House of Waine Hotel Nairobi was originally built in the 1970’s as a private Guest home. It was acquired by its present owners, a local family, and carefully refurbished over two and a half years resulting in the unique boutique guest house hotel that exists today. The local area has been favoured by some famous names in its time and is currently known as Karen after its famous namesake that chose to stay in its leafy suburbs, benefiting from the famous views of the Ngong Hills in the distance. Nairobi House of Waine Hotel Karen itself benefits from having gardens that stretch out to approximately 2.5 acres. This lends a realy feeling of seclusion to the place and therefore it is possible to forget that you are just a stone’s throw from the centre of Nairobi.

The Hotel owners are Kenyan, Eric and Angela Marungi, and exude a strong sense of pride and ownership (infact, the unusual name of this hotel "Waine" is an acronym using the first letter of each member of the Marungi family's names). Like in a city hotel, you won't see much of them; just hear their distant whispers as they make the wheels turn smoothly on the acres of marble and parquet. If you've been on a Kenya safari holiday for a couple of weeks, we recommend spending a day or two at House of Waine Hotel, before flying back home. If you're traveling a long ways to get to Africa in the first place, you might also consider stopping here to "recharge" before setting off into the wilds of Africa.

House of Waine Hotel is situated in Karen Langata an area of large houses for the well off, as well as an unwarranted number of churches and gracious gardens. It's a good jumping off spot for much of what there is to do around Nairobi. Though you can always hear a car off in the distance somewhere, the sound of birdsong is also ever present. It’s also positioned blending with elegance of gracious living with the spirit of modern Africa in an exclusive and serene setting. The aim is to provide guests with an experience that exceeds all their expectations of city hotels and is punctuated by personalised, friendly and excellent service and cuisine in beautiful surroundings.

For a slick Nairobi city hotel with a peculiarly Kenyan twist in the leafy suburbs, try House of Waine Nairobi. It's for people who like peace and quiet, with a bit of first world gloss thrown in. International flights, and holiday safaris in Kenya can leave you feeling crumpled at the edges; this Guest house will give you a good ironing out. House of Waine isn't real Africa, it's too smooth for that; it might be New Africa though, which like New Everywhere Else is becoming more sophisticated and less unusual. The House of Waine is exceptional and truly a prime place to stay while in the Nairobi area.

The House of Waine makes a stunning statement and offers all the comforts of home yet the feel and warmth of Kenya is all there with the open doors to the gardens, the stylish Kenya atmosphere and the breathtaking flowers and design of the building. The service is top of the line. Kenyans are kind and gracious by nature, but the staff are also highly professional and attentive and we really enjoyed talking with them. The food was really good as we had a full English breakfast the two mornings we were there. The rooms are very nice and the bathrooms are marble and large. The Swimming pool is large and is cleaned with dedication. Karen is an amazing community and drop dead gorgeous. Rather than the traffic and congestion of Nairobi - stay in Karen at The House of Waine and you will feel miles away when you are there. Karen is an upper end suburb of Nairobi and it is not far from anything and only 30 minutes from the airport. Kazuri beads are also in Karen along with the Giraffe Center.

The House of Waine has excellent security and you will feel safe and secure and you will be impressed by its standards. The Tembo (elephant) suite is very lovely. Kenya is an amazing country as a whole and you will so enjoy your visit and you will be forever changed. The honeymoon suites are really huge, offers complementary mini bar, home made cookies, coffee making facilities, a good selection of books to read too and convey the atmosphere of a past colonial era. Large beds, spacious bathrooms and more than enough room. Luxury in Africa.  The property is very safe; the grounds are large with a generously sized heated swimming pool. You'll find nostalgia, history, and romantic surroundings at this family-owned boutique hotel. 

It was here that the notorious Danish womanizer, man-about-town, and wannabe coffee farmer, Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, brought his lovely young wife Karen. It was also here that Karen met and fell hopelessly and helplessly in love with the English hunter and adventurer Denys Finch Hatton—their tragic romance was brought vividly to life in the movie Out of Africa starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Colonial ambience mixes comfortably with modern luxury in the beautifully appointed guest suites, each uniquely decorated in vivid colors with elegant furniture and a marble en-suite bathroom. Kids under 2 are free and those 2-11 are half-price. The Karen Blixen Museum is just next door if you want to find out more about this extraordinary woman writer.

« Go Back to Articles

Submit your article to info@africansafaris.co.ke