About Hemingways Nairobi
Opened in 2013, in the green suburb of Karen in southwest Nairobi, Hemingways Nairobi has the feel of a country ...
... house retreat, complete with a butler for each room, and has quickly established itself as one of the capital's best luxury hotels.
Although it is ornate and quite heavily styled, the sense of glitz at Hemingways is balanced by great attention to detail and thoughtful customer service. There's a strong sense here that the staff care about their guests. When you add in the very spacious, well-fitted rooms, nicely presented high-quality food and the assets of a good pool and a first-class treatment spa, the combination makes it one of Nairobi's best bases for a pampered, luxury stay.
Our view
Although it is ornate and quite heavily styled, the sense of glitz at Hemingways is balanced by great attention to detail and thoughtful customer service. There's a strong sense here that the staff care about their guests. When you add in the very spacious, well-fitted rooms, nicely presented high-quality food and the assets of a good pool and a first-class treatment spa, the combination makes it one of Nairobi's best bases for a pampered, luxury stay.
Accommodation
45 rooms
Children
Best for 8+
Open
All year
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Elephant encounter
Traveller reviews of Hemingways Nairobi
8 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 2 Feb 2023, 3 nights
"Hemingways Nairobi review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 16 Jan 2023, 2 nights
"Hemingways Nairobi review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 6 Feb 2022, 1 nights
"Hemingways Nairobi review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 13 Nov 2021, 1 nights
"A perfect start to our trip"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 9 Dec 2020, 1 nights
"Varying experiences, but would recommend"
Overall rating: Good
Arrived 20 Jul 2015, 1 nights
"Great hotel, fantastic room, good food"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 14 Sep 2014, 0 nights
"Hemingways Nairobi review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 13 Sep 2014, 0 nights
"Hemingways Nairobi review"
Overall rating: Excellent








































