The Emakoko, Nairobi

Nestled between Nairobi National Park and the Kitengela Conservation Area, and only a stone’s throw from the bustling Kenyan capital, is The Emakoko. A charming boutique lodge with just 10 rooms and incredible views over the river, if an exclusive and personal safari experience is what you’re after, The Emakoko absolutely fits the bill. Run by an English couple who have conservation and local community support at the heart of what they do, The Emakoko is an example of how luxury and preservation can go hand in hand beautifully.

Location

This luxury lodge is a 45-minute drive from either of Nairobi’s airports and whilst being so close to the city means having its shops and restaurants at your fingertips, the main attraction of The Emakoko is the wildlife. With the national park on one side and the Kitengela Conservation Area on the other, you are in with a great chance of seeing all of the Big Five, plus 400 species of bird, before even heading out to the likes of the Mara. You can even interact with orphaned elephants at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and endangered Rothschild’s giraffes at The Giraffe Center.

Your room

The 10 rooms at The Emakoko each have private verandas with delightful views over the river, but for truly astonishing views of the national park, stay in one of the five rooms that are built high into the cliff face – trust us, it’s worth the stairs. The decor of the rooms perfectly balance luxury with comfort to create a cozy atmosphere, with brick fireplaces on hand to toast yourself by on cooler evenings and sumptuous beds to fall back into afterwards.

Why we like it

The indoor-outdoor layout of The Emakoko gives it a laid-back and comfortable feel which is exactly what you need after a long day on safari. But our favorite thing about The Emakoko is the way it cares about preserving its surroundings. It uses locally sourced produce where it can (even having its own chickens and vegetable garden), sells jewellery made by local Maasai people and is involved in projects to protect the way of life of local Maasai tribes. In short, The Emakoko is a hotel that cares and what’s not to love about that?