Reviews of The Emakoko
Wildlife sightings and reviews
84 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited The Emakoko and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

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"It's good to be back!"
Minutes after the usual chaotic immigration at JKIA, we were installed in a Land Cruiser with a cool box of welcome Kenyan beers, and twenty minutes of Nairobi traffic later we were entering the National Park in pitch darkness, and laying bets with our guide as to which would be our first wildlife spot (he won - bat - but my nightjar was a close second).
The lodge's location is as extraordinary as ever - an oasis of bush experience within touching distance of the big city. Waking up the next morning to a game drive, we knew we were back in Africa! We were pleased also to say hello to some of the staff we remembered from our last visit.
Of course it's not the same as being out in the more remote parks & reserves, but it does a very good impression of it. It's the perfect place to decompress and recharge your energy after the flight, before moving onto somewhere more adventurous. The Emakoko has very much a safari lodge ethos, with beautifully designed rooms overlooking a wooded valley - although I doubt you would find the quite remarkable outdoor funicular lift in any other safari lodge." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya

Black Rhino
Multiple sightings

Buffalo
Multiple sightings

Eland
Multiple sightings

Giraffe
Multiple sightings

Lion
Multiple sightings

Wildebeest
Multiple sightings

Zebra
Multiple sightings
"The Emakoko "
The staff are well trained and eager to please and the surroundings are lovely. Some reviewers have mentioned the road. The Emakoko is built on the side of a ravine, so yes, the road is steep and bumpy but their drivers and their 4WDs are more than capable of getting you there and back in safety. Just enjoy.
I saw fantastic wildlife in the short time (two nights) I was there. Two lion brothers staking out the plain at dawn, another male lion with two females, adolescent cheetah triplets, a male black rhino, mother and calf, all together in one group; several white rhino including calves; also bushbuck, giraffe, zebra, hippo, black backed jackal and several species of antelope.
The restaurant and bar are run by charming Linus. I didn't have cocktails but the wines were good. The food seemed sometimes to be too ambitious. I had a steak which looked delicious but turned out to be chewy. On the other hand, the snapper with "custard" was so good I thanked the chef. Be prepared for company during dinner. The rooms are open to the surrounding woodland so you may be visited by the resident genets and a bushbaby (who loves to be fed with sliced banana). There are often hyrax on the bridge across the river.
The public rooms are very comfortable and stylish with big sofas and tables with piles of animal reference books. The bedrooms are well equipped and welcoming. Mine had a jug of roses on the table and petals on the bed and bath. Small touches which I really appreciated. Having a hot bubble bath both nights was a joy! Again, some reviewers have criticised the rooms, saying they look 'tired'. I'd agree to a point, but it's not as though you'd open he door and go, 'Oh my God, this is tired, get me out of here.' It's minor, certainly not enough to put anyone off or marr your stay. I just assumed that a very tough two years had tightened the refurb budget. I've since heard that an upgrade is on its way." See all these reviews: 7n in Kenya; 2n in Zanzibar

Black Rhino
4 sightings

Buffalo
3 sightings

Cheetah
2 sightings

Eland
10 sightings

Giraffe
10 sightings

Lion
4 sightings

White Rhino
6 sightings

Wildebeest
3 sightings

Zebra
10 sightings
"The Emakoko review"
Our flight back to the UK was late at night so we stayed for our last night and booked the room for the day of departure as well, meaning we could stay until it was time to go to the airport for our bag-drop. It is a very comfortable camp and the food is excellent.
Nairobi National Park is great for seeing rhino. We saw several white and black rhino and and had a particularly close view of a white rhino which was right next to us on the road. The best encounter with a rhino that we have ever had!" See all these reviews: 15n in Kenya

Black Rhino
4 sightings

Buffalo
5 sightings

Eland
4 sightings

Giraffe
4 sightings

Lion
1 sighting

White Rhino
5 sightings

Wildebeest
4 sightings

Zebra
4 sightings
"The Emakoko review"
We appreciated their flexibility; we are able to invite a friend staying elsewhere in Nairobi to lunch and we had no need vacate our room prematurely (as does happen with some day room stays) even when our departing flight was delayed." See all these reviews: 13n in Kenya