Expert Africa's gallery
When we travel we take lots of photos ourselves to give you a real and un-edited view of the trips. See our 50 pictures of Hemingways Nairobi to get the candid view.
View galleryHemingways Nairobi: Our full report
Opened in 2013, in the green suburb of Karen in southwest Nairobi, Hemingways Nairobi has the feel of a country ...
... house retreat, complete with a butler for each room, and has quickly established itself as one of the capital's best luxury hotels.
Hemingways Nairobi is part of the same small group that owns the long-established beach hotel Hemingways Watamu and the safari camp Hemingways Ol Seki Mara in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy.
You enter the hotel off the avenue of Mbagathi Ridge – one of Karen's most prestigious addresses – and drive onto the forecourt of a building that might at first glance have been lifted from a South Carolina plantation. The grand, double-storey entrance lobby is light and airy and you'll be quickly welcomed by passing staff. Through the back of the lobby there is a high-quality gift shop and lounge areas, dotted with potted palms; these are overhung by revolving fans and gentle swinging punkahs (ceiling paddles) to keep the air cool and the mood gentrified and rather retro. The basic colour scheme throughout is white and pistachio green. The main dining room is off to the left and all meals are served here, with guests either eating inside or on the verandah. Up a grand sweeping staircase is an area for “fine dining”, with a single dining table - the 'Chef's table' - which can accommodate up to eight diners. This leads onto a spacious bar with comfy leather armchairs and a balcony overlooking the lush gardens.
On the sunny, southwest-facing terrace behind the main central areas, a large fountain and water feature are surrounded by plenty of well shaded chairs and tables and no shortage of waiting staff to serve you drinks and snacks. The terrace has views down across landscaped lawns to a lake and woods at the bottom of the grounds. To the left, on the south side of the grounds, is the heated swimming pool, with access to the spa and gym area. Good-value day-room stays are possible at Hemingways, giving you access to all the same facilities.
To the right, the plot is flanked by the rooms – all of them large enough to be suites in most hotels – which descend in six staggered wings to the bottom of the grounds. Each wing has a theme – Kenya; rivers; explorers; leaders; safaris; and Hollywood – with rooms named and hung with pictures and ephemera accordingly: for example, William Holden and Meryl Streep in the Hollywood wing.
The 23 “executive rooms" on the first floor have vaulted ceilings, an area of 80m² each and a southwest-facing balcony. Those closer to the central areas of the hotel are higher up and therefore have the best views of the neighbouring polo stables and the Ngong Hills sunsets. The 20 slightly less expensive “deluxe rooms" on the ground floor are similar in nearly all respects, and also have an area of 80m², but don't have the same views or ceilings. In addition, there is a junior presidential and a presidential suite.
In every room, polished wood, pastel walls, large, mosquito-netted beds, plenty of pillows and cushions, and cut flowers all deliver a reassuring sense of comfort and style. Standout features of the rooms include: fans as well as air-conditioning; king-size beds (2.25m, 7ft 4in); large TV screens that rise from a chest when required; good-sized room safes containing 3-pin UK-style electric sockets for secure charging of laptops and phones; well lit walk-in wardrobes; and minibar fridges that include fresh milk for tea and coffee.
Beyond all the thoughtful touches is the discrete, permanent presence of a personal room butler whose role includes checking you in and out of the hotel; the option of unpacking and packing your luggage (and pressing anything that didn't survive the journey uncreased); waking you with tea or coffee; serving meals in your room if you'd like to take them there; and generally acting as an all-round personal assistant.
Geographics
- Location
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Ideal length of stay
- 1 night-plus
- Directions
- You need to allow one hour for the transfer to/from Wilson Airport, and two hours to/from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). At night and at weekends you may be able to do these journeys in roughly half the time.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Bed & Breakfast
- Food quality
- The food at Hemingways is excellent. The first chef at the hotel, Barry Tonk, who has worked in Michelin-rated restaurants, installed a charcoal-fuelled Josper grill-oven, and the kitchen rapidly acquired a reputation for its superb beef, sourced from the Morendat farm at Naivasha, where the herd is 25 per cent Boran, 25 per cent Simmental and 50 per cent Angus.
We also really enjoyed the breakfast at Hemmingways. A spread of fruits, cereals, delicate pastries, cheese, ham and yoghurt precedes a full cooked breakfast and a range of hot dishes including roast potatoes and chicken wings. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor Dining
- Drinks included
- Drinks are extra, but not unreasonably priced.
Special interests
- Luxury
- Each of the southwest-facing rooms at Hemingways has its own balcony with striking views of Karen Blixen’s beloved Ngong Hills. Stylish cushions and cut flowers add a luxurious feel to the rooms and a private butler takes care of your individual needs, 24 hours a day.
- See ideas for Luxury in Kenya
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children are welcome, but the atmoshere is predominantly adult. The hotel is open to the public for Sunday brunch and this occasion invites a family-friendly crowd.
- Property’s age restrictions
- None
- Special activities & services
- None
- Equipment
- High chairs and baby cots are available.
- Generally recommended for children
- Parents will feel more comfortable staying here if their children are well-behaved and getting towards their teens or older.
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is 24 hour electricity and guests can charge all of their electrical equipment in their rooms.
- Communications
- Mobile phone signal is fine, and there's gppd wi-fi throughout the entire hotel.
- TV & radio
- There are large, flat-screen TVs in every room.
- Water supply
- Mains
- Water supply notes
- Bottle water is provided.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Good medical care is available within minutes of the hotel.
- Dangerous animals
- Low Risk
- Security measures
- Hemingways Nairobi is gated and fenced and has 24-hour security.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers dotted around the hotel and the staff are trained in how to use them.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Elephant encounter
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is available at extra cost and an express service is available if necessary.
- Money
- There are electronic safes in all of the rooms.
- Accepted payment on location
- All major currencies and credit cards are accepted, including AMEX.
Plan and book your trip with Expert Africa
All of our trips are tailor-made, so we'll always adapt them to suit you. Talk to an Expert and let us plan and arrange your perfect trip.

Talk to an Expert
Call or email us now! We’ll match you with the Specialist in our team who is best suited to help you. Then together we can start planning your trip.

Set up your itinerary
Based on our experience and your ideas, your specialist will create a detailed, costed itinerary. We’ll refine it together, until we have a trip that you’re perfectly happy with.

Prepare for your trip
The same Specialist will make the seamless arrangements for your trip, send you detailed travel documents, and be available to answer any questions before you depart.

Travel with peace of mind
After you set off, you’ll be cared for by our partners in Africa, most of whom have worked with Expert Africa for decades. And if you ever need us urgently, we’re available 24/7.

When you return
We love to learn about your trip, and so will always be grateful if you’ve the time to give feedback to your Specialist when you return.
Hemingways Nairobi's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Hemingways Nairobi.
Excursions from Hemingways Nairobi
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst you're staying at Hemingways Nairobi. Talk to us: these are usually best arranged before you go.

