Reviews of The Emakoko

"We'd met the Childs' back in 2006 when they were running Elsa's kopje in Meru NP, and it was good to see them well settled 6 years into their new venture.

We were looking for an unwind after a hectic time in Nairobi and a short safari and the setting is ideal. The rooms are well appointed and spacious though ours was starting to look a little tired (an observation, not a complaint). We went up to the upper level and the views from the cottages up there are excellent. However, as we were round about the lodge for a full day and a half and going to/from the mess area/room/pool regularly I'm very grateful that Richard at Expert travel suggested the lower level!

We were there for a relaxing couple of days rather than the tourist bit but we did take one game drive. Elizaban our guide was very good (ex Elsa's Kopje). We saw a male and female lion, rhino, and many plains game. Just a couple of vehicles seen in the distance so we had that part of the park (the SW) to ourselves. In camp we had the resident hippo strolling across the grass in front of the room one morning, a couple of bushbuck nipping about in the thickets and a wealth of birdlife. Elizaban drove us in to Karen to a very new and impressive mall for some shopping, and later to the evening sponsor's session at Daphne Sheldrick's Elephant orphanage.

We also took an hour or so's morning walk with a guide, from the lodge along the river bank and then round up onto the top.

The food is first class, as is the service all round, staff friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Anton and Emma are hands on owners, relaxed and knowledgeable hosts and very good company. We had a very pleasant stay and unwind away from the traffic and hubbub of Nairobi, and are happy to recommend Emakoko as an ideal starting and/or departing point for a safari holiday in Kenya." See all these reviews: 3n in Kenya

"This was a beautiful lodge at the edge of the Nairobi National Park. We drove through the park for about 30 minutes to get to the lodge. We saw giraffes against the city skyline, very different from the safari backdrops, hippos in the water and baboons waiting at the main gate for food from visitors. The lodge consisted of spacious cottages along the hillside with balconies overlooking the bush. The food was excellent and the service top notch. The hosts were very friendly and welcoming and a drive/guide was at our service. The Emakoko was a great place to end our safari before returning home." See all these reviews: 12n in Kenya

"A well run lodge inside the Nairobi National Park, so it is possible to see animals in the evening and early morning before it gets busy...  the rooms are spacious and well appointed and the food is verging on fine dining...  all the staff were friendly and helpful, especially the relief manager, Rachel.  Rashid our guide was knowledgeable and in addition to the game drives took us to Sheldrick Elephant Centre and the Giraffe House...
There are upper and lower accommodations, the upper have good views but many steps...
There is a pool, but we were too busy to use it.  Would visit again...

OTHER COMMENTS
1. Rachel, the relief manager guided us through our visit, constantly pointing things out and making suggestions....
2. There was good WiFi...
3. Power in the rooms was very useful for charging batteries etc..." See all these reviews: 10n in Kenya; 8n in Tanzania

"What a gem - a safari lodge in Nairobi! This was a wonderful way for us to finish our holiday.

However it is equally a great place to start a holiday, as were a number of other guests staying there. The lodge was beautifully appointed and very comfortable and the owner managers were extremely welcoming and obliging. The quality of the food and the service were excellent.

Nairobi Park was a delightful surprise. It has a good variety and quantity of animals. We had some of our best sightings of black and white rhino ever." See all these reviews: 11n in Rwanda; 2n in Kenya

"Stunning lodge 45 minutes from airport via a game drive in Nairobi Park where we saw Rhino, lion and herbivores on our route out!
Excellent food and drink.
Excellent rooms.
If we had known it was so good we would have stayed longer, not just an overnight stop between flights form Zanzibar to UK!" See all these reviews: 5n in Zanzibar; 1n in Kenya

"Emakoko was very welcoming after a long day's travelling. It was looking elegantly festive for Christmas with a log fire and pretty tree. my room was comfortable and had visiting rock hyrax who came in apparently bent on stealing the roses from the vase on the table. lovely view across the little valley, and a serval which came to sundowners. No time for a serious game drive as we left early next day, but great to see giraffe grazing with high rise Nairobi in the background.

