The Emakoko
Nairobi National Park Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi 00517 Kenya
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Room & Suite (27)
Dining (18)
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What you can expect during your stay
- All linens sanitised in high-temperature wash
- Face masks required for staff in public areas
- Hand sanitiser available to guests & staff
- Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
- Staff required to regularly wash hands
- Daily temperature and symptom checks for staff
Updated 27/08/20 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
A note from The Emakoko
Updated 27/08/20 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
#2 of 427 Specialty lodging in Nairobi
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Travellers' Choice
The Emakoko is a 24-bed lodge bordering Nairobi national park, only 45 minutes from all the main city airports & attractions. Access to The Emakoko is only through Nairobi National Park and national park fees are necessary. The Emakoko allows people to start and finish their safari in the wild environment they have travelled to enjoy.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Free breakfast
Hiking
Babysitting
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Free airport transportation
Parking
Wifi
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Private pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Complimentary tea
Complimentary welcome drink
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Kids pool
Airport transportation
Conference facilities
Spa
24-hour security
Concierge
Mosquito net
Outdoor fireplace
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Butler service
First aid kit
24-hour check-in
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Allergy-free room
Blackout curtains
Desk
Fireplace
Housekeeping
Interconnected rooms available
Extra long beds
Walk-in shower
Bathrobes
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
Sofa
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Bottled water
Iron
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Landmark view
Pool view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Great View
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Full view
332Reviews9Q+A82Room tips
Reviews
Traveller rating
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My travel agent suggested that instead of flying into Wilson from the Mara, crossing town to the international airport, and feeling rushed, I spend one night at the Emakako, and I was SO happy he did,. I didn't know about Nairobi NP, where I saw more close-by rhino than at Lewa, Syke's monkeys, and a displaying male Kori Bustard, and then to spend time in my gigantic room with rose-strewn bed (slightly over the top for just me!), big bathtub looking out at the hills and lie by the pool after two weeks in the bush: bliss. The lodge's house bushbaby and genet appeared at the bar for their dinner at 7pm precisely, and the food was maybe the best I've had in Africa, quite remarkable for a young and apparently self-taught chef: simple, fresh, beautiful, and imaginative. Anthony the host was interesting, and he and his family live on the property, which makes it feel almost like you are his house-guest.…
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Date of stay: May 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: A view of the park, but maybe they all have that?
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Anthony Childs, Owner at The Emakoko
Responded 23 Jun 2022
Thank you so much for your very kind review, we are so pleased that your agent persuaded you to use us and it was great to meet you. We do hope you will come again. Thank you, Anton
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stopped here as a last minute arrangement due to our flight being cancelled. We were collected at the gate of the national park and had an enjoyable drive to the lodge spotting various wildlife on the way, including giraffe, crocodile and hippo to name a few. We were greeted warmly on arrival and shown to our extremely spacious and comfortable room. Due to this being at the end of our trip we chose to spend our time relaxing so didn’t take any game drives but what we did enjoy was the exceptional service and incredible food that is on offer here. The chef here is self taught which is hard to believe when you sample the delights he creates, for example the pork belly we were served melted in your mouth, absolutely delicious. Rihaz, the manager was fantastic, nothing was too much trouble for him to arrange on your behalf, including a wonderful in room massage. Our stay here turned a frustrating situation in to an unexpected treat. A wonderful way to relax and finish our trip before we finally fly home.…
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Date of stay: June 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Anthony Childs, Owner at The Emakoko
Responded 7 Jun 2022
Thank you so much for your lovely review, we are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay here and are sorry to have missed you. Hope you catch you next time! Anton
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I visited Emakoko in May with my family. Its undoubtedly a beautiful place but a lot needs to be done to make it 5 stars. The food was not hot when served, My daughter didn't like it and kept saying he same thing. The rooms are nice but needs some attention. Perhaps work on adding new items, refreshing the whole experience. The owners are OK. Staff need some detailed training on what customers should expect.
