Kimkim Trip Reviews for Kenya

Fantastic hotel! Staff was attentive. The room was nice and clean. The restaurant had delicious food.

The lobby area was very nice. The buffet was good for all meals. WiFi was only available in the main area which was a challenge. You also could not bring food to your room because monkeys would break in and steal it. Otherwise, great experience!

The grounds of this hotel are amazing! Very cool area to walk around and be amongst zebras, giraffes, and other wildlife.

The first room we were put in smelled like an animal had died inside of it. There were also many bugs, living and dead, in the room that was “freshly cleaned.” We switched rooms without issue from the staff but the lack of cleanliness persisted in the second room. It was also incredibly hot when we were there. There was no portable fan in the room. There was one fan which was mounted on the wall in the room. This would be fine but they put a twin bed with a full wooden bed frame in front of the fan so you couldn’t use the queen bed without sweating all night. Then, at night, there were thousands of grasshoppers. This would not be a problem except for the fact that they kept getting in the room so I heard them all night trying to get past the mosquito netting. Worse yet, the hotel didn’t have any protection for the outdoor buffet. So while we were trying to eat, grasshoppers were jumping into our mouths and food.

It was so heartwarming to see all of the great work that is happening at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and of course, who doesn't love seeing these amazing beings up close. Loved every minute of the experience.

So fun!! Beautiful place

Good hotel, but with some flaws. Slow food service, and no elevators which is a big deal while carrying luggage.

Fantastic experience. The activities were interesting and the staff was very helpful.

Excellent serrvies, very friendly and helpful staff.

Our guide Andrew was an expert in game driving and because of him we saw all the rare animals of the Mara

Very friendly people. Had fun

Good new experience.

The guide was knowledgeable and helpful

The best hotel we visited in Kenya. The rooms were spacious, well appointed and equipped. On chillier nights, we came back to find hot water bottles in our beds! Very friendly, discretely attentive and effective staff who obviously take a huge pride in their work and made us feel very welcome. Great views of the river and hippo, with antelope and other animals around the lodge grounds but not intrusive. Great facilities, including a fire pit in the bar in the evening. A convenient and inviting pool. Great meals (every time) and waiters to welcome you back each time we came in. At 5.30am on the morning we left, there was someone waiting to take our bags when we came out of our tent!! A delightful place to relax after a day on safari.

The tented accommodation was adequate, set in a pleasant environment. Food was fairly basic and lodge routines weren't explained very well - the evening meal is a communal meal at 7pm, and you need to be there at 7! Some staff were friendly, but we detected some tensions among the staff.

A beautiful situation, with views down to the lake and the park, with the Rift Valley on the horizon. Accommodation was good with plenty of space and en suite facilities. A great dining room with good views of the lake. Friendly and helpful staff. A good pool. Comfortable. We enjoyed our time here.

An authentic experience of living with the Maasai people, who are very warm and welcoming. We were a little nervous when we arrived but we're made to feel fully at home and shown around everywhere. We loved the visit to the school and the village, and a real taste of the Maasai culture and community. We were welcomed into their lives and it was wonderful. The meals were all excellent, and particularly the evening meal, with the traditional entertainment afterwards. Though living in a Maasai hut, we felt very safe at all times, protected by the warriors from any wild life. In 24 hours we had made friends and experienced something of the life of the Maasai living at one with each other and with nature. I wouldn't have missed this experience for the world!

An open, quite large lodge just outside the National park. Elephant and giraffe could be seen around it, and a baby antelope was resting in the shade of our hut. The accommodation is quite spacious and well fitted out, with the outer walls of the hut being mosquito proofed. It was clean comfortable. The pool is pleasant and has a pool bar. The dining area and bar are open and give the place a very relaxing and pleasant environment. The buffet food was good with variety, as most of the hotels we stayed in. An enjoyable stay here for 2 nights. There is a balloon safari camp close by, so we were aware of the balloons being filled and fired up on the first morning, but it was not intrusive.

