20 Best Places to Stay in Kenya: Comprehensive Accommodation Guide

Kenya offers an astonishing variety of accommodation options tailored to every type of traveler. From world-famous luxury safari camps and colonial treehouse lodges to private beachfront Swahili villas and modern urban boutique hotels, Kenya's hospitality industry is renowned worldwide.

What to Expect From Kenya Hotels

Hotels and lodges in Kenya deliver exceptional warmth and service standards. High-end safari lodges typically include all-inclusive game drives and gourmet meals, while coastal beach resorts emphasize open-air relaxation, Swahili architecture, and watersports. Eco-friendliness and conservation funding are core features across most wilderness properties.

20 Best Places to Stay in Kenya

1. Giraffe Manor

Style: Historic Boutique Manor
Location: Karen, Nairobi
Best For: Luxury travel & unique wildlife interactions
About the Place: Iconic 1930s sanctuary home where resident Rothschild giraffes poke their long necks through breakfast room windows to share meals with guests.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Giraffe Manor

2. Angama Mara

Style: Ultra-Luxury Safari Lodge
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve
Best For: Panoramic views & honeymoon safaris
About the Place: Perched high on the Great Rift Valley escarpment overlooking the Mara Triangle, featuring glass-fronted tented suites and private airstrip access.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Angama Mara

3. Mahali Mzuri

Style: Exclusive Safari Camp
Location: Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Maasai Mara
Best For: Great Migration viewing & privacy
About the Place: Sir Richard Branson's luxury safari camp featuring futuristic luxury tents perched over a wildlife valley rich in big cat activity.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Mahali Mzuri

4. The Sands at Chale Island

Style: Private Island Resort
Location: Chale Island, Kwale
Best For: Secluded beach holidays & snorkeling
About the Place: Magical private island resort located south of Diani Beach, set amidst white sands, coral reefs, and coastal mangrove forests.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to The Sands at Chale Island

5. Finch Hattons Luxury Camp

Style: Eco-Luxury Tented Camp
Location: Tsavo West National Park
Best For: Wilderness wellness & safari luxury
About the Place: Legendary luxury camp offering open-air tents overlooking natural freshwater pools populated by hippos and diverse bird species.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Finch Hattons

6. Hemmingways Watamu

Style: Luxury Oceanfront Resort
Location: Watamu Beach
Best For: Beach lovers & deep-sea fishing
About the Place: Bright white coastal resort overlooking Watamu Marine Park, offering world-class spa facilities and fresh seafood dining.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Hemingways Watamu

7. Segera Retreat

Style: Sustainable Luxury Resort
Location: Laikipia Plateau
Best For: Art lovers & eco-conservation safaris
About the Place: Eco-friendly sanctuary featuring private villas, contemporary African art collections, and wellness spa treatments surrounded by wild savannas.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Segera Retreat

8. Sarova Mara Game Camp

Style: Tented Safari Camp
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve
Best For: Families & safari beginners
About the Place: Well-appointed canvas tent camp set inside a natural forest, offering swimming pools, organic gardens, and guided nature walks.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Sarova Mara Game Camp

9. Tribe Hotel

Style: Modern Designer Hotel
Location: Gigiri, Nairobi
Best For: Business travelers & shopping
About the Place: Sophisticated urban boutique hotel decorated with hundreds of authentic African artworks, located adjacent to the Village Market mall.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Tribe Hotel

10. Peponi Hotel

Style: Swahili Waterfront Hotel
Location: Shela, Lamu Island
Best For: Cultural immersion & coastal relaxation
About the Place: Family-run coastal hotel right on Lamu's sandy shores, featuring bougainvillea gardens, Swahili decor, and dhow sailing trips.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Peponi Hotel

11. Ol Donyo Lodge

Style: Eco-Luxury Safari Lodge
Location: Chyulu Hills / Amboseli Region
Best For: Starbed sleepouts & elephant tracking
About the Place: Exclusive lodge featuring private plunge pools, open-air rooftop starbeds, and horseback safaris with views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Ol Donyo Lodge

12. Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

Style: Historic Country Club Hotel
Location: Nanyuki
Best For: Golfing & scenic mountain retreats
About the Place: Nestled directly on the equator facing Mount Kenya, featuring manicured lawns, a golf course, and an animal orphanage.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

13. Elephant Bedroom Camp

Style: Boutique Tented Camp
Location: Samburu National Reserve
Best For: Intimate wildlife encounters
About the Place: Luxury canvas tents along the Ewaso Nyiro River where elephants regularly wander through camp to feed on palm trees.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Elephant Bedroom Camp

14. Salt Lick Safari Lodge

Style: Iconic Elevated Lodge
Location: Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Best For: Wildlife photography
About the Place: Built on high stilts connected by suspended walkways over active waterholes, allowing guests to watch wildlife directly below.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Salt Lick Safari Lodge

15. Serena Beach Resort & Spa

Style: Coastal Swahili Resort
Location: Shanzu Beach, Mombasa
Best For: Family beach holidays & spa retreats
About the Place: Styled like an ancient Swahili village, offering lush coconut palm gardens, oceanfront dining, and a sea turtle sanctuary.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Serena Beach Resort

16. Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort

Style: Lakeside Eco-Lodge
Location: Lake Naivasha
Best For: Weekend family getaways
About the Place: Sprawling grounds along Lake Naivasha where waterbucks, zebras, and hippos graze freely across lush green lawns.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort

17. Elsa's Kopje

Style: Boutique Hillside Lodge
Location: Meru National Park
Best For: Romance & uncrowded wilderness
About the Place: Built into Mughwango Hill above the site of Joy Adamson's campsite, offering open cottages with 360-degree views.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Elsa's Kopje

18. Villa Rosa Kempinski

Style: 5-Star Luxury City Hotel
Location: Westlands, Nairobi
Best For: Executive luxury & spa visits
About the Place: Elegant European-style luxury hotel featuring world-class dining options, heated outdoor pools, and premium spa services.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Villa Rosa Kempinski

19. Voyager Ziwani Tented Camp

Style: Riverside Safari Camp
Location: Tsavo West / Ziwani
Best For: Night game drives & family safaris
About the Place: Tranquil camp on the Sante River offering views of Mount Kilimanjaro, crocodile feeding points, and night safaris.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Voyager Ziwani Camp

20. WaterLovers Beach Resort

Style: Luxury Coastal Villa Resort
Location: Diani Beach
Best For: Boutique beach luxury & watersports
About the Place: Stylish Italian-designed beach resort on Diani's white sands, featuring a turtle-shaped infinity pool and private oceanfront suites.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to WaterLovers Beach Resort

Featured Image

Luxury Safari Lodge in Kenya