Campsites & lodges in Kenya

Jungle Junction is a friendly, laid back, family-run guest-house and campsite in Karen District. So rather than feeling like a tourist, you feel as if you are extended family visiting your uncle and auntie in Nairobi. It is a well-known spot among overlanders who drive from Cairo to Cape Town and want to get their vehicle worked on as Chris, the owner, is a great mechanic. Dorms, private rooms and camping are available at very affordable rates - $50 for a double room. 

On request, they can prepare dinner. A small mall with a well stocked supermarket is at walking distance. Great to stock up supplies before you hit the road and start your adventure.  

Wildebeest Eco Camp is a fabulous location in Karen. Its a fine lodge offering accomodation in comfortable tents. As you can see from the image below, you wouldn't guess that this campsite is in the heart of the metropolitan Nairobi. But it is! So, if you want to relax, head down to this place. The gardens are beautiful, birds magnificent and the tents very comfortable, with a nice relaxing atmosphere.

The friendly and helpful staff will make your stay a pleasant and comfortable experience. The perfect place for a stopover before continuing your travels towards the Maasai Mara, travelling north to Samburu or north west towards Lake Naivaisha.

Acacia Tree Lodge is a lovely boutique hotel in leafy Karen district. The lodge offers 15 rooms, decorated in contemporary safari style. The suite is a stunner, with large private sitting room and kitchen. There's an inviting garden and plenty lounging and sitting areas to relax.

Great value for €90 / double room with breakfast. 

The owners run a community school in the slums of Kibera. 

Direct bookings are preferred instead of via Booking.com

reservations@acaciatreelodgekenya.com

+254 702 360 360 / +254 702 460 460 

Eka is a contemporary style 4-star hotel that would appeal to those travellers looking for comfort and efficiency. There is an inviting pool. It is a grand set-up, so don't expect a homely ambiance, but it is good value for money. 

It is located along Mombasa road, close to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and the main highway travelling south towards Tsavo National Park and the beach. 

Easily booked through Expedia. 

Ole Sereni Eka is a contemporary style 4-star hotel, mostly catering to business travellers looking for luxury and efficiency. The setting is great though and there is an inviting pool. Don't expect a homely ambiance, its very grand-scale, but it is good value for money. 

It is located along Mombasa road, close to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and the main highway travelling south towards Tsavo National Park and the beach.

Easily booked through Booking.com

There are three public campsites in the Mara triangle: Oloololo, Eluai and Iseiya campsite. They are operating on a first come, first served basis. Great value for money! Also read our blog about the Maasai Mara.

Chief Selaton, community elder & campowner, has an impressive track record of community involvements and the promotion of the Maasai culture around the world. The camp is rustic, authentic, with basic but well-kept facilities. There are flush toilets and you can order for a hot shower with water from the hot springs. The campsite can provide pre-set-up tents with fine bedding or there are cottages with beds and a small verandah. The tents are the best value for money. The camp is beautifully set in the acacia woodlands, common for the area in the village of Maji Moto. Sitting there, under the bushy shades, you will hear nothing more than the rustling winds through the trees and bushes. The camp can provide meals and you can dine under the stars. The Maasai who are involved in the camp are very friendly and hospitable. They will provide you an insight in their lives, happy to answer all your questions. Sometimes, the camp is visited by the nomadic warriors, young Maasai men who live in the bush. You can also visit them, by booking a special bush night that the camp can organizes for you. This place is often commented on as one of the highlights of roadtrippers on their trip.

The actvities are endless, such as: game drives, walking safaris, traditional village stays, school visits, local dinners and hot air ballooning.

The campsite is aimed at fun, friendly adventure travellers, with comfortable accommodation, from basic camping to cottages, as well as complete safari packages. They also provide clean facilities with hot showers, cosy bar and dining area with good food and a large camping area. 

From camping to luxury tents, the place has good food, and helpful staff and management. In the afternoon you can relax on their big lookout verandah to spot the leopard who resides in the tree opposite the river and drink a cold beer with fellow travelers. Great value!

Camp Carnelley was recommended by a roadtripper who said it is right on the lake, hippo's come out at 9pm so you can see them from your tent. Cracking bar and restaurant. They stayed two nights as you can easily access Hells Gate National Park for easy game driving and the canyon walk is interesting, about 10 mins drive away.

Public campsite 'Malakai' in Lake Nakuru is istuated in the southern section of the park, near the waterfall. It is clean, but with a few facilities.

n array of activities can be arranged within the farm. The farm is beautifully situated with a bird friendly garden.

The River Special Campsite (they call it Isiolo River Campsite) at Buffalo Springs. It's next to the river and has big trees for the shade (no facilities). The campsite is next to good game spot areas, and there are no baboons like at the camp in Samburu.

The atmosphere is informal and designed for the experience-led adventure traveler. Travelers usually dine together in the open-sided dining area or around the camp fire. And by night, owner Nahim will entertain with stories of a lifetime spent in the African bush. We also offer 3-course dining for outside guests.