A beautiful setting, with an old style lodge fronting onto the lake, with a huge lawn running down to the water. In the evening, the hippo family come out to graze the grass. During the day baboons play in the garden. The lodge has an early 20th Century country club vibe, but is slightly run down. Our tent/huts were very compact and the bathrooms were in need of upgrading. From 7pm to 6am guests have to be escorted by security because of the presence of the hippos, but that adds a certain charm to the site. The bird life and hippos (in the water during the day) make the setting very attractive, though the abandoned chalets on the waterfront add to the run down feel. The food in the dining room is excellent and the staff are friendly and attentive. Recently taken over by Muthu, so may get the conference centre make-over!

This has fairly recently been taken over by the Muthu group and is set up as a conference hotel. There were several large conferences taking place the first few days, which affected the busyness of the dining room at lunchtime adversely. Our rooms initially were sub-standard and in need of refurbishment. Showers and Aircon didn't work and decor was distinctively worn and shabby. However our complaints and kimkim representation produced significant upgrades to fully functioning rooms with sea views. There are two outdoor pools, a pool bar and access to the beach (public) which we enjoyed. However, the conference focus of the hotel means there is very little to help tourists in terms of available excursions or activities, or support for getting around Mombasa. This hotel has no currency exchange or cash facility, we needed to get ourselves to a local ATM. The food in the dining room was good quality, but on the Sunday the dining room closed as there were no conferences, and we had to order food in the cafe (which was very good - but less choice). The staff were generally friendly, but the management (while responsive to our complaints) are oriented to a conference clientele, not tourists. We organised our own visit to Mombasa and spent most of the rest of the time relaxing by the pool. There is a bar which is very dark and has a large sport TV display, and a cafe terrace overlooking the beach. Also a gym and spa.

A guided tour of some of the history of Kenya that is so fascinating. It combines some of the human history with the rich natural history.

Amazing privilege to watch orphaned elephants being fed! Informative background information about elephants and the work of the Trust. Lots of "Aah' moments

Being able to get close to Giraffe is a privilege, as well as to feed them and find out about the work of the centre. The interaction with the giraffes is fascinating.

We had a guide around the museum which was brilliant as it gave us real insights into what we were looking at. This museum starts to paint the picture of part of the history of Kenya and how people have contributed towards that history. I hadn't realised that coffee doesn't grow well at the altitude of Nairobi!!

A gem of a museum, that also came alive as our guide explained the history and significance of the different artifacts. It has a unique collection of locomotives and the history of the building of the railway is a key to understanding something of the development of Kenay over the last century. A fantastic experience, not simply for railway enthusiasts but also those kenn to understand a bit more of the history of Kenya.

A wealth of natural birds and animals in their own environment. A privilege to witness these - particularly the Rhinos. In addition to lions, Giraffe, Antelope, Zebra and Warthogs, we also saw a Leopard! Such and abundance of nature in all its forms - and so many birds!!

We found this a really moving experience, to be welcomed and included in the family of the Maasai culture. See the Hotel review.

Our favourite Game park. Here we had some unique and special experiences. Seeing prides of lions close up, Cheetahs and their cubs, lion's hunting, Antelope and wildebeest in such large numbers, and then Wildebeest migrating across the R Mara. A wonderful God-given privilege.

These game drives, as described in the Reserve description above, were facilities by Andrew our driver. His experience and expertise enables us to enjoy and have the experiences we had. Thank you Andrew.

WE enjoyed walking around with the animals - as a contrasting means fo transport!! Also the boat ride, with its sights of so many different s[ecies and the demonstration of the Fish Eagle swooping to catch its food! Incredible.

Elephants having fun, elephants keeping cool, young and old. Incredible animals. And also plenty to reflect on with the changing nature of the park and climate change.

The grounds of this hotel are beautiful, and the staff is very friendly. The breakfast was delicious, and we had two great meals in the restaurants. The rooms are simple, but comfortable. My only concern would be that the hotel doesn't have a/c, and if the weather had been hot, we would not have enjoyed our stay as much.

This camp is absolutely lovely. The service is fabulous, and the rooms were very comfortable. The food was delicious. We also had a wonderful experience taking a night safari.

