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“There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows, and feel as if you had drunk half a bottle of champagne – bubbling over with heartfelt gratitude for being alive.” Karen Blixen

Those enlightened souls who have already been ‘on safari’ find themselves part of an exclusive club, a camaraderie unlike anything else in the world. We all know the feeling at the start of a safari – that extraordinary wave of excitement and anticipation. The smell of the bush, the red earth and the hot, dry wind, the sense of absolute freedom, and above all the feeling of being removed from petty human struggle and close to the mighty heartbeat of that primeval continent, Africa. It’s beauty is a tonic for any battered soul, and its savagery can break your heart, but above all, you cannot ever forget that you have been on safari and in paradise.

At this time of the year, when ‘The Migration’ of literally millions of animals is about to start in the Serengetti eco-system, all of us here at The Emakoko, as well as the rest of Kenya gear up for the influx of visitors, all anxious to see this amazing spectacle and to join the club of those who go on safari in Kenya. Camps throughout the country are re-opening, new staff are coming in, cars are leaving workshops with brand new paint jobs and for us there is enormous excitement as we all take our places in the “summer orchestra” of a safari performance.

“The Migration” of course is the burning subject of conversation. Where is it? Has it started? Is it early, will it be late? We sit at the bar of the Emakoko with friends in the business sipping my favourite Laphroig whilst the sound of lions roaring and the sudden bark of the odd baboon drift down the valley. The safari community is a small one and we all know each other and have done for most of our lives. We have quarreled and made up, changed jobs, changed husbands or wives, had our children and buried our friends. The environment and the preservation of the wonderful natural areas of Kenya is always a subject for empassioned discussion. The stories are endless and it is a magical time to be in Kenya, the beginning of the season, under the matchless skies of Kenya with their endless carapace of stars.

The Emakoko is of course the platform where safari starts and ends – in my view anyway – and thankfully the wildlife always performs as it should. Our beloved Genets – sleek, beautifully patterned members of the Ermine family have developed from a single, cautious individual into an army of five who believe the Lodge is run for their convenience and who grow bolder by the day. Sitting at the bar I often find myself in mortal combat with one female who has developed a penchant for Steve chef’s margherita pizza – much to the delight of our visitors. She will often leap onto the bar and try to snatch a slice and I find myself, armed with only a fork, trying my best to get her to give it back – needless to say this is not much of a deterrent and she simply curls away from my gentle stabs.

So welcome back, if you are old friends, and a very special welcome to all the newcomers to whom we wish a wonderful safari experience and hope this will be beginning of a love affair with Kenya.

Safari Njema!!!

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“We decided on a short break Safari and although hoping for Masai Mara for travel reasons decided to come to Nairobi National Park. Emakoko was mentioned to us and looked lovely online. We were not disappointed at all. What a wonderful team there and we had a fantastic stay. From wonderful wildlife and game drives including sunset drinks in the park to a very comfortable room with great views from the veranda. The food was to die for and we probably put on a few lbs eating! To Emma, Anthony, our game driver Joe and the whole team who were wonderful – Thanks!”

“Amazing hosts, Emma and Anton, make you feel like family. Jackson was an amazing guide, the entire staff is awesome. Food is fresh and creatively prepared, and Patrick is a great bartender. Take a walk on the grounds to see the resident giraffe, garden and chickens. The park is amazing and a great way to start or end your safari adventure. We saw lions, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs and more!”

“Having spent 15 years visiting Kenya and many safari camps, emakoko is without a shadow of a doubt our all time favourite. We can’t recommend the camp enough. The food is exquisite, the highly trained chefs produce the most amazing dishes every meal, and the attention to detail in the sumptuous and relaxing camp is superb. Only 45 minutes from both Jomo Kenyatta and Wilson airport, we have had the pleasure of staying at both the beginning and the end of our trips to Kenya, and both options are so convenient, we wouldn’t chose any other way to spend our pre/post trips to Kenya. Fully recommended for families too.”

“What an amazing lodge. The staff, the location, the accommodations, the food and experiences were all incredible. A lot of people skip Nairobi National Park when they go on a Kenyan safari which in my opinion is a mistake. It may be a small National Park however it is impressive. It is a great way to start or end your Kenyan safari given its proximity to Nairobi and how exceptional The Emakoko is. Thank you, Jackson for your great guiding, lots of laughs and for taking such good care of us from beginning to end you ensured that we had an amazing experience. Thank you, Anthony/Emma and the rest of the staff for running such a warm and welcoming home away from home. You set the bar very high for the rest of our trip. The views from the cliff rooms are incredible and the outdoor lift to get to the rooms is an experience all on its own. We left wanting for nothing except wishing that we had stayed longer than 2 nights. We hope to come back.”

“Close to the airport and neat way to start off a Safari trip to Kenya. We experience exceptional service, the rooms were large and accommodating, and the safari trips were surprisingly good for being right in Nairobi. We saw lions, rhinos fighting, and enjoyed happy hour at sunset. Elizaben was an exceptional guide and Phanis was the sweetest and most welcoming member of the staff (waking us up each morning with coffee/hot chocolate and cookies).”

“I have been in Nairobi a few times before and opted to stay in Nairobi National Park on this visit. Emakoko is a stunning lodge and provides a marvelous experience for exploring this wonderful park. I had the best rhino experiences on my month long trip to Kenya. They were truly extraordinary. Many other animals and birds are also present. Jackson was a superb guide and we appreciated his knowledge and lovely manner. the entire staff is wonderful as is the owner. the food is excellent. Thank you for a wonderful stay.”

“What an incredible spot this place is – a must for a pit stop when you are on safari in Kenya, or just need an escape from Nairobi. The food was out of this world, a real culinary experience and the staff are just first class. This stunning lodge, so beautifully furnished, is a complete breath of fresh air. Being nestled along the banks of a lovely river gives all rooms a lovely view across into Nairobi National park. Game drives in the park were filled with highlights of hunting jackals, sparring giraffes, more rhinos than we could count & a tree climbing lion. All of this just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi. It was such a treat our only regret was that we did not stay longer – next time we will for sure!”

“We decided on a short break Safari and although hoping for Masai Mara for travel reasons decided to come to Nairobi National Park. Emakoko was mentioned to us and looked lovely online. We were not disappointed at all. What a wonderful team there and we had a fantastic stay. From wonderful wildlife and game drives including sunset drinks in the park to a very comfortable room with great views from the veranda. The food was to die for and we probably put on a few lbs eating! To Emma, Anthony, our game driver Joe and the whole team who were wonderful – Thanks!”

“Amazing hosts, Emma and Anton, make you feel like family. Jackson was an amazing guide, the entire staff is awesome. Food is fresh and creatively prepared, and Patrick is a great bartender. Take a walk on the grounds to see the resident giraffe, garden and chickens. The park is amazing and a great way to start or end your safari adventure. We saw lions, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs and more!”