There are a total number of 30 luxury tents; 18 doubles, 9 with twin beds and 3 with triple beds. Each of the exclusive comfortable deluxe tents provides a view of the Ewaso Nyiro River. The tents are spacious and luxurious decorated. Don't go if you are looking for an unique and authentic safari experience, Do go if you want comfort, relaxation and all facilities at hand.

The two brothers Ben & William are very welcoming, and the view on the Kilimanjaro is breathtaking. Some sofas and a small bar-restaurant are on the place. Highly recommended. Cheap & cheerful.

A public campsite with bathrooms and water, located 200 meters from the Amboseli National Park headquarters. An ideal campsite for Roadtrippers to set up your tent and have a good rest before continuing to explore the National Park.

Maasai Simba camp is perfect for those who are looking for a community experience, friendly staff and a simple, yet welcoming stay.

The lounge area and entrance is really nice to sit, have a drink, read one of the many books about the area, or talk or play a game with one of the Maasai staff that's hanging around. They are very welcoming and friendly and love to tell you their stories about their lifestyle.

It is also possible to go for a walk with the warriors, they walk you into the field where you can see zebra's giraffes and warthogs.

The tents and cottages are simple, but good enough for a few nights.

It can be quite difficult to find a nice and intimate get away for a friendly price. Here is one. Via Airbnb this is a celebrated option in the vicinity of Amboseli National Park. It is a private lodge with only a few cottages. Self catering, so bring your own food & drinks. Alternatively there are a few lodges 5 - 15km away with good restaurants.

Lunch is served out on the veranda and from where you can spot the wildlife. The restaurant serves a la carte menus as well as set buffets. There are over 90 rooms, so do not expect any intimate safari feel, but you do get a swimming pool and a bar serving all the drinks you can imagine for it in return.

Set on the slopes of Mount Kenya, this is a tranquil birding paradise. Magnificent views and very service oriented hospitality from the staff. Owner manager and very recommended by other roadtrippers!   

Rhino Valley Lodge is located in Tsavo West National Park with 6 standard rooms, 10 luxury rock rooms and a campsite for budget travellers. All rooms come with a private veranda, and a great view of animals in the nearby pool. The staff are excellent, and the accommodation very comfortable, along with great food. Rhino Valley Lodge has a fantastic view over the valley and with a direct view of 2 watering holes where a variety of animals can be seen, with elephants, waterbucks, warthogs and giraffes are among them.

A road tripper recommended this accommodation to us. The great thing about these banda's is that you share the price (it's per banda), so if you're with 4 people, you have a very affordable option in the middle of Tsavo West national Park, with the comforts of using the pool and the other facilities such as Gym and Wifi at the Severin's Safari Camp. Worth to give this one a try!

Roadtripper Simon's review of the Kitani Banda's (Dec 2016):
"We would like to recommend the accommodation Kitani Severin Bandas in Tsavo-West. It's very affordable and you can use the pool and you have a little kitchen, very nice."

Besides this, you can take a dip in their swimming pool, play a few games of pool, cards, chess, checkers or volleyball with other guests, or head down for the creek beach. Happy People!

Nevertheless, it absolutely deserves all the praise it has received. It is a beautifully designed place! Two towers separated by a bridge, climbing up high in the trees. All the rooms are open and airy, some even have a 360 degree view over both the ocean and the forest. Big double beds and comfy lounge sofas in the room, and large open showers. You would get married just to make sure you could celebrate your honeymoon here.

Roadtrippers are very enthusiastic about this quiet and private resort, far away from the sounds of the busy streets and its traffic. Spacious, clean rooms and friendly staff. Apart from acces to the beach, you will also be able to enjoy a dip in the pool.

Mawe resort is a beautiful small boutique hotel offering cosy yet spacious rooms. Friendly staff, clean spaces and a breathtaking view make sure that everyone will enjoy their stay at this resort.

Kenyaways Kite Village has delicious meals and affordable accommodation right at the beach and world class surfing in Diani. The rooms are facing the beach and are very spacious. The atmosphere is cool and relaxing.

This place is also called Diani backpackers. Their dorm room surrounds a baobab tree.

Small pool to relax, spa, entrance to the beach and a lovely beach edge restaurant. Every room is a small cottage with rustic/Arabic interior design. Very good value for money.

This place gives you a very comfy and homely feel. Relaxing lounge, great swimming pool. The guy who previously owned the villa must have built it with great parties in mind. It’s 20 metres from the beach, but well secluded. Next door to the 40 Thieves beach bar.

Roadtrippers Ben & Solene: "Best place on Earth. Very peaceful, not many tourists at all. The possibility of camping directly on the sand and waking up with the sun on the Ocean is just unique. Rudy, the manager, is nice and helpful. He can organize excursions on Kisite Marine National Park and snorkelling for you. Beautiful surroundings and cristal clear water!"

Dungu Hill Camp was recommended by a Roadtripper who said it is right on the shore of Lake Victoria, with bar and restaurant. Fabulous sunset lake views.

Clarice Guesthouse was recommended by a Roadtripper and is a small relaxed guesthouse in a nice neighborhood of Kisumu. Nothing very fancy, but a relaxed and cosy B&B stopover on your way to the Maasai Mara or on your way to the Uganda/kenyan border.