Rating: Mid-range
Nairobi Tented Camp is a genuine tented camp in the heart of Nairobi National Park. Just a short drive from both the international and domestic airports, this is a good first or last night destination on your Kenyan holiday. You'll be able to take game drives in the national park in the early morning and again in the late afternoon, times when wildlife viewing is at its best.
There are nine tents, all with private bathrooms. Water heated over the log fire is brought for the shower at your request. Cocooned in your cosy tent with its sheep skin rugs and lanterns you feel a world away from the busy city. The tent has plenty of storage for clothes and bags. The veranda looks out into the dense forest and offers a peaceful place to rest.
The communal areas comprise of the lounge and dining tents where you meet other guests and enjoy freshly cooked meals. There are various board games and a selection of books to help you pass the time between game drives in the park. In the evening drinks are served around the campfire and you can share tales of the day's events with other guests while looking forward to a delicious candle-lit dinner accompanied by your choice of drink from the bar.
Open: Nairobi Tented Camp is open all year.
Location: Nairobi Tented Camp is in Nairobi National Park, just a 30 minute drive from Jomo Kenyatta and Wilson airports.
Rooms: There are nine guest tents, each accommodating two people in twin or double beds. All have en-suite facilities with a shower (hot water on request), basin and a toilet. Tents are lit by LED lighting powered by rechargeable batteries and solar panels, though candles and lamps are also provided. There are bedside tables, a wardrobe, writing desk and luggage rack. There is s a veranda with chairs and a table where you can sit and take in views of the forest.
Activities: The main activity here is going for early morning and late afternoon game drives in the park. Game here includes giraffe, zebra, buffalo, rhino and lion. You can also take guided walks in the Kisembe Valley, visit the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, the giraffe centre and Karen Blixen Museum. Various city excursions can also be arranged.
Facilities: The lodge has a central lounge and bar tent and a dining tent. These form the social heart of the camp where you can spend time with other guests and enjoy tasty, home-cooked food. Meals are also served out in the open air. There is a library and you're welcome to browse through books here. Sundowner drinks are enjoyed around the camp fire each evening.
Dining: Meals are generally eaten together.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome but age limits apply to game drives.
Health: This is a malarial area.
Communication: Mobile phone coverage is patchy and cannot be relied upon. There is no internet access.
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0"If you need or want a night in Nairobi, this camp has two big plus points. Firstly, it offers a great way to start any Kenyan safari, as you feel like you're on your safari from within about 30 minutes of leaving the airport. Secondly, I know of no other place in Africa where you can sit watch a rhino and her baby in peace and safety within a savannah wilderness, with a backdrop of a cityscape. It's a unique experience, which makes you realise that the wild and the ‘civilised’ are not that far apart and certainly interdependent. I'd highly recommend it."