This is a very comfortable hotel with friendly staff. It's a bit hustle-bustle, but it's in a great location. Our rooms were very comfortable, and the breakfast was delicious. We ate at the restaurant one evening and were delighted at the quality of the food.

This restaurant provides a unique experience. We really enjoyed the celebration of African culture and cuisine. The service was quite off, but we attribute that to having a new server.

I loved the setting, the rooms, the dining room and the staff. The hippos and hyenas making night “music” in the river right by the facility were wonderful. I indulged in a massage there and loved the masseuse. Overall the food was spectacular and the dessert tray was an artwork every meal! The staff could not have been more helpful or fun!

The hotel was a great place to spend my last days in Kenya. Beautiful, lots of activities to fill the day…. Camel riding, water aerobics, volleyball, etc!

If you like a touch of luxury in remote surroundings with wildlife at the gate, impeccable service, scrumptious food at every meal, hippos singing in your front yard in the evening, song birds waking you in the morning, and so much more, then this is the slice of paradise you need for your next safari. Sure was for me!

Mid June was a perfect time to be in the park, if you like cooler weather and fewer people. The wildebeest migration wasn’t underway, but there was an abundance of wildlife to be found in every direction.

Great beautiful location. Nice eatery area and pool.

Great immersive cultural experience. I would like to commend the Maasai community for accepting and immersing our group into the Maasai culture. The Maasai warriors and women shared a special piece of Kenya that I will carry in my heart forever. To say this was a riveting cultural experience would be an understatement.

Beautiful location and friendly staff.

Love the luxury tents!

Beautiful hotel and great friendly staff. Great views of open terrain and wildlife.

Nice facility, great staff and cooked to order meals.

We decided to skip this experience.

First, I would like to commend the Masai community for accepting and immersing our group into the Masai culture. The Masai warriors and women shared a special piece of Kenya that I will carry in my heart forever. To say this was a riveting cultural experience would be an understatement. With that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share my concerns with Susan, manager or overseer. As a liaison for the Masai people. I think you could be more effective behind the scenes of the operations of the Masai cultural camp. Through my own observation, your persistent interruptions, comments and corrections were condescending and ill mannered. For someone who has lived among the Masai for 13 years I found some of your comments to be culturally insensitive. Your presence gave the experience a corporation type feeling as opposed to providing historical and cultural value. You were a distraction and made this experience seem like a workforce instead of authentic Masai culture. I encourage you to read about African history and colonization, cultural relativism, cultural influence and ethnocentrism to understand better your own prejudices and better effect change among the Masai community. I hope this criticism is constructive and I would be more than happy to provide additional guidance upon request.

The hotel and staff are lovely. We felt special and like part of the family. Two issues: the amount of time it took to prepare meals, considering we were on time constraints and being charged for a bottle of wine that was placed on our table that no one requested. We assumed that it was included, only later to be charged. Deceiving practice that should be eliminated.

Reserved a room for 3 people. Was given a third make-shift bed in the sitting area that did not include a mosquito net around the bed. Felt we did not get what we paid for. The food was really good though and grounds are beautiful. Recommendation is for carpeting to be removed from rooms and dining in order to reduce the musty odors.

No hot water in the shower, room untidy and full of insects. However, the property is charming.

I don't really know how to rate this establishment. On the one hand, the staff, food and overall experience were memorable. On the other hand, the owner was extremely off putting and offensive. The owner also owns Nariku Travel. She is a white woman and served as the face of the cultural camp during our stay. She "educated" us on the life of the Maasai people. She often spoke harshly and in a condescending manner to the staff, attended all meals and most events with us and was overheard telling her husband (the chief) that she was not going to sleep outdoors with us because she could not go another night without running water. She should serve her function behind the scenes. It was mentioned that she lives in a house with running water and electricity not far from the camp; while all the members live in much less modern conditions. She found a way to profit from what used to be a journeyman's layover location. What a shame. I wish I knew more before attending. Despite her interference, the Maasai people deserve your love and support.

Very cute and well-appointed luxury tents. The property allowed us the visit of many animals and spottings along the river. The food was okay, but the scenery and lodging made up for what it was lacking.

Most staff were awesome, a few were snooty. The water was intermittently hot and/or cold and extremely salty. The power went out occasionally, but for short periods. The pool and ocean were lovely. The snorkeling excursion was amazing. The evening entertainment was so-so. Room amenities were an issue. I had to change rooms due to telephone and shower not working. In my new room, AC stopped working. Friends had to change room due to AC not working. Food options were plentiful and offered almost around the clock. Cocktails included in the all inclusive package were prepared well and not watered down. Onsite amenities were basic but enough. Massage was priced well and enjoyable. Overall, a nice stay.

This activity was well-organized, allowing us to arrive before larger groups for a more individualized experience. The staff was informative and cautioned us about getting too close to the giraffes.

This was an enjoyable experience. The boat driver worked hard to give us the best experience, even arranging for us to see a bird catching a fish. We also saw hippos and crocodiles, which were impressively large.

The guides were excellent, ensuring that we saw all the "big five." They were well-coordinated with other tour guides, sharing information about animal sightings so that we could have the best experience possible.

This hotel is a bit outside of downtown Nairobi, but it was perfectly situated for our excursions to the Giraffe Center and Sheldrick Trust. The staff were friendly and having breakfast/dinner on the deck was wonderful. Excellent coffee.

The staff at Lake Nakuru were wonderful and the view of Lake Nakuru and the surrounding landscape was absolutely stunning. Would absolutely go back.

Our visit to Maji Moto was probably the most magical part of our trip to Kenya. Susan, Salaton, and all of the staff at the camp were so welcoming. We experienced Maasai culture and a taste of daily life in the village in an authentic way. The Maasai we encountered did a marvelous job of bringing us into the experience, rather than simply having us observe. Our experience at Olpul Bush Camp was truly special and we cannot recommend it highly enough. We loved watching and participating in the Maasai traditions of building the fire, preparing the goat, telling stories, singing, and performing sacred rituals. It ended up raining while we were there so we did not get to sleep on the leaf beds, but our tent kept us dry and the morning trek back was spectacular.

The food and customer service at Ashnil were excellent. We loved our waiter Timothy! Maasai Mara is a magical place and we loved returning to Ashnil at the end of our game drives to relax in our tent or at the bar. We got to see hippos from the camp as it is situated on the Mara River - they were a little loud at night but that added to the adventure!

The food at the Peponi was truly excellent! Still dreaming of the Swahili feast we enjoyed by the pool. The owner, Carol, was very helpful when it came to giving us local information, booking excursions, and generally helping us to structure our time in Lamu. It was the perfect place to relax after a week of safaris.

Seeing the baby elephants up close and personal was truly magical. The keepers knew every elephant by sight and name and answered questions in addition to giving information about conservation efforts.

Getting to feed the giraffes was simply magical. The guides are also very knowledgable and we learned a lot from them!

Absolutely worth doing! The most magical experience we had while in Kenya which is really saying something. Truly an authentic cultural experience. The Maasai did a wonderful job of bringing us into the experiences of building the fire, preparing the goat, singing, and performing rituals.

The landscape is stunning and we saw every animal we were hoping to see! Such a magical place - highly recommend!

We got to see so many rhinos and the views were beautiful.

Extremely interesting stop on our trip. We got to see traditional Swahili architecture and learn about Swahili culture and food. Sunset sail on a dhow is a must and the beach was wonderful.

Great food. The views of the watering hole were wonderful, watching a pack of hyenas try to take down animals for hours was fascinating as was the following night seeing herds of buffaloes and elephants come through with their young babes. Having said that, the rooms are cramped and one can feel trapped. It is a good first stop out of Nairobi and a great place to have jet lag because one can wander downstairs and watch animals at all hours.

We did not go during the migration but we saw all the major cats and lots of large herds. Our Guide Andrew Kamau was so knowledgeable and thoughtful that it was a joy. We liked birds and he found and identified them all.