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip: Private House
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Anthony Childs, Owner at The Emakoko
Responded 26 May 2022
Thank you for your review, all your comments have been taken on board. We do pride ourselves on our food, it is unfortunate that all your meals were served cold and we will look into this. You will be pleased to know that after 10 years The Emakoko rooms are in fact going through a refurb, despite the huge impact that COVID-19 has had on us. I might add that we do not pretend to be a 5 star establishment (we do not offer pillow menus, flat screen TV's, gyms, numerous restaurants, stocked mini bars, at least 4 different sets of spa treatments, standalone concierge staff - to name a few of what a 5 star experience would entail) and neither do we charge as such. We are a home away from home lodge that is very conscious of our environmental impact and try to deliver an exceptional wildlife experience with the modern comforts of a city hotel. Our team are trained in house and are very much part of the family. Having said this, service is key and it is unfortunate that our standards did not meet your expectations. Once again, thank you for taking the time to write in. Anthony
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
You are looking to go on a safari? Or just a special place to stay within Nairobi? Look no further; Emakoko is your ideal place. I am an expat teacher in Nairobi, and I keep coming back to this stunning gem. This is a secluded hotel and the ideal location to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. The ideal place for some quality peace and quiet. I find Emakoko simply magical. It is right in the middle of Nairobi National Park, the perfect location for an early and/or a sunset game drive. The rooms are extra spacious, with breathtaking views . The interior is beautifully decorated and the hotel is eco friendly using the marvelous refillable CGs cosmetics. You will find it equally ideal to relax by the pool or sip a cocktail or two in the open lounge area overlooking the pool and the forest. The staff and owners are so welcoming, I can’t get enough of this boutique hotel and the more I come here, the more I feel at home. Thank you to the entire Emakoko team for always making me feel so rejuvenated and so welcomed every visit I make.…
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Date of stay: April 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Anthony Childs, Owner at The Emakoko
Responded 13 Apr 2022
Wonderful to have you back here agin, always lovely to have repeat visitors and we look forward to seeing you again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is stunning and tastefully decorated. Incredible location, amazing views! Oh the food is excellent! Very friendly and welcoming staff. Anton was a gracious host. They certainly do have a personal touch. The rooms are huge and quiet! Excellent place for a gate-away. Totally loved it!
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Anthony Childs, Owner at The Emakoko
Responded 13 Apr 2022
Thank you so much for your review, we loved having you here and hope you will be back soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Emakoko is everything you could possibly want or need in Nairobi. It’s incredible location (on the edge of Nairobi National Park), amazing views, 5 star food and the friendliness staff make this the best and only place you should considering staying while in the city. With a host of well known attractions nearby including the Sheldrick wildlife trust and the Giraffe center and easy access to both the domestic and international airports The Emakoko is perfect in everyway…. Oh and it doesn’t hurt that there are rhinos, giraffes, lions and zebras all waiting for you on an evening game drive!!
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Anthony Childs, Owner at The Emakoko
Responded 6 Apr 2022
Thank you so much for your review, we do hope that you come back again!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We were a group of three girls in need of a weekend away and decided to stay at Emakoko. We were promptly greeted by Anton who briefed us on the hotel and who along with his family, continued to be gracious hosts throughout our stay. It is a small hotel and therefore this personal touch with them constantly being around and available was much appreciated. The hotel itself is stunning and very tastefully decorated with a home away from home feel. The rooms are enormous and equipped with a fire place, large balcony, full size luxury toiletries, a safe, robes, slippers, amongst other small touches that added a great level of comfort to the room. There are large arrangements of beautiful fresh roses dispersed around the hotel. We opted for the late checkout which is available for a fee and includes lunch and use of your room until your desired check out time. Food - the food is absolutely delicious and it is evident a lot of care and thought has gone into the preparation of each dish in the way it tastes and is presented. There is no menu so you need to let the hotel know of any dietary requirements in advance. My only criticism is that the portions are quite small and there was no extra available. For example, for our first lunch we had a small starter followed by a beetroot burger which was delicious but would have been nice with a side of fries or salad (or both!). For dinner we were offered pizza as a starter and the main was two golf ball sized arancini with three pieces of roasted pumpkin. When I asked for another pizza to share at the table we were told that the dough had finished. Having said the above, lunch on our last day was plentiful and we left feeling very satisfied. Drinks - non alcoholic drinks are included in the room rate but any cocktails / wines / spirits are available at an extra cost. They had a good selection of drinks and I would recommend the expertly prepared dawa! Pool - the Nairobi sun is HOT and we were so looking forward to having a dip in the pool when we arrived. However, one look at it and we were totally put off as it was absolutely filthy and full of floaties. Another fellow guest from the States had a dip and described it as slimy and as if ‘it had been smeared with a layer of vaseline!’ For a hotel of this calibre to have a pool that is appropriate or safe for use is completely sub standard. Additionally, the sun beds were not the cleanest and the umbrellas kept flying away in the wind. In my opinion the pool area needs a total revamp to being it up to the level of the rest of the hotel. I would give the hotel 4.5 stars for this reason but I’m not able to. Overall we had an extremely relaxing stay at the Emakoko and would definitely return in the future. Hopefully by then the pool area will be of a usable condition!…
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: The road is steep and rocky so you definitely need a 4x4 to enter the property
Let the hotel...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Anthony Childs, Owner at The Emakoko
Responded 6 Apr 2022
Thank you so much for writing your review and we are so pleased that you enjoyed yourself. Noted on the food portion sizes and the burgers.....we now have chips too! We do hope you come back.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We went there as a large group of friends and the staff themselves were very welcoming and the private house was very nice to chill with a large group. However the hosts felt a bit cold and a bit abrupt to some of our requests. Compared to other places that I have visited in kenya I did not feel the warmth and welcomed atmosphere as could have been created whilst being there as well from the hosts However the food was average. The lunch was a nice spread but the dinner was very limited and breakfast also had limited options with a small selection of fruits, cereal, a muffin and eggs. I would have thought there would be a wider selection of foods and juices on offer. It is definitely a nice place to relax for a night with a group and the sceneries are beautiful. The amenities in the rooms were really nice including a really nice hot shower. However we all found that the beds were not that comfortable. Overall I would return back to emakoko for a getaway…
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Anthony Childs, General Manager at The Emakoko
Responded 17 Nov 2021
Thank you for your very detailed review, I do apologise if I came across as a little cold! All the details you have mentioned I will most certainly look into and I look forward to having you back so we can ensure that your stay is exceptional. Thank you, Anthony
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was the second time we have stayed at the Emakoko and this stay was just as wonderful as our first! I knew we were in for an exciting stay when there were 3 Rino's greeting us as we approached the Lodge entrance.... The rooms are large, spacious and comfortable - overlooking the park. Fresh roses complete the finishing touch, no details are missed here. The food is excellent! One in our group was a fairly picky eater, and they catered to our dietary request (beyond expectations). The pork schnitzel was amazing!! We did game drives into the Park with Sammy, complete with an amazing sundowner. He was extremely knowledgeable, engaging and enjoyable to be with. The COVID protocols were excellent. All staff wore masks and everything was spotlessly clean....made us feel quite safe on that front. We are planning a return trip to Kenya and wouldn't stay anywhere else!!!…
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Anthony Childs, Owner at The Emakoko
Responded 6 Apr 2022
Super to have you back and I am so pleased that you saw our very special Rhinos! Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Fantastic lodge in Nairobi National Park to stay. You cannot fault anything about Emakoko, from the luxurious comfortable rooms, attentive staff, whole ambiance, and delicious food. Hyrax around lodge all day. Bushybaby and Genet cat around the bar early evening.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Anthony Childs, General Manager at The Emakoko
Responded 5 Nov 2021
Thank you so much for your review - lovely to have you here again! Anthony
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LOCATION
KenyaNairobi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about The Emakoko
Which popular attractions are close to The Emakoko?
Nearby attractions include Anselm's Kitengela Hot Glass (7.1 km), Silole Sanctuary (7.5 km), and Gateway Mall (6.0 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Emakoko?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
Which room amenities are available at The Emakoko?
Top room amenities include blackout curtains, a desk, and extra long beds.
What food & drink options are available at The Emakoko?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to The Emakoko?
Conveniently located restaurants include Secret Ingredients, Tamz Restaurant Launge & Bar, and The Tunnel Night Club.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Emakoko?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does The Emakoko have airport transportation?
Yes, The Emakoko offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are there any historical sites close to The Emakoko?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The Galton-fenzi Memorial (15.0 km) and Dedan Kimathi Statue (15.3 km).
Does The Emakoko have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the park view available here.