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The Hemingways, tribute to the American writer
In the vast green countryside of Karen, the Hemingways Nairobi hotel in Kenya offers a lovely setting with antique pieces from the colonial era. The experience of luxury and conviviality pushed to its climax in this luxury hotel in Nairobi which pays a singular tribute to Ernest Hemingway.
Only 40 minutes from the city's international airport, Jomo Kenyatta, and 20 minutes from Wilson Airport, the Hemingways Hotel in Nairobi enjoys an ideal location. In the heart of Nairobi's upscale suburb of Karen, Hemingways Hotel is spread over 10 acres of verdant grounds, overlooking the Ngong Hills. Belonging to the Hemingways Collection group, this luxury hotel in Nairobi pays homage, as its name suggests, to the famous American writer who explored East Africa and fell in love with Kenya.
This luxury hotel in Nairobi perfectly captures the colonial era with its vaulted ceilings, white and peppermint painted columns, and large balconies overlooking manicured gardens. Overlooking the swimming pool and landscaped gardens, the hotel's spa offers a moment of peace and relaxation. Kenyan masseuses prepare tailor-made treatments using fruit (particularly coconut, cinnamon and coffee), local essential oils and Himalayan salts. A magical moment that we try to prolong in the sauna and hammam.
The most beautiful lodges in Kenya
Once rested, we go to the hotel restaurant which serves international cuisine (duck breast, Thai curry or Moroccan tajine) and comforting dishes (pumpkin soup, fish and chips, tarte tatin…) The brasserie is also famous for its tasty meat cooked in the Josper charcoal oven. And to end the evening, what could be better than a cocktail in the Hemingway bar? Dim lighting, leather Chesterfield sofas and period fireplace: The Hemingway bar takes on the appearance of an English club. The must of the must? On sunny days, relax on the terrace of the bar and admire the view of the Ngong hills while enjoying a single malt and a cigar. Modern and lighter cocktails are also on the menu, as are wines from around the world, which can also be chosen from the wine cellar of this luxury hotel in Kenya.
Also, if you do not know what to do in Kenya, you will enjoy discovering the surroundings of the hotel and taking advantage of the activities it offers: atypical safaris, discovery of the Karen Blixen Museum, visit the Giraffe Center or the David Sheldrick refuge. Wildlife Trust where orphan elephants and rhinos are taken in.
Luxury hotel in Nairobi: Sleep in Ernest Hemingway's room
The Hemingways Nairobi has 45 rooms and two majestic and luxurious suites: The Blixen Suite and the Hemmingway Suite. All rooms are spacious and bright and feature large Italian marble bathrooms, with comfortable bathrobes, cozy slippers, and high-end toiletries. The suites also contain a spacious dining room, a bright dressing room and a well-equipped kitchenette. Each room is named after famous people and places, and falls into six categories: Leaders, Safaris, Hollywood, Explorers, Kenya, and Writers. Our favourite? The Hemmingway Suite, of course, which immediately plunges us into the world of the writer and the vintage safari: Warm colors, exposed beams, four-poster bed, chic and retro decoration, mahogany furniture and noble materials. The "colonial" atmosphere is successful, and extends to the suite's private balcony, which offers an unobstructed view of the Green Hills. Green Hills, which, remember, inspired Ernest Hemingway's famous novel "The Green Hills of Africa" in French "Les Vertes Collines d'Afrique".
We particularly like the little details in the rooms, like the old trunks, tripod floor lamps and vintage mirrors. More than a place to sleep, the rooms of this luxury hotel in Kenya represent a destination in their own right, like a luxury setting, out of time.
The height of luxury, the Hemingways Nairobi hotel celebrates laziness by offering the services of a butler to meet your every request. The dream for a most authentic trip to Kenya.
Best Places to Visit in Kenya
Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa (5,199 meters), after the emblematic Kilimanjaro (5,891 meters), is another of the most amazing places to see in Kenya .
Although to climb its highest peak known as Batián you will need to have climbing experience, to complete its neighboring peak Lenana (4,985 meters) you will only need to be in good physical shape so that the height does not affect you too much and have a minimum of 4 days.
If you do not have that much time, it is worth going to this mountain, if only to observe its snow-covered peaks and glaciers, its forests and its wildlife, which includes elephants, leopards, black rhinos and antelopes.
Amboseli National Park
Another of the most famous parks to visit in Kenya is Amboseli, located very close to the Tanzania border and with the imposing Kilimanjaro as its backdrop.
Declared a Biosphere Reserve, this huge park is famous for the large herds of elephants that roam a large part of the savannah looking for food or cooling off in pools and swampy areas. Remember that one of the most iconic postcard photos of Kenya and all of Africa is that of a herd of elephants heading for Kilimanjaro. There it is!
In addition to elephants and other animals such as lions, leopards or rhinos, Amboseli offers a landscape of extensive desert plains, acacia forests, lakes where flamingos live, traditional Masai villages and the Oldoinyo Orok peak, from where you will have a fantastic view of the park.
Tsavo National Park
The Tsawo National Park, divided into two (Tsavo West and Tsavo East) by the road that connects Nairobi with Mombasa, is the largest to see in Kenya with around 21,000 square kilometers.
If you start your visit in Tsavo West you will enjoy a greater diversity of landscapes, although in the areas with more vegetation it is more difficult to observe animals, while Tsavo East is drier and although it does not have as much fauna, it is easier to see some of the Big Five .
Must-sees in both parks include Mzima Springs, Roaring Rocks Lookout, Chaimu Crater, Ngulia Rhino Reserve, Lugards Falls, Crocodile Point, and the views from Mudanda Rock.
Samburu National Reserve
Going on a day safari through the Samburu National Reserve, located on both sides of the Uaso Nyivo river, is another of the best things to do in Kenya .
The abundance of water on the banks of this river fills nature with color and attracts thousands of animals among which big cats such as lions and leopards stand out, as well as endemic species to this area such as reticulated giraffes, oryxes, gerenucs and Grevy's zebras.
Lake Turkana
The little-visited Lake Tukana, located in the north of the country, in the Great Rift Valley, and home to some of the last primitive tribes in Kenya, is another of the most essential places to see in Kenya .
Considered the largest desert lake in the world and nicknamed the Jade Sea for its characteristic color produced by algae, it is quite a spectacle from any of its viewpoints. In addition to observing felines such as lions, cheetahs and many birds, this lake is also famous for the important paleontological excavations that have allowed the discovery of hominid remains from different periods, such as a skull over two million years old and an almost complete skeleton. of a Homo ergaster, which have helped to obtain more information about the origin and evolution of the human being.
Kenyan beaches
Our last recommendation on this list of places to see in Kenya is to enjoy the beaches located between the exotic Lamu and the port city of Mombasa.
In this stretch of coast you can forget about the clock and fully enjoy the Swahili "pole pole" (without rushing) bathing in its fantastic beaches, trying delicious fish dishes, watching incredible sunsets or practicing water sports such as diving and snorkelling.
If you are looking to spend a few last days relaxing, we recommend you stay near one of the most paradisiacal beaches in Kenya such as Diani, Watamu, Kilifi, Silversands and Tiwi.