The Ark Lodge

The food was superb, with every dish cooked to taste, and the service was impeccable. It’s an unusual stay high on a hill, with elephants and buffalos constantly nearby, playing and coming for water. Rooms are small but cosy. The shared lounge, with firewood warming it against the cold, feels ready for Christmas.

Service and food were great, and a one night stay is enough for a quick escape from Nairobi. It’s a quaint hotel in a quiet location, built inside Aberdare National Park to resemble Noah's Ark. The structure itself is very good, but it needs extra TLC throughout. The rooms feel dated, and the carpet looks like it hasn’t been replaced in 30 years.

A nice place in the Aberdere forest. There’s a water point and salt lick where elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, and smaller game come to drink and lick salt. You can watch them from the restaurant or the rooftop viewing area.

The rooms are clean, the beds are comfortable, and we could see the watering hole from our room. They’re small, but that didn’t matter much since we spent most of our time on the terrace. It’s a unique experience, just right for one night after a morning drive in Aberdare NP. We were lucky to arrive early, before the buses from the Country Club got there. We could watch and photograph the animals quietly, with no other guests around. It was a moving, one of a kind experience. I just wish some guests would follow the notices about keeping the noise down. Their excited shouting and tapping on the glass spoiled the evening a bit, though the animals are probably, sadly, used to it.