Karen Gables

Karen Gables, out from the city center in the forested suburbs of Nairobi, is a wonderful old-world-look Cape Dutch home turned guest house. Before departing with Orphan Trail Safaris to visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust camps we spent two-nights here…and it was just what we needed after more than 24 hours flight time from Dallas to Nairobi. We were made to feel welcomed immediately and through the rest of our stay by William…the majordomo and the rest of the staff. William was always there to be sure we were comfortable and that our needs were taken care of. The home is gracious and filled with things of Africa and beyond, over-stuffed furnishings beckoning to sink into and relax. Stacks of books and photos galore of old family members and new. The rooms are comfortable and mosquito netted at night. No feel of a hotel here…we felt as we were guest of old friends. Dining was out of this world…sumptuous breakfasts with everything from muesli, French toast, pancakes, all sorts of eggs with sausage and bacon and lovely plates filled with fresh fruit. Dinner at the large table was and an exceptional meal with outstanding service and gourmet dishes. I never did meet the chef but I can assure you this…he is a rare talent. Walking through the house to the exterior there is an inviting patio with the most unbelievable view. The yard slopes down and down to a forest with a clearing right in the middle where your eye is immediately drawn past tropical shrubbery and flowering plants to tall trees in the distance. A pool to the left with bar and patio summons you for a drink or a swim…but we walk further and noticed a winding path taking you down the slope past an open library room set up for reading or a game. Continuing on is a tropical pond filled with koi. Finally at the bottom of the forest is an opening in a stand of bamboo with seating. This five minute trip along this sloping trail helped the tension of modern day travel slip away and become replaced by a deep state of relaxation. Yes, the perfect place to start/finish safari…or to escape for a respite for weekend or week. We hated to say goodbye. PS...yes there are some monkeys who entertain you with their capers on the lawn

This is a lovely, traditional style hotel with very welcoming staff, especially William. Comfortable beds, good hot showers, lovely pool area and good food all added to our enjoyment. Nice wines available at reasonable prices from the poolside bar..

What a charming and beautifully decorated place. You could spend a day just going room to room and looking at everything. Beautiful grounds with a nice pool, and phenomenal food. Very much appreciated the a/c rooms (not all have them). The were extremely kind to organize transportation for us, and even a movie night. Really not necessary to spend the money that you do at some of the most expensive hotels in Karen Gables, when you get this incredible care and service with so much charm.

My husband and I stayed 1 night after our long journey to Nairobi. Absolutely adorable & precious manor. Super comfortable room, with easy access to fresh air, which greatly helped our jet lag. It is surrounded by beautiful grounds & offers a pool, which is great for relaxing and rejuvenating. We had exceptional service and great food.

Karen Gables was our first stop in Kenya at the start of our safari. This is a very quaint property with only 8 bedrooms away from the city centre. Throughout our stay of two nights we were extremely well looked after by the staff and the place almost felt like a home from home. The meals we were served were of a very high quality and we enjoyed them immensely. Rooms are spacious with very comfortable beds. A slight issue we found with ours was that there was no door between the bedroom and bathroom area which could prove difficult if you like your privacy ! We were able to visit the Nairobi National Game Reserve, Elephant Sanctuary and Giraffe Centre with our guide. Thanks to the owner Chris and his staff for the personal service and a memorable stay.

This is a long overdue review of Karen Gables. We visited during the summer of 2022 before going on safari; we wanted to rest for a couple of days and see Nairobi before leaving on safari in the Mara. While we were staying at Karen Gables, my daughter and I were injured at the elephant sanctuary. Karen Gables staff accompanied me and my husband to the hospital, served as translators and help, and were by our side for hours. Their dedication, generosity, and kindness were truly extraordinary. Although the hospital tests showed no damage (no broken bones), I ended up having an MRI back in the US that showed extensive ligament tears, etc.--some which cannot be repaired by surgery. I could barely walk and was on crutches in Nairobi. We are so grateful to everyone at Karen Gables for their time, care, and thoughtfulness. Aside from their help with our injuries, we were amazed by the delicious food, beautifully appointed rooms, and discrete but sensitive and gracious attentiveness to our needs. This is such a unique and lovely place--we'd have our coffee while watching the monkeys play in the trees! It's a green sanctuary that is very private and restorative. It was the perfect location for visiting highlights of Nairobi, as well. THANK you to everyone who works at Karen Gables and who made our stay so wonderful, despite an unpredictable accident.