A good start to the holiday." See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya

"Nairobi National Park deserves our attention for two reasons. First, it is under increasing pressure in the name of development; more overseas visitors may encourage the government to stop questionable encroachments such as a proposed new railway viaduct right across the park. Second, it is a little gem just right next to JKIA.

Furthermore, in The Emakoko it has an absolutely first rate lodge on its southern border which would grace just about any NP. During our stay the owners were actually on furlough; but the relief manager Rachel is very much part of the Emakoko family and does an excellent job both running the lodge generally and making guests feel very much at home. We could not have been made more welcome or been looked after better by her and the resident team The accommodation was very comfortable; the public areas are welcoming; and the food was so good that we dashed back from Karen on a couple of days for lunch rather than go to one or other of the fine restaurants in town.

As for the park itself, as usual we were mainly in pursuit of the birds. I have still to tot up the final number but we were not far short of 200 species during our five days (quite a bit of which was not spent in the NP per se as we had business and personal reasons to be out and about, this being a hybrid trip rather than 'just' vacation). This despite the fact that we did not do as well for migrants as one would expect at this time of year. My top picks were: the Greater Spotted Eagle; the Gull-billed Tern (probably only the second sighting ever in the park); three different species of Bustard/Korhaan; a Nightingale (always hard to see); the Eurasian Marsh Harrier; the White-headed Barbet; and the Yellow-throated Longclaw.

As for the mammals, it is a downside for many (us included) that there are no elephants (other than at the orphanage). But a plentitude of rhinos - black and white - goes a long way towards making up for this; and we did have some excellent close-up rhino sightings. Furthermore, we regularly stumbled across lions. Most of the major herbivores one would expect to see are plentiful, perhaps particularly notable being Masai Giraffe, Eland and Grant's Gazelle.

In all of the above we were greatly aided by our excellent guide Elizaban, to whom we are indebted not only for his services in the park but also for taking us out and about in Karen (part of The Emakoko's service) and for driving us to the airport for our return flight at 5am (which is another facility which The Emakoko offers, ie being able to ferry guests flying in and out across the NP from and to the airport after dark). And we were also fortunate enough to be able to spend a day in the park with an old friend who is one of Kenya's top birders, Brian Finch.

In short, we highly recommend a stopover at The Emakoko with enough time to do a decent exploration of Nairobi NP and to enjoy some of the additional pleasures to be found in nearby Karen." See all these reviews: 5n in Kenya

"i only had a brief night there but it was lovely - as before" See all these reviews: 9n in Kenya

"The Emakoko is a unique experience - fantastic location on the southern edge of the National Park giving easy access for game drives. Superb ambiance in the main building with the bar and restaurant area and great food. very friendly and personal welcome and service from the owner and all staff.

The room was also very good with decent (and huge) bathroom and great service including putting mosquito nets etc around the very big and comfortable bed. We were in rooms 2 and 3 which are a short walk from the central building. Number 1 is closer and 4 and 5 are a bit further away but no problem.

However rooms 6 to 10 are on the upper level with great views but it is a serious climb up to these rooms and you have to be fit enough to climb a set of 80 to 100 stairs." See all these reviews: 4n in Rwanda; 3n in Kenya

"Well what can I say about this place - after driving through the National Park our driver made a turn to enter a very steep hill this was like the steepest "driveway" I have ever seen, a hair raising experience but driven with care for us in the back but worth every scary moment as Emakoko into view.

The welcome we got here was truly amazing, first impression here was what a fabulous place in a great location. The room we had was spectacular, beautiful everything. The food was the best we had had this trip - so pleased to see fresh salad. The service from all the staff was friendly.

After travelling we were more than pleased to see a swimming pool which we made very good use of, a very pleasant way to finish our trip.

We would like to say that Anthony & Emma deserve a 5 star rating for their hospitality." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya