This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more

Skip to main content

Talk to an expert 1-800-242-2434 Lines now closed

User menu
Thomson's Falls Lodge
Thomson's Falls Lodge
Thomson's Falls Lodge

Thomson's Falls Lodge


0°2’42.5"S 36°22’7.3"E

Thomson's Falls Lodge: Our full report

This old colonial pile outside the town of Nyahururu dates from the 1930s.

The hotel is right next to the popular viewpoint of Thomson’s Falls and offers simple accommodation. Nyahururu, at the northern end of the Aberdare Range, performs a similar role as a supply town and regional base for the western Laikipia region as Nanyuki does for Ol Pejeta and the conservancies further east.

The rambling lodge, with its dark wooden floors and original bathrooms, is a functional overnight stop rather than a place to sojourn for several days. Although we have stayed and called in on various occasions while researching the Rough Guide to Kenya, we haven’t yet done a full Expert Africa inspection.

The falls themselves mark the point where the Ewaso Narok River drops off the highlands to flow north to join the Ewaso Nyiro and enter the Samburu ecosystem. The town of Nyahururu, less than 1km away, was formerly known simply as Thomson’s Falls, and is one of Kenya’s highest at 2360m (7,740ft). You’ll be glad of a log fire in your room, especially if you’re here in July or August.

Well-tended gardens overlook the Thomson’s Falls themselves, but the area near the gorge can sometimes be rather busy with tour groups, traditionally dressed professional Kikuyu photo posers and hawkers.


Our view

We have visited Thomsons’ Falls Lodge a number of times over the decades and it seems to have been able to keep up appearances and, a bit more than that, deliver a pleasant and friendly welcome at a modest price.

Richard Trillo

Richard Trillo

Country manager: Kenya

Geographics

Location
Laikipia, Kenya
Ideal length of stay
1 night
Directions
Thomson's Falls Lodge is on the outskirts of Nyahururu and most easily accessed by road. Nairobi in about 4 hours drive away.
Accessible by

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Half Board
Dining style
Individual Tables
Dining locations
Indoor Dining

Children

Attitude towards children

Communications

Communications
Wi-fi is available.

Health & safety

Dangerous animals
Low Risk
Fire safety

Activities

  • Birdwatching

    Birdwatching

  • Cultural excursion

    Cultural excursion

  • Fishing

    Fishing

Extras

Disabled access
On Request

Other lodges in Laikipia

Alternative places to stay in this same area.


Kicheche Laikipia

Kicheche Laikipia

Kicheche Laikipia is the most luxurious tented camp of the handful of places to stay in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in central Laikipia.


99% (69 reviews)
Laikipia Wilderness

Laikipia Wilderness

Laikipia Wilderness is a rustic owner-managed bush camp, in excellent wild dog territory, offering outstanding guiding.


94% (36 reviews)
Lewa Safari Camp

Lewa Safari Camp

Lewa Safari Camp is a comfortable and homely tented lodge, located in the Lewa Conservancy and offering a relatively exclusive safari away from mass tourism.


97% (22 reviews)
Sosian

Sosian

Sosian Lodge is a distinctive, estancia-style ranch house on a former cattle ranch, with great opportunities for riding, relaxing and seeing wild dogs and other savannah wildlife.


100% (17 reviews)
El Karama Lodge

El Karama Lodge

El Karama is a comfortably rustic, very personal, riverside eco-lodge on a game-rich private ranch in Laikipia, an hour’s drive north of Nanyuki airport.


99% (16 reviews)
Lewa Wilderness

Lewa Wilderness

Lewa Wilderness is a comfortable, fenced safari lodge with nine cottages, great views and a huge range of activities.


97% (15 reviews)
Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge

Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge

The community-owned Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge sits atop a small hill in the remote Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, a two-hour drive north of Lewa Conservancy in north-eastern Laikipia.


98% (11 reviews)
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp

Ol Pejeta Bush Camp

Ol Pejeta Bush Camp is a simple camp, with comfortable tents, delivering an authentic wilderness experience backed up by good food and guiding.


98% (10 reviews)
Borana

Borana

Borana is a comfortable and striking lodge on the Borana Conservancy in eastern Laikipia, offering pleasant accommodation with good food and service and a very wide range of activities.


93% (6 reviews)
Porini Rhino Camp

Porini Rhino Camp

Porini Rhino Camp is a small, simple, well established tented camp, with a keen focus on sustainable and low-impact tourism.


96% (5 reviews)
Sirikoi

Sirikoi

Sirikoi is a small, very high-quality safari camp with excellent service and food and a wide selection of activities.


100% (6 reviews)
Solio Lodge

Solio Lodge

Solio Lodge is an exclusive and luxurious bush lodge set in the private Solio Game Ranch in southern Laikipia.


100% (5 reviews)
Lewa House

Lewa House

Lewa House is a very comfortable, boutique safari lodge located on the Lewa Conservancy, north of Mount Kenya.


100% (5 reviews)
Loisaba Tented Camp

Loisaba Tented Camp

Loisaba Tented Camp is a luxury safari base of tented rooms, ranged along a ridge in the Loisaba Conservancy, facing Mount Kenya. The camp was completely rebuilt in 2016.


100% (4 reviews)
Kifaru House

Kifaru House

Kifaru House is a small, stylish safari lodge in the Lewa Conservancy, with beautiful views across the landscape.


100% (4 reviews)
Tassia Lodge

Tassia Lodge

Tassia offers a unique wilderness experience in a remote location: come here for cultural interaction, stunning views and something a bit different.


100% (3 reviews)
Loisaba Star Beds

Loisaba Star Beds

Loisaba Starbeds is a simple camp of 4 rooms with pull-out, open-air 'star beds', located near a dam in the Loisaba Conservancy, in northwestern Laikipia.


100% (3 reviews)
Sandai

Sandai

Sandai is a pretty, owner-run homestay, set between the Aberdare Range and Mount Kenya, offering a range of activities at extra cost.


100% (1 review)
Karisia Walking Safaris

Karisia Walking Safaris

Karisia Walking Safaris operates camel assisted, multi-day walking safaris from its main camp, Tumaren, set in a remote part of Laikipia.


100% (1 review)
Sweetwaters Serena Camp

Sweetwaters Serena

Sweetwaters Serena is a large, older tented camp – the largest camp in the Laikipia region – in the eastern part of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.


100% (1 review)
Lodo Springs

Lodo Springs

Lodo Springs is a spectacularly located luxury lodge in a remote spot in the Loisaba Conservancy, sister lodge to Loisaba Tented Camp and Loisaba Star Beds.


No reviews yet
The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille

Sanctuary at Ol Lentille

The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille is an unusual safari lodge in northern Laikipia, consisting of three exclusive villas, and offering a huge range of activities.


No reviews yet
Governors' Mugie House

Governors' Mugie House

Governors' Mugie House – a substantial, luxury safari lodge – is one of only two properties in the Mugie Conservancy in northwestern Laikipia.


No reviews yet
Ekorian's Mugie Camp

Ekorian's Mugie Camp

Ekorian's Mugie Camp is a pleasant, family-friendly safari camp in a remote location in northwestern Laikipia.


No reviews yet

Login to Expert Africa

Sign in with password

Sign in with email link


New to Expert Africa? Create an account

Forgotten your details?

It's free & quick to set up

  • Save your wish-list
  • Send us an enquiry
  • Pay online for your trip
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Give us feedback on your trip
  • Full site benefits of the site

Need some help? Talk to our team

Newsletter background

Stay in the know with Expert Africa

Join our newsletter. Get the latest on new camps and lodges, insights from our team, uplifting conservation stories and more...

A few more details and you're subscribed

Thanks!

Almost there! We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. Just click on the link and you'll soon be receiving our newsletter in your inbox.

In the meantime, take a look at our previous Bush Telegraph newsletters.
Africa