. BUSINESS SUITES (×10) Designed for the executive traveller - separate living and working spaces with full connectivity. PREMIUM SUITES (×2) Expansive residences combining elegant entertaining space with exceptional bedroom privacy. PRESIDENTIAL SUITE 667 sqm of the finest accommodation in Nairobi's CBD. King bed, Jacuzzi, full kitchen, private living room, 24-hour butler. The summit of the hotel's luxury offering, positioned on the top floor. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S, Kempinski The Spa (1,100 sqm, 9 treatment rooms) Heated Outdoor Pool Jacuzzi & Traditional sauna Steam Room State -of-the -Art Gym & Yoga Room Seven Specialty Restaurants & Bars Café Villa Rosa (International All -Day) Lucca (Italian Fine Dining)88 Restaurant (Pan -Asian) K-Lounge (Afternoon Tea) Poolside Bar & Terrace Grand Ballroom (seats 505) Conference & Meeting Rooms BMW Limousine executive Transfers Business Centre Gift Shop A W A R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N - W Hospitality Group . - 5th Top African Hotel TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice . - Top 1% Globally Consistently rated among East Africa's finest urban luxury properties . C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S Villa Rosa Kempinski's culinary landscape is one of the most diverse and accomplished in Nairobi. Café Villa Rosa serves as the hotel's all-day international dining space a convivial, elegantly casual setting for breakfasts, working lunches, and relaxed dinners. Lucca is Nairobi's destination for authentic Italian cuisine, from handmade pasta to wood-fired classics, executed with the precision one expects from Kempinski's European heritage. 88 Restaurant offers an immersive Pan-Asian journey across Cantonese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines a rare and accomplished offering in sub-Saharan Africa. The K-Lounge is Nairobi's most talked-about afternoon tea experience, combining classic European elegance with locally inspired confections and the kind of service that makes an afternoon feel genuinely ceremonial. The poolside bar is the city's favourite social terrace for sundowners, and the rooftop terrace completes one of the finest food and beverage programmes in East Africa. Villa Rosa Kempinski is Vard Africa's choice for guests who require the full international luxury hotel experience: the major brand assurance, the business infrastructure, the scale of facilities, and the grandeur of a property that announces itself with confidence. The Presidential Suite is among the finest in Kenya if it is available and the occasion warrants it, do not hesitate. For pure CBD convenience combined with five-star standards, there is no better address. We particularly recommend the K- Lounge afternoon tea for guests with an afternoon free in the city it is an experience that turns a few idle hours into a lasting memory. The BMW limousine transfers add a seamless elegance to the city arrival ritual that our guests consistently remark upon. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Villa Rosa Kempinski delivers the full power of a globally recognised luxury brand with the soul of an East African property that genuinely cares about its setting. The scale of its spa, the variety of its dining, and the prestige of its address make it an unmatched choice for guests who demand nothing less than the complete five- star urban experience. The Grand Ballroom, the BMW transfers, and the CBD positioning make it equally compelling for high-profile delegations and corporate travel. W H Y O U R G U E S T S L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y The reliability of the Kempinski standard is its own form of luxury the knowledge that every element, from the spa to the Italian restaurant, operates at the level you have come to expect from one of the world's great hotel groups. Our guests love the heated pool after long days in the city, the K-Lounge as a private respite from meetings, and the ability to walk from their room to the CBD in minutes. Villa Rosa is also simply beautiful a property that wears its European grandeur with African warmth. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Villa Rosa Kempinski warmly welcomes families and is well equipped to accommodate guests travelling with children of all ages. Children six years and older are treated as adults for rate purposes. The heated outdoor pool, extensive restaurants offering varied menus, the proximity to Nairobi's major family attractions (Nairobi National Museum, Nairobi National Park, Snake Park), and the hotel's infrastructure for bespoke child-friendly experiences make it a comfortable choice for families spending time in the city. Vard Africa recommends the hotel's concierge team for arranging family safari day trips and educational cultural excursions. Page 7 0 5 O F 1 6 JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi W E S T L A N D S , N A I R O B I F I V E - S T A R - T A L L E S T H O T E L I N K E N Y A - O P E N E D 2 0 2 4 "Nairobi's most dramatic new address - where the African savannah meets 35 floors of mindful luxury above the city's most vibrant district." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N When JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi opened its doors in March 2024, it did so with the kind of architectural authority that immediately reshapes a city's skyline and its sense of possibility. Rising 35 stories above the Westlands commercial and entertainment district Nairobi's most dynamic neighborhood the hotel became overnight not only the tallest hotel in Kenya but the most comprehensively reimagined luxury statement in the country's modern hospitality history. JW Marriott's arrival in Nairobi was deliberate and considered: the brand's second Kenyan property (the first being JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge), chosen for its alignment with the JW philosophy of mindful, holistic well-being in places of profound natural beauty. Interior designer George Wong conceived a sensory narrative rooted in the African adventure an earth-toned palette of savannah browns, Maasai reds, terracotta, and safari greens brought alive through sculptures, handmade ceramics, wall murals, and regional textiles that tell the story of Kenya's landscape across every floor and corridor. The hotel is also home to a curated collection of authentic African artworks available for purchase allowing guests to carry something genuinely meaningful home. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi is managed by Marriott International, the world's largest hospitality company, under the JW Marriott brand the group's tribute to founder J. Willard "J.W." Marriott, who prioritized well-being as the foundation of great hospitality. The property participates in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme, providing seamless benefits across Marriott's global portfolio of over 8,000 properties. The hotel's location in Westlands places it 15 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport via the Nairobi Expressway a journey of remarkable ease that begins a stay of remarkable intention. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S The JW Marriott Nairobi offers a total of 315 guest rooms and suites, supplemented by 51 exclusive JW Marriott Residences on the nine uppermost floors a configuration that serves both short-stay luxury travellers and longer-stay guests and families with equal sophistication. DELUXE ROOMS Generous, light-filled spaces with electric sheers, walk-in showers, and panoramic CBD / Westlands views. CLUB ROOMS Elevated floor positions with access to the Executive Lounge - a dedicated space for relaxation, productivity, and curated culinary presentations. JUNIOR SUITES Separate sitting areas, premium bedding, high-quality bathtubs, and commanding city views. EXECUTIVE SUITES Expansive, designed for discerning executive travellers requiring both private working and entertaining space. PRESIDENTIAL SUITE The hotel's crown: expansive living spaces, dining for intimate entertaining, sweeping 360-degree city views, and bespoke personal service at the pinnacle of the tower. JW RESIDENCES (1 -3BR) Fully equipped kitchens, separate living and dining areas - the comfort of a private Nairobi home with the service of a five-star hotel. Floors 26-35. Perfect for families and extended stays. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S: Spa by JW (8 treatment rooms) Fifth -Floor Heated Infinity Pool Yoga Studio Steam Room & Sauna Fitness Centre Five International Dining Destinations Sky Bar & Lounge Executive Lounge (Club & Suite guests) Over 1,700 sqm Event Space Grand Ballroom (seats 800) Eight Meeting & Board Rooms Curated African Art Gallery (for sale) Westgate Mall Connection (sky bridge) Sustainable Meeting Programme Mobile Check -In Technolog y Page 8 A W A R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N World Travel Awards 2025 -Kenya's Leading Luxury Hotel . World Travel Awards 2025 -Kenya's Leading Hotel Residences World Travel Awards 2024 . World Travel Awards 202 4-Kenya's Leading Luxury Hotel World Spa Awards 2024 . World Travel Awards 202 4-Kenya's Best Hotel Spa (Spa by JW) Tourism Excellence Awards -Best Hotel Nairobi Region TripAdvisor travelers' Choice . C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S, JW Marriott Nairobi's food and beverage programme is one of the most ambitious in Kenya's hospitality history five internationally inspired dining destinations, each with a distinct personality and culinary vision. The hotel's overall approach prioritises locally sourced ingredients, sustainability, and the kind of culinary storytelling that turns a meal into a memory. The Sky Bar & Lounge on the upper floors offers Nairobi's most dramatic sundowner experience cocktails with 360-degree panoramic views across the city, the Ngong Hills, and on clear days, the visible edge of the savannah. For wellness-focused dining, the hotel's restaurants reflect JW Marriott's global commitment to nourishment menus crafted with intention, balance, and flavour. Private dining can be arranged in dedicated spaces for groups and special occasions, supported by the hotel's exceptional in-house culinary team. The JW Marriott is Nairobi's most exciting new arrival in a generation. We have placed guests here since its opening in March 2024 and the response has been uniformly spectacular the pool, the spa, the Sky Bar, the sheer drama of that tower against the Nairobi sky. For guests who love the energy of a great contemporary city hotel one that feels alive, ambitious, and profoundly connected to its cultural moment nothing in East Africa compares to what this building has achieved in barely a year. The Residences are extraordinary for families and longer stays. And the Spa by JW being named Kenya's Best Hotel Spa within months of opening is simply deserved. Book early, book high, and let Africa surprise you from 35 floors up. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y The JW Marriott Nairobi represents the future of East African luxury: global in standard, deeply local in soul. Its African art programme, its sustainability commitments, its rooftop infinity pool with Nairobi at your feet, and its position at the very apex of Westlands' social and commercial life make it the most complete luxury offering in Kenya's capital. It is also and this matters simply thrilling to stay in. W H Y O U R G U E S T S L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Height changes perspective in every sense. Our guests who stay at JW Marriott consistently report a kind of exhilaration the feeling of seeing Nairobi as a city of genuine power and beauty, the pool at sunset, the bar after dark, the rooms that feel like the world's most considered city apartments. The Marriott Bonvoy benefits make it an effortless choice for international frequent travellers, and the Spa by JW restores them for whatever the continent asks next. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N The JW Marriott Residences are ideally suited for families one, two, and three-bedroom configurations with full kitchens, separate living areas, and all the hotel's services available on demand. The fifth-floor pool and surrounding leisure deck provide a safe, supervised environment for children to enjoy, and the concierge team is experienced in arranging family-friendly excursions to Nairobi National Park, the Giraffe Centre, and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The hotel's sky bridge connection to Westgate Shopping Mall adds a convenience for families that is hard to overstate. 0 6 O F 1 6 Manzili House K A R E N / L A N G A T A , N A I R O B I E X C L U S I V E P R I V A T E R E S I D E N C E - T H E M A N Z I L I C O L L E C T I O N "Where the architecture of Lamu whispers to the forests of Karen, and a private home becomes your most intimate African chapter." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N In the quieter, more secretive reaches of Nairobi's Karen and Langata suburbs where the road narrows, the trees close in, and the city's noise becomes a distant memory Manzili House stands apart from every other accommodation in this guide. It is not a hotel. It is not a lodge. It is a private home of extraordinary architectural beauty, opened to a small number of guests at a time, and managed with the kind of personal warmth that only owner-operated properties can offer. Manzili House draws its soul and its singular architectural identity from the Swahili architecture of Lamu the ancient island archipelago on Kenya's northern coast, where coral stone, carved wooden doors, vaulted ceilings, and intricate latticed screens have created one of the world's most distinctive built environments for centuries. Built by Lamu craftsmen using traditional techniques, Manzili House brings this coastal heritage deep into the inland landscape of Karen the result is a property of extraordinary visual and spiritual coherence. The word "Manzili" is Swahili for "home" and that, precisely, is what this place feels like from the moment you arrive. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T Manzili House is the cornerstone of The Manzili Collection a portfolio of two private properties that includes Manzili House in Karen and Manzili Mara, perched on the Siria Escarpment overlooking the great plains of the Maasai Mara. The collection is owned and personally hosted by Vanessa and George, who are present and engaged hosts, not distant proprietors. Their team, carefully selected and deeply trained, ensures that the intimacy of a private household is preserved even as guests are offered all the comforts and services expected at this level of travel. Both properties were crafted by local artisans using traditional materials and techniques, a commitment that runs through every surface, every piece of furniture, and every carved stone niche in the building. Page 9 R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S The Manzili Collection in Karen comprises two distinct buildings: Manzili House (the four-bedroom main house) and Manzili Ndoto (a two-bedroom annex) both sharing the same lush courtyard, swimming pool, and acacia-shaded roof terraces. The compound accommodates up to ten guests in total and may be booked in its entirety for groups seeking complete exclusivity, or individual rooms may be reserved for more intimate stays. - Manzili House - 4 Bedrooms: Jadini (75 sqm), Bahati (75 sqm), Zuri (36 sqm), and Jelani (36 sqm). - All feature super king beds, private verandahs with courtyard views, and en suite bathrooms with either bath or shower. - Manzili Ndoto 2 Bedrooms: Ndoto and Amani (each 36 sqm) both with super king beds, private verandahs, and en suite showers. - All rooms are individually designed, with built-in Swahili architectural details, hand-carved furniture, and the kind of generous, unhurried spaces that invite you to slow entirely down. The property includes a large open-plan kitchen, a sitting room with a cosy fireplace nook, a dining space, and generous outdoor terraces under acacia trees perfect for sundowners with a view across the Karen treeline. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Private Courtyard Swimming Pool Roof Terrace Sundowner Deck Exclusive -Use Option (Full Property) Full Breakfast Included Light Suppers on Request House Wines, Beers & Local Spirits Back -Up Generator (24 -Hr Power) High -Speed Wi-Fi Airport Transfers Available Open -Plan Kitchen for Guest Use Fireplace Lounge Built by Lamu Craftsmen Proximity to Nairobi National Park15 mins from Wilson Airport C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S Manzili House's approach to food is beautifully honest: nourishing, lovingly prepared, and rooted in the rhythms of the Karen kitchen. Full breakfast is included daily, prepared with fresh ingredients and served at the guest's pace. Light suppers homemade soups, sourdough bread, fresh salads, and local cheeses can be arranged on arrival, and full dinners are available on request for guests preferring to dine at home after a day in the city. The kitchen is available for guests who wish to cook their own meals, adding a level of genuine residential comfort to a stay that already feels entirely like a private home. House wines, local beers, and spirits are included in the half-board supplement, and sundowners on the roof terrace under the acacia canopy are among the finest unscripted moments Nairobi has to offer. Manzili House is what we reach for when a guest says: "I don't want another hotel. I want to feel like I live in Africa, just for a few days." It delivers this with complete authenticity. The Swahili architecture is unlike anything else in Karen you feel simultaneously transported to the Lamu coast and anchored in Nairobi's most beautiful suburb. We especially recommend booking the full property for small group travel or multi-generational families who want absolute privacy without sacrificing proximity to all that Nairobi offers. The connection to Manzili Mara means a seamlessly curated journey from city to Mara is entirely possible and Vard Africa will manage every detail of that transition. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Manzili House offers something rarer than luxury: it offers authenticity. The craftsmanship, the hosting philosophy, and the architecture all speak to a deep love of Africa and a conviction that the finest travel experience is one that feels genuinely lived-in, not merely serviced. It is the antidote to the branded hotel experience and for guests who value that distinction above all else, it is simply irreplaceable. W H Y O U R G U E S T S L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Guests who stay at Manzili House consistently remark on the same thing: they felt genuinely at home. Not comfortable-hotel at home, but actually-lived-in, cup-of- tea-by-the-fire, rooftop-sundowner-in-our-own-house at home. In a travel world increasingly dominated by sameness, that feeling of inhabiting a real place, shaped by real hands and real people who love it, is worth more than any amenity list. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Manzili House is exceptionally well suited to families, particularly when booked on an exclusive-use basis. Children up to 13 years of age receive a 25% rate reduction when sharing with parents. One extra bed can be added for a child in Manzili House. The private courtyard swimming pool, the open-plan lounge areas, the kitchen facilities for early children's meals, and the generous outdoor spaces make this one of our most recommended Karen addresses for families travelling with younger children. The Karen location places families' minutes from the Giraffe Centre, the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, and Nairobi National Park. Page 10 0 7 O F 1 6 Emara Ole Sereni M O M B A S A R O A D , N A I R O B I F I V E - S T A R - K E N Y A ' S O N L Y N A T I O N A L P A R K B O R D E R H O T E L "The only address in Nairobi where lions sleep on one side of the fence and five-star comfort awaits on the other." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U C T I O N Emara Ole Sereni occupies a geographical position that exists nowhere else in global luxury hospitality: it is the only five-star hotel in the world that shares a physical boundary with a national game park within the limits of a capital city. The name "Ole Sereni" is taken from the Maasai language and means "Place of Tranquility" a description that becomes all the more remarkable when you consider that this tranquility is shared with lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and zebras, roaming freely just beyond the hotel's perimeter fence. Located on Mombasa Road, Emara Ole Sereni is positioned between Nairobi's vibrant city centre and the extraordinary Nairobi National Park the world's only national park within a capital city, established in 1946. The hotel is just 12 kilometres from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, making it an unrivalled choice for first and last nights of a Kenyan safari journey, for guests who wish to begin their wildlife experience the moment their flight lands, or for those who want to end their safari with a final, city-adjacent game drive before departure. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T Emara Ole Sereni is operated under the Emara Hotels group, a growing East African luxury hospitality brand built around the concept of urban luxury in uniquely positioned settings. The hotel has been extensively reimagined in recent years, elevated to its current five-star standing through comprehensive renovation and an unwavering commitment to service excellence. The property has been nominated for the World Travel Awards Kenya's Leading Conference Hotel 2025, a recognition that reflects its dual strength as both a luxury leisure destination and East Africa's premier events and MICE venue. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Emara Ole Sereni offers 148 rooms and suites designed for maximum comfort with a clear emphasis on the hotel's defining asset: the view. Park-view rooms command an uninterrupted panorama across Nairobi National Park's open savannah guests wake to the sight of giraffes moving through the golden grass, buffalo grazing at the waterhole, and the Nairobi skyline rising improbably behind it all. City-view rooms face the urban horizon and are equally beautiful, if differently dramatic. DELUXE CITY VIEW Modern, allergy-free rooms with city panoramas, walk-in showers, and all the comforts of a five-star stay. DELUXE PARK VIEW The most sought-after rooms in the hotel. Wake to wildlife. Watch the sunrise over the savannah. This is the Emara Ole Sereni experience at its most complete. SUITES Expansive park-facing suites with enhanced living space, premium finishes, and the hotel's finest wildlife outlooks. MAASAI SUITE With a private Jacuzzi on the veranda overlooking the park - the most immersive accommodation the hotel offers. WARDEN SUITE Named for the park's conservation guardians. Private Jacuzzi terrace, commanding park views, and expansive suite living. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Duma Spa (Full -Service) Infinity Pool Overlooking the Park Acacia Restaurant Eagle's The Steakhouse Karibu Café (Parisian -inspired) Sky Lounge Rooftop Bar 24-Hour In-Room Dining Convention Centre (State -of-the-Art) Mara Ballroom (Siana, Talek, Loita) Fitness Centre Sauna & Steam Room Tour Desk for Park Safaris High -Speed Wi-Fi Throughout Shuttle to JKIA Airport A W A R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N - World Travel Awards - Kenya's Leading Conference Hotel 2025 (Nominee) - TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice - Consistently ranked among Nairobi's top luxury addresses for park proximity . C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S Eagle's The Steakhouse is Emara Ole Sereni's signature dining destination a sophisticated steakhouse with an award-winning wine list and a terrace view across Nairobi National Park that makes every dinner feel like a wildlife encounter with elegant accompaniment. Fresh seafood, flown daily from Kenya's Indian Ocean coast, complements the premium aged beef menu. Page 11 Acacia Restaurant serves as the hotel's all-day dining space, its terrace overlooking the park's waterhole - a setting where global cuisine and local wildlife create one of Nairobi's most extraordinary dining backdrops. Karibu Café channels the relaxed elegance of a Parisian brasserie, ideal for afternoon teas, light lunches, and morning coffee rituals. The Sky Lounge rooftop bar completes the picture with panoramic sundowners that span both the park and the city skyline in a single, breathtaking sweep. Emara Ole Sereni is Vard Africa's unequivocal recommendation for guests arriving late into Nairobi after a long international flight and departing on a safari early the next morning. The park-view room means you begin your wildlife relationship the moment you open your curtains before you've even had breakfast. And the Maasai or Warden Suite, with that Jacuzzi on the veranda, is the kind of arrival experience that transforms a logistical stopover into the finest start your journey could ask for. Book Eagle's The Steakhouse for your first night dinner the wine list, the park views at dusk, and the sense of anticipation for what comes next is unmatched in this city. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Emara Ole Sereni does something that should not be possible: it makes a city hotel feel like the beginning of a safari. The park views are not a backdrop they are a living, ever-changing panorama of Africa at its most elemental. Combined with five-star service, excellent food, a remarkable spa, and a location that makes airport logistics effortless, it is the hotel that most completely bridges the world the guest has left and the world they have come to find. W H Y O U R G U E S T S L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y The morning, they see a giraffe from their breakfast table without having to drive anywhere, without having entered a game reserve and realise that Kenya has been with them from the moment they arrived. That is the Emara Ole Sereni gift. Our guests also love the airport proximity, the seamless professionalism of the event infrastructure, and the Sky Lounge at golden hour one of Nairobi's finest evening rituals. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Emara Ole Sereni is a superb family choice, particularly for those whose children are old enough to appreciate the park-view experience. Connecting rooms and family suites ensure that families are accommodated together comfortably. The hotel's tour desk can arrange morning and afternoon game drives in Nairobi National Park the world's most accessible wildlife safari for families, with no need for flights or long transfers. The Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust are minutes away by road, making Emara Ole Sereni a remarkable base for a family's Nairobi wildlife day. 0 8 O F 1 6 The Emakoko N A I R O B I N A T I O N A L P A R K B O R D E R B O U T I Q U E S A F A R I L O D G E - O W N E R - M A N A G E D "A safari lodge that requires no flight, no long drive, no departure from the city - only the crossing of a footbridge over a crocodile river." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N There are places that feel as though nature and architecture conspired together to create something that neither could have achieved alone. The Emakoko is one of them. Built into the steep slopes of the Mbagathi River valley, where three rivers converge along the southern boundary of Nairobi National Park, The Emakoko occupies a gorge of extraordinary beauty a deep, fig-tree-lined canyon that belongs entirely to the wild world, despite being just 45 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The lodge opened in 2012 and was the realization of a vision held by Anthony and Emma Childs two Kenyans who met at this very location in 1997, when the gorge still belonged only to baboons, crocodiles, and the Mbagathi's ancient current. Building a lodge along the base of what is locally known as "Baboon Cliffs," Anthony and Emma named it after the tributary river that flows in from the south a name that, like the place itself, belongs entirely to the land. The arrival experience is itself a declaration of intent: guests park on the north bank of the Mbagathi, inside Nairobi National Park, and cross a long wooden footbridge over the river watching for crocodiles below and weaver birds above before entering a lodge that feels utterly, completely wild. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T The Emakoko is owned and personally managed by Anthony and Emma Childs, who live on the property with their family. This is not an absentee management situation it is a home that opens its doors to guests, supervised daily by owners who have dedicated their lives to this particular gorge, this particular river, and this particular stretch of Kenya's most remarkable urban wilderness. The lodge is a member of The Safari Collection's recommended portfolio, facilitating seamless combination with other Collection properties on a Kenya itinerary. Conservation is not a marketing claim at The Emakoko: guest stays directly fund the Kenya Wildlife Service's Black Rhino protection programme and support independent community outreach projects initiated by Anthony and Emma. A portion of every room rate is a direct contribution to conservation. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S The Emakoko offers just 10 luxury ensuite cottages plus a private clifftop house an intimacy that ensures every guest receives genuine personal attention and that the lodge never overwhelms its extraordinary natural setting. FIVE CLIFF -EDGE SUITES Built into the cliff face, these rooms offer the most dramatic views - looking directly down into the gorge and across the park beyond. The most spectacular rooms at the lodge. FIVE RIVER LEVEL SUITES Set at the base of the cliff, closer to the river - the sounds of the Mbagathi and the rustling of fig trees fill these rooms with pure, unmediated wildness. THE PRIVATE CLIFFTOP HOUSE Two en suite bedrooms, private dining room, small private pool, and a living room with a fireplace - the perfect exclusive-use option for families or private groups of four. Each cottage features enormous beds, double-ended bathtubs, open fireplaces for cooler months, blackout curtains, private wooden decks with directors' chairs, walk-in showers, twin washbasins, and designer toiletries. Twin beds convert to king-size with a converter mattress. Hot water is always available. The bathrooms in some cottages have bathtubs positioned beside low-level windows with extraordinary gorge views a detail that speaks to the meticulous attention with which this lodge was designed. Page 12 A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Full -Board Stays Unlimited Game Drives (Nairobi NP) Airport Transfers (JKIA & Wilson) Riverside Swimming Pool Comfortable Lounge & Library Fireplace Lounge Open -Air Dining Terrace Pizza Oven In-Room Massages (on request) Helipad (helicopter access) Gift Shop Wi-Fi (rooms & main area) Escorted Bush Walks Giraffe Centre & Sheldrick Excursions Conservation Fee - Black Rhino Programme C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S The Emakoko's head chef approaches the kitchen with the same creative passion that Anthony and Emma bring to their conservation work: fresh, locally sourced, beautifully prepared, and lovingly presented. Meals are cooked to order and menus vary daily, drawing on the kitchen garden and the very best seasonal produce available. Special dietary requirements are accommodated with genuine care and advance communication ensures that nothing is overlooked. Dining alternates between the open-air terrace overlooking the river and gorge, the comfortable indoor dining room with its fireplace, and, for special occasions, al fresco settings on the cliff edge or in the gorge itself Vard Africa can arrange private dining experiences here for guests celebrating significant occasions. The signature Chilli Dawa cocktail a Kenyan staple elevated to lodge-level perfection at The Emakoko is one of those sundowner rituals that you will find yourself attempting to recreate at home for years. The Emakoko is Vard Africa's answer to the question: "Is it really worth spending the night in Nairobi?" The answer, here, is an unequivocal yes because spending the night at The Emakoko is not spending the night in Nairobi at all. It is spending the night in a river gorge in Africa, 45 minutes from the airport, with lions calling across the park boundary and crocodiles in the river below your window. We recommend it without reservation for guests beginning or ending a Kenyan safari circuit. The cliff-edge cottages are the rooms to request and the Private Clifftop House, for families or intimate groups who want complete seclusion, is among the finest small private residences in Kenya. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y The Emakoko exists because two people fell in love with a gorge and spent their lives building something worthy of it. That origin story is present in everything the architecture that works with the cliff rather than against it, the conservation programme that makes every guest stay a contribution to Kenya's wildlife future, and the family hosting that ensures guests feel known rather than processed. It is among the most authentic safari lodges in East Africa and it is fifteen minutes from the international airport. W H Y O U R G U E S T S L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y The moment the footbridge ends and the lodge begins. The sound of the river through the bedroom window at 3am. The morning game drive that begins in mist and ends in lion sightings. The Chilli Dawa at sunset. The feeling of having been somewhere genuinely wild without having left Nairobi. Our guests describe The Emakoko as "the most unexpected luxury of their entire journey" and in a continent full of astonishing places, that is extraordinary praise. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N The Emakoko welcomes children from age five. The lodge's family-friendly atmosphere supervised by the Childs family themselves ensures that younger guests are genuinely embraced rather than merely tolerated. Children under three years of age stay free of charge. The Private Clifftop House is the natural choice for families seeking complete privacy. Morning and evening game drives in Nairobi National Park, visits to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Giraffe Centre (bookable through the lodge), and the magical daily routine of lodge life meals, game counts, evening star-gazing make The Emakoko a profoundly memorable experience for children and their parents alike. 0 9 O F 1 6 Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport J K I A A I R P O R T P R E C I N C T , N A I R O B I F I R S T- C L A S S A I R P O R T H O T E L - M A R R I O T T I N T E R N A T I O N A L "When the journey begins and ends at Jomo Kenyatta, there is no more seamless or considered address than this." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N The Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport holds a distinction that no other hotel in Kenya can claim: it sits within the security perimeter of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport itself. For travellers navigating the particular demands of international arrivals and early-morning safari departures long-haul flights, late check- ins, 4am wake-up calls for domestic connections this is not merely convenient. It is transformative. The hotel eliminates the city transfer, the traffic uncertainty, and the anxiety that comes with an airport hotel that is, despite its name, not actually at the airport. This one is. Page 13 Four Points by Sheraton is Marriott International's brand positioned at the intersection of value and quality delivering the reliability, the comfort, and the professional service of a major international chain without the premium pricing of a full luxury brand. For its role in a Kenyan safari itinerary the seamless buffer between a long international journey and the magnificence of the bush it is precisely and brilliantly calibrated. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T The Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport is operated under the Marriott International portfolio and managed to the group's global standards. Guests enjoy access to the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme, earning and redeeming points across Marriott's worldwide portfolio of over 8,000 properties. The property's position inside the airport precinct makes it one of Marriott's most strategically positioned hotels in sub-Saharan Africa. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport offers comfortable, well-appointed rooms designed for the practical demands of the transit traveller without sacrificing genuine comfort. Rooms are air-conditioned, feature high-speed internet and refrigerators, and are maintained to Marriott's exacting cleanliness standards. STANDARD ROOMS Clean, comfortable, and soundproofed against the airport environment. All the essentials for a proper night's rest before or after a long journey. SUPERIOR ROOMS Additional space and enhanced amenities for guests desiring slightly more comfort on a transit stay. FAMILY ROOMS Connecting room options for families travelling with children on complex international routings. All rooms offer complimentary Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping, and 24-hour room service the essential infrastructure for a quality transit stay. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Inside JKIA Airport Perimeter Free Shuttle to Terminals Restaurant & Bar Outdoor Pool Fitness Centre Business Centre 24-Hour Room Service Marriott Bonvoy Benefits High -Speed Wi-Fi Meeting Facilities C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S The hotel's restaurant serves international cuisine throughout the day, with a focus on providing solid, nourishing food for travellers at all hours. For late- arriving guests or those with very early departures, the round-the-clock dining and room service options ensure that no guest goes hungry regardless of the hour. The bar offers a modest but well-curated selection of cocktails, wines, and spirits ideal for an arrival drink after a long flight, or a departing toast to a journey well-spent in Kenya. We include the Four Points for one reason: for guests on complex international and domestic safari routings particularly those arriving late, departing very early for Wilson Airport, or connecting between JKIA and internal safaris this hotel is unbeatable. We have rescued more than a few carefully planned itineraries with this address. It is not where we send guests to have their finest African experience; it is where we send them to rest properly so that their finest African experience can begin on time, refreshed and ready. Highly functional, reliably comfortable, and exactly where it needs to be. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y The Four Points earns its place on this list through a virtue that great luxury often overlooks: precision. It does what it promises with unfailing reliability. For the traveller who has crossed eight time zones and simply needs to sleep soundly before their 6am safari connection, there is no more valuable address in Nairobi. The Marriott brand delivers consistent quality. The airport location is irreplaceable. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Families with young children navigating complex international routings will find the Four Points' airport-interior position a significant advantage: no traffic delays, no transfer stress, and a short walk to the terminal. Connecting rooms for families are available, and the hotel's 24-hour service ethos ensures that late-night arrivals with young children are managed with genuine care and efficiency. 1 0 O F 1 6 Palacina - The Residence & Suites S T A T E H O U S E A R E A , N A I R O B I B O U T I Q U E R E S I D E N C E H O T E L - I N D E P E N D E N T L Y O W N E D "An oasis of peace in the beating heart of Nairobi - where apartment living meets hotel service, and the word 'home' becomes the highest luxury." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N Palacina occupies a position in Nairobi's hospitality landscape that no other property quite replicates: it is a hybrid that fuses the space, autonomy, and residential character of a private apartment with the service infrastructure, social energy, and professional amenity of a boutique hotel. Located in the State House area one of Nairobi's most prestigious and well-secured residential neighborhoods, adjacent to the seat of the Kenyan presidency and minutes from the Westlands commercial district Palacina serves a guest who wants to feel genuinely based in Nairobi, not merely passing through it. Page 14 The property comprises two distinct accommodation types: The Suites, which offer eight luxury hotel suites including two Penthouse Suites, and The Residence the region's most exclusive collection of serviced and furnished hotel apartments, designed for guests who require the space, privacy, and independence of a private home alongside the professional management of a full-service hotel. Palacina celebrates the spirit of Kenya through its design and programming, with local art, artisan craftsmanship, and an ethos of genuine community connection woven through every corner of the property. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T Palacina is an independently owned and operated boutique property, managed by a team deeply invested in delivering a highly personal and responsive hospitality experience. The hotel's Kenyan identity evident in its cuisine, its art programme, and its relationship with the local community reflects owners who see their property as a platform for showcasing the best of Nairobi to the world. The Bistro restaurant is operated as a genuine neighbourhood gathering place, welcoming both hotel guests and the local Nairobi community a philosophy that gives Palacina a vitality and social warmth rarely found in more insular properties. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Palacina's accommodation falls into two distinct categories, each serving a different guest profile with equal quality. The Suites offer eight luxury hotel suites including two exceptional Penthouse Suites each with a private balcony, elegant living room, and all the amenities expected at this level. Room views encompass the hotel's manicured gardens, and the Penthouse configuration adds an elevated, panoramic dimension to the stay. The Residence comprises serviced and furnished hotel apartments the most exclusive residential-style accommodation in the region. Each apartment is fully equipped with a kitchen, microwave, oven, and living areas, combined with full hotel services including housekeeping, room service from the Bistro, concierge, and access to all hotel facilities. This configuration is ideal for extended stays, families, small groups, or those who value living in a place rather than merely visiting it. All rooms and residences feature air conditioning, flat-screen TV, garden views, complimentary Wi-Fi, and the full spectrum of Palacina's hotel services. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Indoor and Out-door Swimming Pool (Large, Manicured Gardens) Bistro Restaurant (Full Service) Country Breakfast Daily Fitness Centre Business Centre Conference Room Eco -Friendly Practices Secure Parking Fully Equipped Kitchen (Residences) 24-Hour Room Service Concierge Services Bar & Barbecue Facilities Battery Charging & Mobile Connectivity Complimentary Wi-Fi all through the property C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S The Bistro is Palacina's signature dining space a tranquil, beautifully designed restaurant serving a daily country breakfast and a full-service menu through the day and evening. The kitchen takes pride in fresh, varied cuisine that draws on Kenya's extraordinary agricultural diversity. The alfresco terrace, set within the garden, provides a serene and unhurried dining environment that feels entirely removed from the city's energy while remaining minutes from its heart. Palacina is Vard Africa's recommendation for guests who need Nairobi to feel like a base, not a transit point and for those travelling on extended stays, research assignments, or complex itineraries that require a proper home in the city. The Penthouse Suites offer outstanding value relative to the experience they deliver. The Residence apartments are unrivalled in the region for clients who want genuine residential comfort with hotel-standard service. A note: the Bistro breakfast is one of the finest in Nairobi do not skip it. Freshly prepared, seasonal, and served with the warmth of a family kitchen. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Palacina occupies a niche that very few Nairobi properties understand: the intersection of independence and service. For guests who find that a standard hotel room, however luxurious, cannot give them the space to live and work at their actual pace, Palacina's Residence option is transformative. We also love its neighbourhood the State House area is calm, beautifully maintained, and superbly positioned for both the Westlands business district and the Karen safari corridor. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Palacina's Residence apartments are an exceptional choice for families, particularly those spending more than a few nights in Nairobi. The full kitchen facilities allow families to maintain dining routines for younger children, the garden pool provides a safe leisure space, and the property's residential character gives families the feeling of a genuine home rather than a hotel visit. Connecting and multi-room configurations can be arranged through Vard Africa in advance. 1 1 O F 1 6 Pax Manor Muthaiga M U T H A I G A , N A I R O B I F I V E - S T A R B O U T I Q U E - N A I R O B I ' S D I P L O M A T I C Q U A R T E R "Nairobi's most quietly extraordinary address - where Karura Forest breathes through every window, and the city's grandest neighbourhood holds its secrets close." Page 15 H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N Muthaiga is Nairobi's most storied residential quarter an address where ambassadors, governors, and captains of industry have kept their homes for over a century, behind high walls and under the shade of ancient indigenous trees. It is a neighbourhood of immense discretion, where beauty is understood rather than announced, and where the Karura Forest one of the world's largest urban indigenous forests provides a living, breathing green lung just beyond the garden gates. Pax Manor occupies a position on 58 Muthaiga Road with a gravitas that its boutique scale belies. The hotel blends contemporary sophistication with a deeply felt Kenyan character custom-crafted furnishings, warm lighting, an infinity pool that overlooks the forest canopy, and a private cinema that speaks to a hospitality philosophy as concerned with cultural nourishment as with physical comfort. The property serves a guest who values discretion above everything else, and who understands that the finest Nairobi address is not always the tallest building or the most marketed name, but sometimes the one that holds its history quietly and its service impeccably. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T Pax Manor is an independently owned five-star boutique property, managed under the direction of General Manager Thomas Joseph, whose personal commitment to guests has been widely remarked upon by the international travel community. The hotel's service philosophy is rooted in the conviction that every guest regardless of the length or nature of their stay deserves to feel uniquely known and valued. Under Thomas's stewardship, Pax Manor has developed a reputation for the kind of instinctively responsive, culturally sensitive hospitality that large-brand hotels aspire to but rarely achieve. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Pax Manor offers 26 elegantly furnished rooms and suites a scale that ensures intimacy without sacrificing the full range of accommodation needs. STANDARD DOUBLE ROOMS Beautifully appointed with premium linens, smart entertainment systems, and private balconies. Some offer river views; downstairs rooms provide an intimate, serene experience. DELUXE DOUBLE ROOMS Elevated square footage, enhanced furnishings, and the finest garden and forest outlook positions. JUNIOR SUITES Separate living areas, luxurious bathrooms, and sweeping views of the Karura Forest canopy. The choice for guests who want genuine suite living at this scale. SUPERIOR DOUBLE ROOMS The hotel's premium standard offering - spacious, fully equipped, and ideal for guests requiring both comfort and productivity. FAMILY ROOMS Configured for families, with connecting options and flexible bedding arrangements available on request. All rooms feature plush bedding, premium linens, luxury toiletries, high-speed Wi-Fi, private balconies, and smart entertainment systems. Complimentary welcome reception is offered daily for all guests. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Outdoor Infinity Pool (Karura Forest Views) Ataraxia Spa Hot Tub & Jacuzzi Steam Room Hermes Fitness Centre Esquire Cinema (12 -Seater Private) Royal 58 Restaurant Two Bars & Lounge Spaces Outdoor fireplace Billiard Tables Whisky & Cigar Lounge Karura Forest Walks (Unguided) Outdoor Yoga Classes Conference Rooms Private Check -In & Check -Out C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S Royal 58 Restaurant is the heart of Pax Manor's culinary identity an accomplished kitchen offering African, Greek, Indian, Italian, Asian, and international cuisines with a garden-view dining setting that invites long, unhurried meals. The alfresco terrace, the outdoor fireplace setting, and the various lounge areas create multiple dining environments within a single property, ensuring that no two meals feel like the same occasion. The breakfast programme encompassing continental, Full English, American, vegetarian, halal, and gluten-free options is among the most comprehensive in any boutique hotel in Nairobi. The whisky and cigar lounge completes a picture of considered, adult luxury that Pax Manor executes with quiet confidence. Pax Manor is one of Nairobi's best-kept secrets, and we intend to keep it that way for our guests. The Esquire Cinema is pure delight a 12-seat private screening room that transforms an evening in the city into something genuinely special. The infinity pool against the Karura Forest canopy is the most tranquil pool in Nairobi. And Muthaiga itself with Muthaiga Golf Club minutes away and the UN compound nearby gives the hotel a calibre of neighbourhood that few boutique properties in the world can claim. For guests who value discretion, genuine hospitality, and the kind of beauty that doesn't announce itself, Pax Manor is the answer. Page 16 W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Pax Manor achieves the rare boutique hotel holy grail: it is intimate without being small, sophisticated without being stiff, and rooted in its extraordinary neighbourhood without being parochial. The Karura Forest is not merely a view it is a living presence that changes the quality of the air, the quality of the light, and the quality of the silence in a way that makes every hour spent at the property restorative. The private cinema is the kind of amenity that transforms a night in and at Pax Manor, a night in is a genuinely compelling choice. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Pax Manor welcomes families warmly. Children's pool facilities complement the main infinity pool, family rooms and connecting options provide appropriate space, and the private cinema is a particularly well-received amenity for families with older children. The proximity to Karura Forest with its guided and unguided walking trails makes this one of the finest Nairobi hotels for families who value nature experiences alongside city comfort. Guests aged 18 and above are treated as adults. 1 2 O F 1 6 Fairmont The Norfolk H A R R Y T H U K U R O A D , N A I R O B I C B D H I S T O R I C L A N D M A R K - F A I R M O N T H O T E L S & R E S O R T S - E S T . 1 9 0 4 "Without the Norfolk, there might have been no Nairobi. One hundred and twenty years of history - and the most storied breakfast terrace in Africa." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N If there is a single building that holds the full, contradictory, magnificent, troubled, and ultimately triumphant story of Nairobi from its uncertain beginnings as a railway camp to its current status as one of Africa's most dynamic cities it is Fairmont the Norfolk. Opened on Christmas Day 1904 by Major C.G.R. Ringer and R. Aylmer Winearls, the Norfolk was the first substantial hotel in what was then barely a settlement, built of stone and tiled with the ambition of the colonial age that planted it. It positioned itself accurately and immediately as East Africa's meeting point, the address to which every new arrival of means, ambition, and foresight gravitated. The Norfolk was the basecamp of the early African explorers who ventured to the Maasai Mara, Kenya's coast, and the Great Rift Valley. President Theodore Roosevelt used it as his operational headquarters for his 1909 safari. Ernest Hemingway was a guest. Winston Churchill is said to have taken tea on the terrace. Karen Blixen passed through its doors. To stand in the Lord Delamere Terrace is to stand in the room where the modern history of East Africa was negotiated, disputed, and celebrated over more than a century of meals, meetings, and departures. Today, 120 years after that Christmas opening, The Norfolk remains one of the most beautifully maintained historic hotels in Africa its Tudor-style architecture, tropical gardens, and old-world charm preserved with the same care that a great museum applies to its most important collection. The city of Nairobi has grown up entirely around it, and the Norfolk has grown with the city, welcoming each new era without ever abandoning the character that makes it irreplaceable. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T Fairmont The Norfolk is managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, part of the Accor Group one of the world's largest and most respected luxury hospitality organizations. Fairmont's brand promise of "turning moments into memories" finds its most historically validated expression at The Norfolk: this is not a brand statement applied to a new building; it is the earned truth of a place that has been turning moments into memories since 1904. Guests benefit from the Accor Live Limitless (ALL) loyalty programme, providing access to Fairmont's global portfolio and exclusive recognition benefits for returning members. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Fairmont The Norfolk offers 170 guest rooms and suites across five main blocks, each ranging from one to two stories high, set around the hotel's celebrated private tropical gardens. The architectural signature Tudor styling maintained since the original construction creates a cohesion and character that makes simply walking between the buildings a pleasure. FAIRMONT ROOMS Beautifully appointed décor with warm finishes, courtyard views, and the sounds of exotic birds from the tropical garden. DELUXE ROOMS Enhanced space and elevated positions overlooking the garden - historically rich interiors with contemporary comfort. 