Nairobi Elephant Orphanage visit
One hour, by pre-booking only
Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage for a close-up encounter with elephant orphans – and sometimes rhino orphans. You can visit during daily between 11:00 and 12:00, or make special arrangements for a private visit in the afternoon.
More about Elephant Orphans visit
Nairobi Giraffe Centre visit
One hour visit is generally recommended
Visit the AFEW Giraffe Centre for an eyeball-level encounter with gentle Rothschild giraffes. They visit this tree-level platform to be fed pellets.
More about Giraffe Centre visit
Safari in Nairobi National Park
Half day - AM or PM, or full day
It is truly remarkable that the plains and woodland of Nairobi National Park, an area of around 70km² (some 17,000 acres) should exist in a near-natural state so close to the city that in any other conurbation they would just be suburbs.
More about Nairobi Nat. Park SafariOther lodges in Nairobi
Alternative places to stay in this same area.

Four Points Nairobi Airport
The Four Points by Sheraton, set within the perimeter of Nairobi International Airport, is ideally located for a first or last night in Kenya.

The Emakoko
The Emakoko is a luxurious, owner-managed safari lodge in a beautiful gorge on the edge of Nairobi National Park.

Crowne Plaza Nbi Apt
The Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport (formerly known as the Lazizi Premiere and now part of the InterContinental Hotels Group) is the oldest hotel at Nairobi International Airport.

Eka Hotel
The Eka is an affordably priced business-class hotel in a relatively convenient location between Nairobi International Airport and Wilson Airport.

Ole-Sereni
The Ole-Sereni is a modern, stylish hotel neighbouring Nairobi National Park and located 6km from Wilson domestic airport.

Macushla House
Macushla House is a very pleasant, small, owner-managed bed and breakfast hotel in a leafy part of southwest Nairobi, very convenient for visiting the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage.

Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor is a unique, perennially popular lodge on the outskirts of Nairobi, offering up-close-and-personal encounters with the rare Rothschild giraffes that roam its extensive grounds.

Aero Club of East Africa
The Aero Club of East Africa is a private members' club in the grounds of Wilson Airport, Nairobi, offering offering comfortable rooms and a good restaurant, bar and swimming pool to non-members.

Tamarind Tree Hotel
The Tamarind Tree is a stylish international hotel in a great location next to Wilson Airport.

Karen Gables
Karen Gables is a small, high quality hotel in Nairobi with expansive gardens and only seven rooms.

The Norfolk Hotel
The Norfolk Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Nairobi and has a reputation for its colourful history dating back to 1904.

Nairobi Tented Camp
Nairobi Tented Camp is the only tented camp located inside Nairobi National Park, making it a great option for a true safari stay close to the city and airports.


Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and Cottages
Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens and Cottages is small luxury boutique hotel located in the peaceful suburb of Karen.

Sankara
Sankara is a strikingly built hotel in the bustling central Nairobi suburb of Westlands, primarily used as a business stay, with very good dining and leisure facilities.

Eden Nairobi
One Forty Eight is a very stylish boutique hotel in one of the leafiest corners of the southwest Nairobi suburb of Karen-Langata. The Giraffe Centre at Giraffe Manor is just a 10-minute walk away.

Ololo Safari Lodge
Ololo Safari Lodge and Farm is a luxury property on the southern edge of Nairobi National Park.

The Stanley
The Stanley is a large, traditional hotel – the oldest in Nairobi – offering a range of facilities.

Tribe
Design-led, contemporary hotel in the Village Market area of Gigiri, a largely diplomatic and luxury residential suburb 10km north of Nairobi’s central business district.

Acacia Camp
Acacia Camp is a rustic and affordable safari camp in a wildlife sanctuary a 30-minute drive towards Mombasa from Nairobi’s international airport.
When to go to Nairobi
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Hemingways Nairobi in Nairobi
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Kenya in January
Clear, hot days and warm nights make this high season a popular time for safaris and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling as water clarity is excellent and gets better as the dry season progresses. Most lodges and tented camps treat January after the New Year week is over, as mid-season, making it a good compromise in terms of value for money with reasonably reliable, dry weather and some greenery left in the landscape.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in January, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, January is the second driest month of the year
- Elephants dig waterholes in the dry riverbed in the Samburu reserve.
- Wildebeest and many antelope have their calving season, to February.
- Migrant birds are seen in huge numbers, especially in the Rift Valley.
- Sea water clarity around the coral reefs generally good.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in January
Kenya in February
With the short dry season well established, the grass grazed down and wildlife gathering close to water points, this is still a good time for a safari. Good water clarity in the Indian Ocean's coastal waters makes for excellent diving and snorkelling conditions.
Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in February, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the weather and seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
- On average, February is the driest month of the year.
- It’s sometimes possible to swim with whale sharks at Diani Beach.
- Migrant birds are still seen everywhere, especially near water.
- This is usually peak calving season for wildebeest and many antelopes.
- This month is often the hottest of the year, especially on the coast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in February
Kenya in March
Hot, increasingly humid weather – with good diving and snorkelling conditions at the start of the month – gives way to rains and lower accommodation costs. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in March, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and predicting the seasons since the beginning of this century has been difficult.
March is the month when – traditionally – intensely hot conditions build up until a cloudburst finally happens at the end of the month or in early April, to relieve the humidity. As ever, regional variations across the country can greatly impact on visitors' experiences.
- Sea-water clarity is best for diving before the long rains start.
- Visitor numbers are low, though the Easter holidays can be busier.
- Night skies can be scintillatingly clear in early March.
- Cropped down savannah grasses can make it easier to see the wildlife.
- Temperartures climb high, especially at lower elevations.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in March
Kenya in April
April sees the full onset of the southeast monsoon wind or kusi, which heralds the long rains. Temperatures drop soon after the rains are established and you’ll often have facilities largely to yourself in this more affordable low season, sometimes known as the "green season". The bush quickly springs to life, with greenery sprouting almost before your eyes. While you're likely to get a fair number of heavy showers, the breaks in the rain can yield sparklingly clear conditions.
With the dust settled and bright sun piercing the clouds, conditions can be sublime for photography, especially first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon with another storm brewing. You may be lucky, or you may find conditions very wet and muddy.
- A wet month, the coast often gets more than 300mm (12in) of rain.
- Sunny spells can provide great light for photography.
- Buffalo and zebra calving season often happens in this month.
- Baby crocodiles hatch, for example on Central Island in Lake Turkana.
- Palearctic migrant birds gather to fly north to breeding grounds.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in April
Kenya in May
While game viewing can be trickier as vegetation runs riot, between the cloudbursts the colours and light are great for photography at this time of year. Expert Africa bases its description of climate and weather in May, like the other months of the year, on the climate records of roughly the last 100 years, and while it's reasonable to expect heavy rains in many parts during this month, especially on the coast, the rains don't always come evenly or in some areas come at all.
In an El Niño year, the so-called long rains that normally are established across much of the country by May can be meagre, to the despair of farmers. On the other hand in a La Niña year, the long rains can bring floods. On the coast, the monsoon winds make the climate much more predictable, with heavy rains common throughout this month.
- Frogs breed in the ponds in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest near Watamu.
- Wildebeest, impala and other grazers are in rut (the breeding season).
- Kilimanjaro looks its best as heavy rain falls as snow on the summit.
- There's a sharp peek of rainfall on the coast with many rainy days.
- Accommodation prices are uniformly low, while some camps close.
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in May
Kenya in June
The rains give way to cloudy, cooler weather, often making for comfortable conditions by the end of the month, especially in the highlands. Starting from mid-June or the beginning of July and running until the end of October, this is the high season, and accordingly has higher accommodation rates and – at least until early September – higher numbers of visitors.
While the early part of June can often be rainy on the coast, it can be a great time to go on safari, with fresh greenery, many young animals and good photographic conditions with clear air.
- The Taru Desert, inland from the coast, is carpeted with flowers.
- The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is held in Loiyangalani.
- Madaraka Day (commemorating self rule) is 1 June.
- The annual Lewa marathon runs a course through the wildlife.
- The Diani Rules "sports" event rips up the rulebook at Diani Beach.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in June
Kenya in July