Black Rhino
Multiple sightings

Buffalo
Multiple sightings

Eland
Multiple sightings

Giraffe
Multiple sightings

Lion
Multiple sightings

Wildebeest
Multiple sightings

Zebra
Multiple sightings
"The Emakoko review"
This is a very well-appointed lodge in a picturesque location in Nairobi National Park, with good guiding and excellent food, and we have found that it provides the perfect balance of getting into our safari groove while still shaking off the inevitable jet lag from our travel.
We were very thankful to have a late-morning transfer from our Nairobi hotel to The Emakoko, as opposed to an early morning flight from Wilson, to start things off. We find this plan also helps alleviate any logistical concerns that might arise from a delayed or cancelled international flight into Kenya." See all these reviews: 17n in Kenya

Black Rhino
1 sighting

Eland
1 sighting

Giraffe
1 sighting

Lion
1 sighting

White Rhino
1 sighting

Zebra
1 sighting
"The Emakoko review"
Our flight to Nairobi was delayed but the staff had stayed up and offered us a meal, despite it being 3am by the time we arrived! We declined the offer and that of an early morning game drive, opting instead for a leisurely morning and an afternoon drive.
There is no shortage of game in Nairobi National Park and it is interesting to see it with the backdrop of the city skyline and the railway line, which was not built the last time we were here.
The following day we had a post breakfast game drive to Wilson to get our flight to Loisaba." See all these reviews: 13n in Kenya

Black Rhino
Multiple sightings

Buffalo
Multiple sightings

Eland
Multiple sightings

Giraffe
Multiple sightings

Lion
Multiple sightings

White Rhino
Multiple sightings

Wildebeest
Multiple sightings

Zebra
Multiple sightings
"The Emakoko review"
The rooms are very impressive with a nice decking area, a large bathroom and seating area with fireplace. Although the rooms are of very high standard they are a little tired in some areas and could do with some upgrading ie there was a massive hole in the mosquito net over our bed.
The communal areas are very comfortable and an enjoyable place to relax.
The food was okay. It sometimes felt like it was trying too hard to be fine dining and a lot of it was not to our taste. Personally we would have preferred if they did something more simple but to an excellent standard. The pizza they cooked in the oven around the pool was fantastic. Weirdly they don't do any diet drinks.
The massage we had was very good and the therapist was a very kind, chatty person." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya

Black Rhino
3 sightings

Buffalo
3 sightings

Eland
1 sighting

Giraffe
2 sightings

Lion
1 sighting

White Rhino
1 sighting

Zebra
1 sighting
"The Emakoko review"
The children loved the remote controlled funicular to go up and down the hill to the house, and the pool was a big success despite being on the refreshing side. Food and drinks were absolutely excellent, we particularly liked the house special "Dawa" cocktail. The occasional monkey stealing bread off the breakfast table provided much amusement, as did the snake that Anton had captured and kept to show the children.
Our guide Peter was knowledgeable and the game drives in the National Park provided a perfect introduction to safari. We saw lionesses, rhino, giraffe, ostriches, a leopard tortoise, monkeys, mating hippos - and that was just on the drive to get to the lodge!
Highly recommend, a great first stop." See all these reviews: 10n in Kenya
"The Emakoko review"
Nairobi Park was having the roadways resurfaced so was full of large lorries being driven at speed and carelessly." See all these reviews: 11n in Kenya

Black Rhino
1 sighting

Buffalo
Multiple sightings

Giraffe
Multiple sightings

Lion
Multiple sightings

Wildebeest
Multiple sightings

Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Wonderfull location, very professional staff!"
It was really amazing to see so many animals and to learn about them! I will be back!" See all these reviews: 8n in Kenya

Black Rhino
4 sightings

Buffalo
10 sightings

Cheetah
3 sightings

Eland
4 sightings

Giraffe
10 sightings

Leopard
Multiple sightings

Lion
6 sightings

Pangolin
Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena
3 sightings

Striped Hyena
Multiple sightings

White Rhino
10 sightings

Wild dog
5 sightings

Wildebeest
Multiple sightings

Zebra
10 sightings
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