Find Hotels in Nanyuki, Kenya

Three of us were in the Nanyuki area for a bike race and booked Penguin House, mostly based on the food reviews. It was even better than we expected. The rooms are great, the sitting area terrific, and the whole place just has a really comfortable feel to it. The staff are top-notch and attentive, full of personality. The food was incredible -- the best fish and chips I've had in East Africa! The owner was friendly, easy to speak with, and a pleasure to get to know. Next time I'm in Nanyuki, I'll book at Penguin House again.

This hotel has a great reputation in Kenya, which is a bit over-blown if you've travelled outside the country. The rooms are tired and dated. They look like something out of a 1930s movie -- and indeed all the photos on the wall indicate this once was a favorite stop of movie stars of that era. But the food more than makes up for it, and it's a great place to relax. I also really enjoyed the game drives, even though they ended up being really expensive because I was alone. If you go with a number of people, the price goes down significantly. The best thing about the hotel is the staff who are not only professionally but very friendly -- and they were just as friendly and welcoming to my Kenyan friends who came to pick me up for the drive back to Nairobi as they were to me, a paying guest. That is the test of a great hotel. This is a good stop on a circuit of Kenya, but keep your expectations in check.