Kenya’s “winter" season sets in (winter is a misnomer but locals feel the change), and the highlands can be rather grey. Skies are often cloudy and the days can be surprisingly cool, with an average daytime high in many highland safari areas of 15-20°C and night-time temperatures dropping below 10°C in Nairobi and the highlands. Lower parts of the country and the coast are usually warm and dry, typically reaching highs of around 25°C with lows in the high teens.
As this is the start of the high season, coinciding with the usual arrival of the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara, July is a busy month. Ask your Expert Africa specialist to advise on how to avoid the crowds, which is not that difficult to do.
- The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Maasai Mara in July.
- Simbi Lake (Kisumu) and Crater Lake (Naivasha) can attract flamingoes.
- Watersports start to pick up and some surfing is possible at Malindi.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are a common feature in the Maasai Mara.
- The sea can be choppy along the coast, making diving difficult.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in July
Kenya in August
The Great Migration fills the plains of the Maasai Mara, and school’s out, so the park roads are full of tourists – ask your Expert Africa specialist for advice on crowd avoidance tactics. Choose a private conservancy rather than a public national park or national reserve for quieter conditions.
Like July, August is generally mild and relatively dry in the safari areas, but it can be very chilly in the highlands, even in the middle of the day, and hail occasionally falls above altitudes of around 2,400m (8,000ft). Nairobi can be disappointingly overcast, with low cloud.
- Apart from Christmas holidays, this is the busiest month of the year.
- Late August sees peak wildebeest drama at the Mara River crossings.
- Coastal winds are good for kite- and wind-surfing.
- Few mosquitoes are around at this generally dry time of year.
- The annual Camel Derby takes place in the Samburu capital, Maralal.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in August
Kenya in September
The skies clearing of cloud signals the start of hot, dry weather with little chance of rain – and, after the first few days of the month, far fewer visitors – making the latter part of September a good time for a quieter safari. While early September is often good for dramatic migration crossings along the Mara River, you might consider deliberately postponing your trip until later in the month, when the migration can still be very impressive and visitor numbers fewer.
If tourist surges are somewhat predictable, however, the patterns of the wildebeest migration are more volatile, and like all of Expert Africa's climate and weather assessments, they are based on accumulated years of experience rather than guaranteed certainty.
- This is still high season, with prices to match.
- Many river crossings take place on the Mara river in both directions.
- Natural bush fires flush out insects and small animals for predators.
- The Rift Valley Music Festival takes place by Lake Naivasha.
- With school holidays over by early September, late-month is quieter.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in September
Kenya in October
Still hot, mostly dry and not too busy, this is many people’s preferred month for a safari, and it’s also good for diving and snorkelling. The wildebeest and zebra herds of the great migration are often still to be seen, though in dwindling numbers. The swamps of Amboseli attract thirsty wildlife including large herds of elephants.
While we wouldn't expect much rain across most of the country this month, the climate has become so unpredictable that you can never say never, and the possibiity of the short rains – usually associated with November to mid-December, starting early, can't be discounted.
- This month sees the tail end of the great migration in the Mara.
- Palearctic migrant birds start to arrive, staying until March.
- Turtle nests hatch at Watamu, until November.
- Amboseli elephants focus on the swamps for their daily water.
- The Indian Ocean monsoon winds turn from southeast to northeast.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
Kenya in November
The northeast monsoon wind or kaskazi heralds the start of the “short rains", usually some time in the second half of the month. From November to mid-December, this is the low season, and accordingly has lower accommodation rates and lower visitor numbers. Across most of the country you can expect warm, somewhat cloudy weather, with occasional heavy showers and localised flooding.
Expert Africa bases its description of the climate in November, like the other months of the year, on the records of roughly the last 100 years, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable: some years the short rains don't come at all, or don't reach every part of the country. In an El Niño year, the November short rains can be very heavy, but in a La Niña year, they can fail completely.
- Swimming with dolphins in Lamu can be done from now until April.
- Birders gather at Ngulia in Tsavo West to ring Palearctic migrants.
- The Lamu Cultural Festival takes over the town and Lamu Creek.
- Agricultural shows often take place regional market towns.
- This is low season, so camps can be great value, with special offers.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in November
Kenya in December
In a typical December, the rains usually finish by middle of the month, leaving the landscape looking its best, under clear blue skies, and heralding the start of the second peak tourist season from around 20 December to the first week of January. Our assessment of the likely weather in December, like the other months of the year, is based on climate records, and it's fair to say that the seasons since the beginning of this century have been highly irregular and unpredictable.
Christmas can sometimes be wet, but most years the rains have finished a week or two earlier, with the festive season ushering in the perfect combination of clear skies and sunshine by day and starry nights.
- Christmas and New Year are busy, with the lodges and camps full.
- Rates are highest after 24 Dec, with supplements on public holidays.
- Republic Day and Independence day are celebrated on 12 December.
- Good kite- and wind-surfing restarts, with strong northeasterly winds.
- Mango season begins, providing excitement for primates and elephants.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in December

Looking for inspiration on where to travel next?
Visit our trip chooser to explore your options and find inspiration for your perfect African adventure
Inspire me