Reviews of The Emakoko
(98%) From 34 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Emakoko
The Emakoko is a unique experience - fantastic location on the southern edge of the National Park giving easy access for game drives. Superb ambiance in the main building with the bar and restaurant area and great food. very friendly and personal welcome and service from the owner and all staff.
The room was also very good with decent (and huge) bathroom and great service including putting mosquito nets etc around the very big and comfortable bed. We were in rooms 2 and 3 which are a short walk from the central building. Number 1 is closer and 4 and 5 are a bit further away but no problem.
However rooms 6 to 10 are on the upper level with great views but it is a serious climb up to these rooms and you have to be fit enough to climb a set of 80 to 100 stairs.
HAVEN
Well what can I say about this place - after driving through the National Park our driver made a turn to enter a very steep hill this was like the steepest "driveway" I have ever seen, a hair raising experience but driven with care for us in the back but worth every scary moment as Emakoko into view.
The welcome we got here was truly amazing, first impression here was what a fabulous place in a great location. The room we had was spectacular, beautiful everything. The food was the best we had had this trip - so pleased to see fresh salad. The service from all the staff was friendly.
After travelling we were more than pleased to see a swimming pool which we made very good use of, a very pleasant way to finish our trip.
We would like to say that Anthony & Emma deserve a 5 star rating for their hospitality.
The Emakoko, Nairobi
We wanted to spend one night in Nairobi before flying home in order to squeeze a visit to the David Sheldrick Sanctuary to visit our foster elephant.
If you need an "overnighter" in Nairobi, then the Emakoko is the place to stay. It is comfortable, friendly, well organised and the food is delicious. Don't research anywhere else!
Great stay on edge of Nairobi National Park
Great experience right from the start.
We were met by our guide, Elisaban, on arrival and had our first game drive on the way to the Emakoko where we were warmly received by Anthony and the staff. We were very happy with everything, the lodge was beautiful, food excellent (had dinner outside by candlelight).
Can't recommend it highly enough.
The Emakoko - luxurious and comfortable
The lodge is in a beautiful setting on the edge of Nairobi National Park, rhinos were our target species here and we were not disappointed! James, our guide made sure we didn't miss anything.
The food and service were outstanding, and Anthony a very genial host. All the staff were friendly, helpful and efficient, even making sure we were checked in for our flight with our chosen seats.
The rooms were huge, and very comfortably furnished, with a verandah as well.
The Emakoko review
Nairobi National Park is a truly remarkable place. As the city grew rapidly from nothing at the end of the 19th century, this originally wild place is now one of Africa's major cities. But a piece of far-sighted city planning meant that a tract of wilderness has been preserved right next to the skyscrapers, airports and congested traffic, a place where genuinely wild rhinos can be photographed with a city back drop.
It's not the bush, of course. But at the wonderful Emakoko, Anthony and Emma have managed to create a genuine safari experience that feels miles away from the mobile phone ads, shopping malls and mini-buses. It's in a secluded corner of the park where a wide open-sided dining room and bar overlooks the pool and river. Arriving from London late at night, we were driven (after a slightly worrying approach through a shabby industrial estate) into the National Park in the darkness (one of the very few times KWS will allow driving in a National Park at night) past grazing hartebeest, and warmly welcomed with a late supper at the lodge. Next morning, a rhino had come down to the river to say hello, and we were out in the park early before the local tours arrived. (Every car would stop and say "Have you seen anything?". We soon realised "anything" just meant "lion". There is a lot more to Nairobi NP than lions. Though they are there).
The owners used to run Elsa's Kopje, a lodge with a strong reputation, in the much more remote Meru NP and have brought a number of staff including guides and chef. The food is certainly excellent and many Nairobi residents come to stay just for that. Our guide, Elizaban, had come from Meru and was knowledgeable on all aspects of the wildlife in the park, including birds as well as mammals.
The rooms and public areas are all well-designed and have the feel of a lodge rather than a hotel. There are lots of nice touches like the old photographs of East Africa and Kenyan roses from a local farm. Each room has a large bathroom with bath as well as shower, and a deck overlooking the river, where birds and mammals can be seen wandering. Emma & Anthony are great hosts and more than happy to share their vast experience of safari life over a Tusker beer or generous gin and tonic (made by the enterprising Patrick, who is also the lodge carpenter) in the bar.
Nairobi NP is not a bush wilderness, but at the Emakoko, as darkness falls and the tour buses leave the park, you'll feel for a while like the city doesn't exist.
Relaxing Stay at The Emakoko
Please see prior comments. [Ed: see below]
Read more about the whole tripRelaxing Stay at The Emakoko
We thoroughly enjoyed our stays at The Emakoko, both before and after our Maasai Mara safari. The lodge is beautiful and the service and food impeccable. Peter was an excellent guide on our game drive and helped us spot rhinos, which we were unable to see in the Mara.
We wish we could have enjoyed a longer stay at The Emakoko as it was so relaxing. I would encourage future guests to consider an extended stay as the experience makes for a lovely retreat. We look forward to an opportunity to return.
The Emakoko review
The camp was really nice and we got a lovely welcome after a long trip from England.
The only thing that went wrong was the pick up the driver was not there when we came out , which was very disappointing , and then when we did find him he told us he was there all the time . ( we had gone up and down to look for him )
Expert Africa comments
The Emakoko has responded to this feedback and say they are very pleased that Mr and Mrs F enjoyed their stay, but they totally understand why they were upset, as they had every reason to be. They have talked this through in detail with their driver, whose parking ticket shows he was indeed at the airport, so they cannot understand why they missed each other. They do however say that in the somewhat chaotic atmosphere in the arrivals area, it can sometimes be difficult for drivers and travellers to connect immediately.
They sincerely apologise if their driver didn’t make himself as visible as necessary and stress they will make even greater efforts in future to be at the front of the crowd and holding their passengers’ name boards high. And we would stress that any travellers who are concerned that their driver is not there to meet them should call their lodge or camp with the numbers we provide in our pre-departure travel documents. Happily, it’s a very rare problem.
The Emakoko review
Camp very good as was guide. Traffic problems getting to domestic airport next day very bad so maybe not a good idea after all to stay there.
Read more about the whole trip
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
