Set on 15 acres of land and harmoniously built on the side of a valley, with the Mbagathi River below, The Emakoko is in a prime position bordering the far south of Nairobi National Park.
Access to Emakoko is through the national park, meaning that you can begin viewing wildlife less than an hour after departing the airport; pause to observe a lioness and her playful cubs, or wait as a lumbering rhino or graceful giraffe crosses the road in front of your vehicle.
Here you can potentially see four of the Big Five – lions, leopards, buffalo and black rhino – as well as cheetahs, giraffe, zebra, gazelle, eland, impala and hippos. The park is also home to 450 species of birdlife so is a great destination if you're a keen bird-watcher. As well as game drives you can go on guided bush walks, learning about the area and hopefully spotting a few wild animals along the way. It is also not unusual to see hippo from your room, as they often come close to the swimming pool.
With just ten comfortable rooms, this intimate family-owned lodge has an appealing combination of traditional and contemporary style. With an enticing pool and delicious Dawa cocktails [a mixture of vodka, lime juice, brown sugar and honey over ice], Emakoko is the perfect peaceful place to relax and unwind after the exhilaration of your safari experience.
Nairobi National Park is one of the lesser-known safari destinations, but animal lovers will find that it's well worth a visit – especially if you have a spare night or two before venturing to the beach or another safari area – and The Emakoko offers a superb alternative to staying in the busy city of Nairobi.