1937 ROOMS An immersive experience in Fairmont the Norfolk's rich history - named for their era and furnished to evoke the grandeur of the golden safari age. KARURA SUITES Stunning views of the 1937 building and the iconic garden - ideal for guests who want to wake to the full, timeless beauty of the hotel's historic ensemble. SIGNATURE SUITES (×27) Each suite tells a unique chapter of Kenya's history. Superior, Deluxe, Junior, and Duplex configurations available - all with views of the tropical garden and exclusive amenities. FAIRMONT GOLD The hotel's elevated experience - dedicated lounge, enhanced check-in, personalised service, and the most refined accommodation the property offers. FAMILY ROOMS Deluxe Interconnecting Family Rooms with king bed and two single beds - designed specifically for families travelling with children. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Private Tropical Gardens (4 Acres) Heated Outdoor Pool Spa & Wellness Centre Sauna & Steam Room Health Club & Fitness Centre Tatu Restaurant (Award -Winning Steakhouse) Page 17 Lord Delamere Terrace (All -Day Dining) Cin Cin Wine Bar T Lounge (Afternoon Tea) Fairmont Gold Lounge 10 Meeting Spaces Grand Ballroom Jazz Entertainment Gift Shop 24-Hour Valet & Concierge Vintage Vehicle Collection (Garden Display) A W A R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N - 120 Years of Continuous Operation -Kenya's Oldest Continuously Operating . - Hotel Tatu Restaurant -One of Nairobi's Most Awarded Dining Establishments . - TripAdvisor travelers' Choice - Recognised on virtually every major Historic Hotels of the World listing . C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S Dining at The Norfolk is dining inside history. Tatu Restaurant is the hotel's award-winning contemporary space a sleek, warm environment offering organically sourced Black Angus beef and the finest fresh seafood Kenya's coast provides. Tatu has established itself as one of Nairobi's most celebrated restaurant destinations, earning a loyal following from the city's discerning dining community. The Lord Delamere Terrace once the most famous meeting place in East Africa, where the colonial world transacted its most consequential business remains the hotel's social heartbeat. Open all day for everything from morning coffee to themed buffets and evening cocktails, it is where Nairobi comes to be seen and to see. Cin Cin Wine Bar is the city's most elegant indoor-outdoor bar: champagne, premium spirits, an extensive whisky list, and an exquisite tapas menu under a canopy of stars. The T Lounge's afternoon tea is among the finest in Kenya. And on weekends, the garden's jazz entertainment transforms The Norfolk into something that feels borrowed from a more gracious era and entirely welcome in this one. There are hotels you stay in. And then there is The Norfolk a hotel you inhabit, in the fullest historical sense of the word. We send our guests here not only for the comfort, which is real and excellent, but for the feeling: the feeling that they are in a place where the story of East Africa was written, and where the pen has never been put down. The Lord Delamere Terrace at golden hour, a gin and tonic in hand, the garden birds calling in the jacaranda trees this is one of our favourite moments in all of Africa. The Tatu steak rivals anything on the continent. And the 1937 Rooms are, for the historically inclined guest, the most transportive sleeping experience in Nairobi. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y The Norfolk is the only hotel in Kenya where the building itself is a participant in the journey not a backdrop, not a service infrastructure, but a living document of everything East Africa has been and become. A 120-year-old institution that continues to evolve without losing its soul is one of the rarest and most precious things in global hospitality. We love it for its history, its garden, its jazz, its Tatu steak, and the way the Fairmont team holds the whole extraordinary inheritance with pride. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Fairmont The Norfolk is exceptionally well-positioned for families visiting Nairobi. The dedicated Family Interconnecting Rooms, the heated pool in the garden, and the hotel's central location with easy access to the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi National Park, Maasai Market, and the Nairobi Arboretum make it a wonderful base for families combining city culture with early safari preparation. The Fairmont's celebrated attention to children the staff are among Nairobi's most warmly attentive with younger guests ensures that family stays here are genuinely joyful. Note the complimentary saunas and steam room, which parents with poolside afternoons will deeply appreciate. 1 3 O F 1 6 Hemingways Eden Residence L A N G A T A / K A R E N , N A I R O B I B O U T I Q U E R E S I D E N C E & P R I V A T E G A L L E R Y - T H E H E M I N G W A Y S C O L L E C T I O N "An artist's home that opened its door to the world - and found that the world, when it stepped inside, had no desire to leave." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N In 1992, artist and filmmaker Tonio Trzebinski and his wife Anna one of Kenya's most celebrated fashion designers built a home in the forested suburb of Langata, on four acres of land that borders the Giraffe Sanctuary forest. It was their private world: a timber-fronted house filled with their own artworks, their collected African artifacts, their personal library accumulated over decades of life on the continent, their curated textiles and ceramics and sculptures and curiosities. It was, in every sense, a home built by people who had given their entire creative lives to Africa and wanted to live inside the evidence of that love. For years, Hemingways Eden then known as OneFortyEight operated as a quietly beloved Nairobi secret, known to those in creative circles and the most adventurous end of the luxury travel market. In 2022, the property was welcomed into The Hemingways Collection, joining Hemingways Nairobi and the broader family of properties under that distinguished Kenyan brand. Today it operates as a boutique residence and private gallery a living museum, an artist's home, and one of the most utterly distinctive places to sleep in East Africa. Page 18 The forest around it has never been anything other than wild. Bush babies call through the night. Hyenas drift beyond the fence. The Giraffe Sanctuary's 100- acre indigenous forest, home to over 200 bird species, begins where the garden ends. Guests are welcomed not by a hotel lobby but by Samburu warriors in traditional clothing, and by the smell of a fire already burning in the living room. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T Hemingways Eden Residence is owned and managed by The Hemingways Collection, which acquired the property in 2022 and has preserved its artistic identity while elevating its service standards to match the Collection's wider reputation for excellence. The Trzebinski family's creative DNA remains deeply present throughout the property in Anna's personal art curation, the hand-selected antiques, the curated library, and the Artisanal Gallery that occupies a central position in the residence. Guests today experience the home as it was always intended: as a total creative environment, not merely a place to spend the night. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Hemingways Eden offers just 9 individually designed rooms across three distinct structures a scale of intimacy that ensures no two stays are ever the same, and that every guest receives the property's full personal attention. MAIN HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM Super-king bed, private veranda, en suite with bathtub and separate rainfall shower. The most generous room in the house, with direct access to the main living areas. MAIN HOUSE - LANA & TACHA'S ROOM King bed, large bathtub with shower over, privately positioned on the first floor. MAIN HOUSE - STAS' ROOM King bed, separate en suite with large rainfall shower, treetop views into the forest garden. STUDIO - THREE LOFT ROOMS Double-storeyed: king bed and wet room on the lower level, living area with treetop views above. Each loft is entirely self-contained and independently accessed. STUDIO - TWO UPPER BEDROOMS Above a shared enchantingly designed living room with fireplace, bar, and dining area - available as a studio exclusive for small groups or couples. THE COTTAGE A private, secluded one-bedroom suite with kitchenette and terrace - the most independent option at the property. The Main House and the Studio building may each be booked for exclusive use an option Vard Africa particularly recommends for groups and couples seeking total privacy within this extraordinary creative environment. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Artisanal Gallery (Contemporary African Art) Private Library (African Artifacts & Books) The Deck Restaurant & Bar Chef's Table (Private Dining Experience) Complimentary Breakfast Hamper Working Fireplaces Creative Workshops (on request) Forest Garden & Wildlife Grounds Exclusive -Use Options (House/Studio) Giraffe Centre Adjacent (10 -min walk) Airport Transfers Available Nairobi NP & Cultural Excursions Resident Guineafowls, Peacocks & Ibises C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S The Deck is Hemingways Eden's restaurant and bar an open-sided, forest-facing dining space that serves both à la carte and set menus for lunch and dinner. All fruit and vegetables are sourced from local farmer's markets or the owner's own kitchen garden: the commitment to freshness and provenance is total. For guests seeking the most immersive culinary experience, the Chef's Table offers a live cooking experience a private, participatory dinner in which the chef brings ingredients, technique, and storytelling to your own table. Subject to availability, it is one of the finest small-group dining experiences in Nairobi. Breakfast is served as a thoughtfully assembled hamper to be enjoyed in your room, on the veranda, or taken out to explore the garden at dawn. Hemingways Eden is where we send guests who have already seen the great hotels of Africa, and who are now seeking something else entirely something that cannot be replicated, branded, or systematized. This is a home. A real home, built by real artists, filled with the evidence of real lives lived with complete dedication to this continent. The sound of bush babies at 3am is not a nuisance here; it is the point. Arriving to a Samburu warrior at the gate, a fire in the living room, and Anna Trzebinski's art on every surface this is an arrival experience that resets everything. We recommend the exclusive-use option for honeymooners and intimate groups. It is, quite simply, unlike anything else we offer. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Hemingways Eden represents the rarest category in luxury travel: the property that no amount of money can truly replicate, because what it offers was made by hands and lives and love over decades, not assembled by an interior design firm in a year. Anna Trzebinski's creative vision, present in every object, every colour choice, every piece of art on the wall, gives the property an authenticity that is the most valuable currency in modern travel. We love it absolutely. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Hemingways Eden's intimate scale and creative atmosphere make it best suited to couples, solo travellers, and small groups of adults. Families with older children who appreciate art, culture, and the immersive wildlife environment of the forest grounds will find it deeply rewarding. The proximity to the Giraffe Centre a ten- Page 19 minute walk through the forest makes it an exceptional choice for parents who want to combine cultural depth with wildlife wonder. Younger children in the creche- age group are better accommodated at properties with dedicated family facilities such as Hemingways Nairobi or Giraffe Manor. 1 4 O F 1 6 House of Waine K A R E N , N A I R O B I B O U T I Q U E F A M I L Y H O T E L - I N D E P E N D E N T L Y O W N E D "A family home whose name holds the story of its making - built on love, opened with generosity, and maintained with the particular pride of people who created something entirely their own." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N The House of Waine carries its origin story in its name. The manor was built in the 1970s as a luxurious private family residence on land that was once part of Karen Blixen's famous coffee plantation the same estate that gave the suburb of Karen its name and provided the backdrop for Blixen's memoir Out of Africa. The name "Waine" is not a word or a place; it is an acronym formed from the first initials of each member of the family who created it, stitching them together permanently into the address they built. Later acquired and carefully renovated, the property opened as a boutique hotel in 2004, with the family's conviction that the intimacy of a private home should be preserved in every decision about scale, design, and service. Set on 2.5 acres of lush, well-established tropical gardens in the heart of Karen, House of Waine places its guests within easy reach of everything that makes this suburb Nairobi's most beloved residential quarter: the Karen Blixen Museum, the Giraffe Centre, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Kazuri Beads factory, and the gentle, tree-lined streets that feel more like a country estate than an African capital city. It is, quite simply, one of the most comfortable small hotels in East Africa. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T House of Waine is a family-owned and family-run boutique hotel its name alone is its ownership statement. The interior design takes its direction from the matriarch of the family, whose taste for timeless elegance infused with the spirit of modern Africa is visible in every room. The hotel has recently undergone extensive interior renovation a contemporary refresh that lightens the palette and modernizes the furnishings while maintaining the essential warmth and personal character that have always defined the property. Two bars on the property are reserved exclusively for resident guests, reinforcing the sense that this is a private home welcoming friends, not a public venue serving strangers. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S House of Waine offers 11 individually themed and named en suite bedrooms, plus one cottage each one a distinct interior world that reflects a different facet of African life, landscape, and culture. No two rooms are alike, which is the point: the House of Waine experience is one of personal discovery, finding the room that speaks to you specifically. MANYATTA A portrait of a Maasai Moran presides over this room - East African pastoral life reimagined in comfortable, intimate luxury. SAFARI A tribute to past and present explorers of East Africa - a room that pays homage to the great safari heritage. ZIWA, TEMBO, VICTORIA Three rooms each themed around different aspects of Kenya's extraordinary natural world. KANINI, MAKAN, PWANI, BUSTANI Four rooms reflecting Kenya's Swahili coastal heritage, garden character, and village life. SAHARA A warm, desert-toned room with the colours and textures of Kenya's drier northern regions. MALAIKA SUITE The jewel of the collection - the property's most spacious and beautifully appointed suite, available for the most discerning stays. THE COTTAGE Sleeps 3 adults in a double and single, both en suite. Features a private dining room for up to six, a full kitchen, and a small private garden - ideal for small families or extended stays. Two rooms are interleading, suitable for families with young children. All rooms feature marble bathrooms filled with natural light, complimentary pastries and fresh-ground coffee delivered daily, minibar, air conditioning, satellite TV, and in-room Wi-Fi. Nine rooms can be configured as single, double, or twin. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S Heated Swimming Pool Poolside Lounge & Bar Two Resident -Only Bars Fireplace Lounge Dining Room, Terrace, Garden & Pool Pavilion Conference Room (seats 20) Complimentary Wi-Fi Artisan Daily Pastries & Fresh Coffee Airport Transfers Karen Attraction Concierge Garden Walks Dedicated Parking Page 20 C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S House of Waine's culinary philosophy is one of variety in setting and depth in flavour. Meals are served across multiple locations on the property the dining room, the terrace, the garden, the lounge, and the pool pavilion ensuring that each meal feels like a slightly different experience. The kitchen celebrates Nairobi's extraordinary culinary diversity: a city where Indian, Swahili, East African, and European influences have blended for over a century, producing a food culture of remarkable range and sophistication. The daily breakfast is among Karen's finest freshly baked goods, locally sourced produce, and the kind of unhurried morning ritual that the best small hotels alone can provide. House of Waine is the hotel we recommend when a guest asks: "Where do I stay in Karen if Hemingways Nairobi is fully booked?" and they are never disappointed. The intimacy is extraordinary for a property that opened twenty years ago. The Malaika Suite is worth requesting specifically. The cottage, for small families or couples who want a kitchen and a private garden, is one of Karen's most appealing small accommodations. The rooms are individually decorated in a way that makes choosing the right one important we at Vard Africa always suggest guests review the options before booking so that they arrive in a room that already feels personal. From the terrace at sunset, with the Karen treeline and the Ngong Hills visible beyond the garden wall, this is one of our favourite Nairobi moments. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y House of Waine earns its place through consistency and authenticity. Twenty years of welcoming guests into its family home, and it has not lost the warmth or the attention that defines it. The individually themed rooms mean that repeat guests can always return to something new. The Karen location is matchless. And the two resident-only bars a detail that speaks volumes about the hotel's hospitality philosophy ensure that the home feeling is never diluted by outside noise. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N House of Waine is a natural family destination, particularly for those travelling with children under 12. The interleading rooms for younger children, the Cottage's private kitchen and garden for independent family dining, and the property's warm, home-like atmosphere all contribute to a genuinely family-friendly experience. Children under two stay free; children under 12 receive a 50% rate reduction. The concierge team can arrange visits to all of Karen's beloved family attractions - giraffe, elephants, and the Karen Blixen Museum are minutes away. 1 5 O F 1 6 Karen Gables K A R E N , N A I R O B I B O U T I Q U E C O U N T R Y G U E S T H O U S E - I N D E P E N D E N T L Y O W N E D "Seven rooms in 1.5 acres of lush Karen gardens - small enough to remember your name, beautiful enough to be remembered in return." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N Karen Gables is the kind of small hotel that makes every traveller who discovers it feel that they have found a secret. Surrounded by 1.5 acres of extraordinarily well-maintained gardens in the heart of Karen Nairobi's most gracious suburb it offers just seven rooms in a Cape Dutch-style manor of real architectural charm, set within grounds that feel more like a private country estate than a hotel. It sits 1.8 kilometres from the Oloolua Nature Trail, within minutes of the Karen Blixen Museum, the Giraffe Centre, and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and well clear of the noise and traffic of central Nairobi. The property has earned a dedicated following among the more intimate end of the luxury travel market guests who value genuine tranquility, personal service at the scale only very small hotels can provide, and the particular pleasure of beautiful gardens that are entirely theirs to enjoy without competition. It is described by many of our guests as "the most romantic hotel in Nairobi" a distinction that speaks not to theatrical gestures but to the effortless charm that Karen Gables generates simply by being beautifully designed, perfectly maintained, and very, very quiet. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T Karen Gables is an independently owned and managed boutique property. Its family origins the hotel traces its hospitality lineage to a grandfather who began with a coffee shop, whose family expanded the vision across generations give it the characteristic warmth and personal investment of a true family enterprise. The younger generations' continuation of that hospitality mentality ensures that the property's service remains as personal and attentive as its intimate scale promises. The Cape Dutch architectural style an unusual and elegant choice for a Nairobi property gives Karen Gables a distinctive visual identity that has made it quietly iconic in Karen's hospitality landscape. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Karen Gables offers just seven rooms a deliberate scale that ensures every guest receives the property's full attention and that the gardens are never crowded. Each room reflects the Cape Dutch architectural character of the main house, with warm, natural finishes, comfortable furnishings, and the kind of quiet, well- considered details that only small, owner-managed properties sustain. All rooms feature en suite bathrooms, flat-screen television with satellite channels, complimentary Wi-Fi, and access to the property's exceptional gardens and public spaces. Some units include private bathrooms with hot tubs, and views of the pool, river, or garden are featured in certain room configurations. The property also offers car hire services for guests wishing to explore Karen and Nairobi at their own pace. Room configurations range from double and twin arrangements to units that accommodate families comfortably. Vard Africa recommends reviewing room types before booking, as the variation between them in position, outlook, and character is meaningful at this scale. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S 1.5 Acres of Lush Karen Gardens Swimming Pool Garden Bar & Lounge Restaurant (On -Site Dining) Free Private Parking Page 21 Car Hire Services Complimentary Wi-Fi Airport Transfers Cape Dutch Architecture Oloolua Trail - 1.8km Karen Blixen Museum - Minutes Away C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S Karen Gables' on-site restaurant serves fresh, well-prepared cuisine in a setting that prioritises the beauty of the garden as much as the quality of the plate. Meals on the terrace surrounded by the well-tended gardens, with the sounds of Karen's abundant bird life providing an effortless soundtrack are among the most peaceful dining experiences Nairobi offers. The kitchen reflects the diversity of Nairobi's food culture, drawing on East African, international, and seasonal local ingredients to compose menus that satisfy without overwhelming. Karen Gables is for the guest who said: "I don't need a spa. I don't need a concierge team of twelve. I need peace, beauty, and a garden I can actually sit in without twenty other guests competing for the same corner." Seven rooms. Perfect gardens. Cape Dutch charm. Walking distance from the Oloolua trails. It doesn't attempt to be more than it is and what it is, is quietly, genuinely wonderful. For honeymooners, for writers, for guests who travel to recharge rather than to perform, Karen Gables is one of our most sincere recommendations in all of Nairobi. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Karen Gables does not try to compete with the larger properties on this list. It competes only with itself with the standard of garden, service, and character that it has maintained across the years of its operation. Seven rooms means that the hotel's entire identity can be present in every interaction, every meal, every garden walk. In a travel world that often mistakes scale for quality, Karen Gables is a gentle, beautiful rebuke to that assumption. F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Karen Gables is best suited to couples and solo travellers seeking quiet, intimate accommodation. Families with older children who appreciate the garden setting and the quiet character of a small Karen property will find it comfortable and charming. For families with very young children requiring interconnecting rooms and supervised pool areas, Vard Africa recommends considering Hemingways Nairobi or House of Waine, which offer the space and family infrastructure better suited to that profile. Baby cots are available on request. 1 6 O F 1 6 Ololo Safari Lodge & Farm N A I R O B I N A T I O N A L P A R K E D G E , K A R E N S A F A R I F A R M L O D G E - T H E C H A P M A N F A M I L Y "Where the farm feeds the table, the park feeds the soul, and the entire enterprise - family, land, animals, and guests - is held together by love." H I S T O R Y & I N T R O D U CT I O N In 2008, the Chapman family made the kind of decision that most people only dream of. They uprooted their lives in Australia, flew to Kenya, and purchased an old Kenyan homestead on 20 acres of land on the beautiful banks of the Mbagathi River the same river that forms the southern boundary of Nairobi National Park. They had a dream: to create one of Kenya's most beautiful and sustainable safari lodges, rooted in organic farming, genuine conservation, and the kind of warm, family-centred hospitality that money cannot manufacture. Five years of work, love, and the particular stubbornness of people who believe completely in what they are building later, Ololo Safari Lodge opened its doors in 2013. The name "Ololo" comes from the Maasai language and means "Place of Movement" an apt description for a property that draws its energy from the constant, vital movement of wildlife across its park boundary, the daily rhythms of the working farm, and the generous coming and going of guests who arrive as strangers and leave as something very much like friends. The lodge sits 45 minutes from both Nairobi's international and domestic airports, yet its seclusion and beauty make it feel entirely removed from the city's pace. O W N E R S H IP & M A N AG E M E N T Ololo Safari Lodge is owned and operated by The Chapman family Australian by origin, wholly Kenyan by commitment. They live on the property, farm the land, manage the lodge, and host their guests with a personal engagement that defines the Ololo experience. Joanna Chapman designs much of the lodge's furniture, built on-site by three local craftsmen known as Fundis. The farm team manages dairy cows, laying chickens, mushroom crops, and the lodge's extensive vegetable gardens. The Ololo Foundation, launched in 2023, formalizes the family's community impact work funding high school scholarships, tree planting, sport programmes, and essential support for St. John's School in Kibera. Staying at Ololo is, quite genuinely, an act of community investment. R O O M S & SL E E P I NG AR R A N G E M E N T S Ololo Safari Lodge offers 16 rooms across a wonderfully varied range of accommodation types each one different, each one carefully designed, and each one reflecting a different relationship with the land and wildlife around it. TERRACE SUITE The lodge's most spectacular room - private living area with traditional fireplace, marble bathroom with classic roll-top bath, and an extraordinary park terrace outlook. TOWER ROOM Positioned within the property's distinctive stone tower - a characterful, modern-furnished space with its own private balcony and panoramic views across the park and Ngong Hills. SEVEN STABLE ROOMS The original stone-walled stables of the homestead, individually designed and converted into seven charming, queen-bedded rooms with their own personality and parkland character. Page 22 THREE TENTED COTTAGES Canvas and Makuti thatch construction - an authentic East African safari feel with proper luxuries: large beds, spa baths, and the night sounds of the park just beyond the canvas. FAMILY WING One double bedroom and one triple bedroom, both en suite - ideal for families of up to five. Shared veranda with park views. STABLE COTTAGE A three-bedroom private cottage with fully equipped kitchenette, two bathrooms, a beautiful terrace, and space for six - perfect for families or small groups wanting complete privacy. All rooms feature room service, Wi-Fi, spa services (on request), and large baths with natural bath products sourced from the lodge's own organic programme. A M E N I T I E S & F A C I L IT I E S 20-Acre Working Organic Farm Morning & Evening Game Drives (Nairobi NP) Swimming Pool The Kitchen at Ololo Restaurant Library & Wine Cellar Fireplace Lounge Fire -Pit Garden Farm Tours (Guided) Egg Collection & Cow Milking Sheldrick Trust - 20-Min Park Drive Cultural Excursions (Karen / City) Furniture Workshop Visits Spa Treatments (In -Room) Complimentary Laundry Airport Transfers Ololo Foundation Community Projects A W A R D S & R E C O G N I T I O N - TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice - Consistently rated among Kenya's finest eco -tourism & sustainable safari properties - Widely recognised for outstanding farm -to-table culinary programme - Ololo Foundation 2023 Community Impact Award C U L I N A R Y & D I N I N G E X P E R I E NC E S The Kitchen at Ololo is one of Kenya's most genuinely extraordinary dining experiences, and its secret is embarrassingly simple: almost everything on the plate was grown or raised on the property itself. The kitchen team creates daily menus around what the farm has that morning eggs from the Ololo chickens, milk from Joyce the dairy cow, vegetables from the kitchen garden, mushrooms from the mushroom house and then builds dishes of real beauty and flavour around that foundation. No hotel in Nairobi's safari orbit can match this level of paddock-to-plate provenance. The restaurant overlooks the national park tables on the open terrace allow guests to eat under African skies with the movement of wildlife visible on the plains below. Bread, cakes, and pastries are baked fresh in-house daily. The lodge's wine cellar holds a well-curated selection, and the fire-pit garden provides the most atmospheric sundowner setting in Nairobi. Farm tours can be arranged at any time of day, including an invitation to collect breakfast eggs and milk the cow one of those experiences that sounds eccentric and turns out to be completely, memorably wonderful. Ololo is the last property on this list because it deserves to be remembered last the one you are still thinking about weeks after you have returned home. No property we work with in Nairobi combines the full safari experience, the working farm, the family warmth, and the community purpose with quite the effortless coherence of Ololo. The Terrace Suite is non-negotiable if available. The farm tour is not optional it is part of the experience. And if you have children with you, hands in the vegetable garden at dawn and a walk to meet Joyce the cow are the kind of childhood experiences that survive the passage of time and become the stories told at dinner tables for decades. For guests who want to understand what sustainable, soulful luxury travel in East Africa can truly mean this is the answer. W H Y W E L O V E T H I S P R O P E R T Y Ololo does not perform sustainability. It lives it. The Chapman family's decision to leave Australia, buy a Kenyan homestead, and build something that feeds its guests from its own land, protects the national park on its boundary, and funds schools in Kibera is not a marketing strategy it is a life choice. The lodge they have created is the physical expression of that choice: beautiful, purposeful, and full of the kind of joy that only genuinely committed people can build into a place. We are proud to include it in our portfolio and prouder still every time a guest returns from Ololo saying exactly what guests always say: "I didn't want to leave." F A M I L I E S & CH I L D R E N Ololo Safari Lodge is, without reservation, Vard Africa's highest recommendation for families travelling with children of any age. The farm with its animals, its vegetable gardens, its daily rhythms of collection and cultivation is a living classroom that engages children with complete, effortless enchantment. The Family Wing and Stable Cottage provide excellent family accommodation configurations. Morning game drives in Nairobi National Park are the most accessible wildlife safari experience available for children in Africa. The 20-minute park drive to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where baby elephants are fed and tucked up for the evening, is among the most transformative experiences available to young travellers anywhere on earth. Ololo actively welcomes, designs for, and genuinely loves families and it shows in every detail of the experience. Page 23 - - - - - V A R D A F R IC A Africa's Number One Destination Management Company in Ultra Luxury Travel.
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