Reviews of trips to Nairobi
521 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Nairobi.
"Kenya 2016"
The part of our trip that went awry was our experience with Southern Cross and our driver in Nairobi. Our driver had no idea where The African Heritage House was and he wasted a full hour being completely lost. In our discussions previous to our departure, Richard Trillo had told us that he would inform Southern Cross of the places in Nairobi we wanted to visit. We would like to assume that he did indeed do that. If so, then the blame falls on Southern Cross for not doing their homework and finding out where the AHH is.
We were taken to a place where Alan Donavan once had a gallery, TEN YEARS AGO. Now it is a supermarket. Our driver, John, drove in circles as he muttered to himself and desperately asked people in the street if they knew where the AHH was. The low point was when John turned to us to ask us if WE DIDN"T KNOW WHERE IT WAS! It was embarrassing and inexcusable. It was akin to getting in a New York city cab, telling the driver where you want to go, and after haplessly driving around, he turns to you and asks you where that is! We repeatedly urged John to call someone for directions. He finally called his boss, but he was told that it should be there where we were. Apparently they both remembered something by that name being there when they were kids!
Eventually, at our insistence, John's boss got a phone number for the AHH. John was able to call them directly and get clear directions that the location was near Kenyatta Airport - which was the one thing we had known all along and had told him from the very beginning. We arrived an hour late to our appointment at the African Heritage House. That was a valuable lost hour. Not only was the hour itself valuable, based the amount we were paying for the driver (an amount unknown to us because Expert Africa refuses to divulge costs to its clients, a topic we will revisit later), but also because we had to rush our visit. We had to pay for a full tour when it was essentially cut in half, but more importantly our ability to enjoy our visit was extremely compromised. Our (doubtlessly expensive) day with a hired driver fell far short of our expectations.
We would suggest, and we're sure you would agree, that your clients should never be assigned drivers who don't have thorough knowledge of their city, especially when they are told a specific destination in advance! We don't blame John alone for this debacle, but also the management of Southern Cross, and Expert Africa for putting us in the hands of an incompetent organization." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 6 on a Kenya safari
"My Mar 2016 trip"
"Once in a life time Safari"
We are very well travelled but this trip will stick in our memory bank for ever.
Thank you for a very well planned trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No not really - Richard planned the most excellent trip. He all ways replied to my call and emails very quickly.
I have spoken to him since returning to say what a fab time we had." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
"Holiday of a Lifetime"
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Richard went to great lengths to organise this very special holiday and we are enormously grateful to him for his efforts on our behalf. Our thanks to all at Expert Africa." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
"Lovely"
Btw quite a few people asked me to pass on their regards to Richard; Sonja and Andy want to know when he's taking the family to Kicheche, Edward from Southern Cross told me that Richard knows more about Kenya than he does !" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Kenya safari
"A wonderful holiday, can't wait to get back"
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Please look at including Uganda." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 15 on a Kenya safari
"Our trip to Kenya 2016"
Richard asked what we wanted and gave us choices based on his expert knowledge.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I can't think of anything! Expert Africa has now put three trips together for us and hopefully will do so again in the future." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
"Half term in Kenya"
"Overall"
We were delayed 2 hours at Bird Island as a tropical storm had delayed the plane at Mahe, but they provided drinks and I preferred to wait at Bird Island than Mahe airport." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 6 on a Seychelles holiday
"My Jan 2016 trip"
From the very first phone call to inquire about the possibility of a visit, Richard was with us all the way, taking great care to do whatever he could to make this a trip of a lifetime.I felt so supported and was so glad we booked through Expert Africa. I am sure in comparison with others who book much longer safari experiences ours was small fry - we were never made to feel that way. Every detail was attended to with the utmost care and nothing was too much trouble.
Super impressed!" Read full review: 2 nights in Africa; 2 on a Kenya safari
Where to stay in Nairobi
Our suggestions for places to stay in Nairobi
Four Points Nairobi Airport
The Four Points by Sheraton, set within the perimeter of Nairobi International Airport, is ideally located for a first or last night in Kenya.
The Emakoko
The Emakoko is a luxurious, owner-managed safari lodge in a beautiful gorge on the edge of Nairobi National Park.
Eka Hotel
The Eka is an affordably priced business-class hotel in a relatively convenient location between Nairobi International Airport and Wilson Airport.
Crowne Plaza Nbi Apt
The Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport (formerly known as the Lazizi Premiere and now part of the InterContinental Hotels Group) is the oldest hotel at Nairobi International Airport.
Ole-Sereni
The Ole-Sereni is a modern, stylish hotel neighbouring Nairobi National Park and located 6km from Wilson domestic airport.
Macushla House
Macushla House is a very pleasant, small, owner-managed bed and breakfast hotel in a leafy part of southwest Nairobi, very convenient for visiting the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage.
Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor is a unique, perennially popular lodge on the outskirts of Nairobi, offering up-close-and-personal encounters with the rare Rothschild giraffes that roam its extensive grounds.
Aero Club of East Africa
The Aero Club of East Africa is a private members' club in the grounds of Wilson Airport, Nairobi, offering offering comfortable rooms and a good restaurant, bar and swimming pool to non-members.
Tamarind Tree Hotel
The Tamarind Tree is a stylish international hotel in a great location next to Wilson Airport.
Karen Gables
Karen Gables is a small, high quality hotel in Nairobi with expansive gardens and only seven rooms.
Hemingways Nairobi
Hemingways Nairobi is a luxury country-house style hotel, with a spa and gym, in the wealthy suburb of Karen.
The Norfolk Hotel
The Norfolk Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Nairobi and has a reputation for its colourful history dating back to 1904.
Nairobi Tented Camp
Nairobi Tented Camp is the only tented camp located inside Nairobi National Park, making it a great option for a true safari stay close to the city and airports.
Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and Cottages
Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens and Cottages is small luxury boutique hotel located in the peaceful suburb of Karen.
Sankara
Sankara is a strikingly built hotel in the bustling central Nairobi suburb of Westlands, primarily used as a business stay, with very good dining and leisure facilities.
Eden Nairobi
One Forty Eight is a very stylish boutique hotel in one of the leafiest corners of the southwest Nairobi suburb of Karen-Langata. The Giraffe Centre at Giraffe Manor is just a 10-minute walk away.
Ololo Safari Lodge
Ololo Safari Lodge and Farm is a luxury property on the southern edge of Nairobi National Park.
The Stanley
The Stanley is a large, traditional hotel – the oldest in Nairobi – offering a range of facilities.
Tribe
Design-led, contemporary hotel in the Village Market area of Gigiri, a largely diplomatic and luxury residential suburb 10km north of Nairobi’s central business district.
Acacia Camp
Acacia Camp is a rustic and affordable safari camp in a wildlife sanctuary a 30-minute drive towards Mombasa from Nairobi’s international airport.
