Few airport hotels come with a waterhole view. At Ole Sereni Hotel, your morning coffee may well be shared with zebras stopping for their own drink.
Opened in 2009 just off Mombasa Road, the hotel looks straight out over Nairobi National Park and makes the most of it. A 300-foot veranda runs along the park side, with the main restaurant, bars and heated pool all lined up to face the waterhole. It feels less like a layover and more like the first chapter of your safari.
Food is a real strength. The Big Five Restaurant serves a wide range of cuisines from its open kitchen, while Eagles Steakhouse on the fourth floor pairs aged steaks and seafood from the Kenyan coast with long views across the park. The Ngong Pool Bar is the place for a sundowner, and the Waterhole Sports Bar turns out wood-fired pizza.
After a long flight, the Duma Salon & Spa, health club and padel court help you reset. The travel desk can also arrange a half-day game drive in the park on your doorstep.
ACCOMMODATION
Rooms are styled with warm hues and African-inspired touches, and you can choose between park or city views. Cozy Rooms make a comfortable base for a short stopover, while the more spacious Club Rooms give you extra room to spread out. For a special occasion, the Wow Suites add a separate living area and a private Jacuzzi on the veranda overlooking the park. All rooms are air-conditioned, with a minibar, safe, satellite TV and tea and coffee making facilities. In-room dining is on hand if you’d rather stay put.
Ole Sereni Hotel sits just off Mombasa Road on the edge of Nairobi National Park, about 8 km from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Wilson Airport, the departure point for many safari flights, is a similar distance away. Both are around 15 minutes’ drive, traffic permitting, which makes the hotel an easy base for your first or last night in Kenya. The city centre is also roughly 15 minutes away. The hotel’s travel desk can arrange visits to the elephant orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum.
Speak to a specialist for availability and pricing.
