Hotels in Kenya

Hotels in Kenya: your guide to where to stay

How much does a hotel in Kenya cost?

The price depends on the standard, the location and the dates. The table shows indicative nightly rates for a double room. The cheapest month is usually June, while August at the peak of the safari season is the priciest. Lodges by the national parks and seaside resorts cost more than hotels in Nairobi.

Indicative rates, updated periodically. For exact prices and availability, select your dates in the search above.

Where to stay in Kenya: most popular cities

The country splits clearly into the capital, the coast and bases by the safari parks. These are the destinations travellers choose most often:

• Nairobi. The capital and the main air hub, with the widest choice of hotels from budget to 5-star. A frequent base to start a trip.
• Mombasa. The largest coastal city, with the beaches of Nyali, Bamburi and Shanzu and large spa resorts.
• Diani Beach. Rated one of Africa's leading beaches, white sand and palm trees along an 11-kilometre stretch of coast.
• Maasai Mara. The most famous reserve, a base for safaris and watching the Great Migration. Camps and lodges rather than city hotels.
• Ukunda. A town by Diani Beach with beach resorts and a local airstrip.

Nightly rates vary between cities. Here are indicative prices per night for a double room:

What to see in Kenya

The country combines safari parks, mountains and the coast, so it is easy to match a trip to your interests.

• Amboseli safari. A park famous for its elephant herds, with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. You can also spot zebras, wildebeest and hundreds of bird species.
• Flamingos at Lake Nakuru. A national park with pink flamingos along the lakeshore and a sanctuary for giraffes and rhinos.
• The Giraffe Centre. A centre in the Lang'ata district of Nairobi where you can feed endangered giraffes up close.
• Diani Beach. Swimming and snorkelling in the warm Indian Ocean, one of the best stretches of beach in Africa.
• Mount Kenya. The country's highest mountain, with trails of varying difficulty for active travellers.

How much does a trip to Kenya cost

A meal in a cheap restaurant is about 500 KES (4.80 USD), and up to 1,500 KES (14.50 USD) in a mid-range place. A local bus ride costs about 80 KES, a matatu from 30 KES, depending on the time of day and route. Large hotels, restaurants and shops take cards, but cash is handy in smaller places.

When is the best time to visit Kenya

June is the cheapest, August the priciest. If you are after the Great Migration of zebra and wildebeest in the Maasai Mara, the best time is the dry months from July to September. Outside the migration season safaris are cheaper, and wildlife is still easy to spot at the waterholes.

Getting to and around Kenya

The country has four international airports, in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret, and the national carrier Kenya Airways links over 50 destinations. Private minibuses called matatus run across the country, serving cities and rural areas. A train links Mombasa with Nairobi (about a 4.5-hour ride). Budget airlines Fly540 and Airkenya run domestic flights to Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi and the Maasai Mara. For safaris off the paved roads, a four-wheel drive is worth renting.

Example hotels in Kenya

A few recognisable properties from different cities for reference:

• Sankara Nairobi and Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi (central, upper tier, from approx. 215 USD).
• Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Voyager Beach Resort in Mombasa (beachfront, from approx. 150 USD).
• Sarova Mara Game Camp in the Maasai Mara reserve (safari camp, from approx. 300 USD).