Sarova Stanley Hotel

Superior

The hotel, established in 1902 is a slice of Victorian elegance right in the heart of modern Nairobi’s heat and bustle. The Sarova Stanley has 217 individually air conditioned rooms all of which contain a television, mini bar, in room safe, hairdryer, en suite bathroom and 24 hour room service. The hotel features the Thorn Tree Café, and a poolside café and bar. The Historic café guards the hotel’s entrance and has the world famous Messenger – an acacia xanthophidea, whose message board has formed the centerpiece of the legendary Thorn Tree Café since 1959. Although the café is now on its third acacia, the messages keep flowing from the café and the atmosphere of Africa's best known meeting place is still as warm and welcoming as it was in those early days. The hotel’s fully equipped health club, staffed by fully trained instructors, features a gym with state of the art cardiovascular equipment and a fitness centre with daily aerobics classes, as well as spacious saunas, steam and relaxation rooms. Breakfast is included.

Nairobi Serena Hotel

Superior

On the outskirts of Nairobi's Central Park, shaded by jacaranda, bougainvillea, and acacia trees, stands the Nairobi Serena Hotel. The tranquil setting belies its location – just moments from most city attractions, including art and cultural institutions, shopping, nightlife, and entertainment, and convenient to nearby game reserves.  A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, Nairobi Serena Hotel offers exceptional standards of accommodations, service, cuisine, and amenities.  The restaurant and health club are the finest in all of Nairobi. 

Nairobi Serena Hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and stands amidst lush tropical gardens with panoramic views over Nairobi’s Central Park and the glittering downtown skyline. Despite its pivotal central location, the Serena also remains true to its title and offers an oasis of serenity amidst the bustle of one of Africa’s most vibrant capital cities. Sensitively constructed from ecologically sympathetic materials, the interior décor of the hotel reflects a kaleidoscope of cultural influences blending Moroccan mystique and a breadth of African heritage into one elegant and harmonious whole. All rooms are appointed to the highest international standards and have been individually interior designed along pan-African themes. Breakfast is included.

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

Superior

Framed against the glorious backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain, the magnificently beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro, surrounded by miles of rolling grasslands, patrolled by vast herds of elephant, shaded by the lush, feathered-green of an acacia grove and hugging the banks of a gently flowing river, this very traditional lodge creates a true safari destination experience. The lodge itself draws on a subtle Maasai cultural motif, featuring natural woodcarvings, traditional artifacts and a glowing selection of local art. Sensitively located and built from ecologically sympathetic materials, its architectural shapes, style, textures and colors reflect the true essence of the African bush. They also enable it to blend effortlessly into the landscape and work in gentle harmony with the natural environment.

The rooms, each with an uninterrupted view over the ever changing vistas of the African plains, are styled to a traditional Maasai concept featuring beadwork, gourds, hand painted murals and the clever use of the traditional manyatta bent-brushwood effect so as to blend an authentic nomadic aura with all the comforts of unabashed five star luxuries. Guests can also enjoy an acacia shaded swimming pool fed daily by the melt waters of Kilimanjaro, a selection of natural timber game viewing decks, a water hole for the animals and an alluring selection of watering holes for the guests. All meals are included.

Samburu Serena Safari Lodge

Superior

Set in a landscape of endless skies, dust red plains and palm fringed rivers, this refreshingly rustic lodge is renowned for the timeless beauty of its landscape and the serene tranquility of its setting. Nestled amidst the acacia groves that border the crocodile filled reaches of the Uaso Nyiro River, the lodge stands center stage to miles of lion stalked grasslands, elephant studded plains and wildlife teeming bush. It is also ideally placed for visits to the neighboring parks of Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserve.

The long, low, shingled buildings of the lodge blend seamlessly into the soft green of the acacia woodlands lining the banks of the languid brown loops of the Uaso Nyiro River, whilst the architectural style makes optimum use of soft local stone and traditional Samburu building motifs.

The cool of the interior, meanwhile, reflects a strong ‘khaki and canvas’ safari influence enriched by a vibrant selection of age old Samburu masks, spears and ceremonial treasures.

Each room is accommodated in a prettily shingled timber cottage with its own blossomed veranda looking out over the river. The décor incorporates quintessential Africa and features a tranquil blend of traditional safari colors, draped nets, soft lamps and stunning Samburu art. At the end of an action packed day, guests can also enjoy a dip in the cool, blue waters of a rock paved swimming pool, set amongst the lush foliage of an extensively planted tropical garden.

The breeze-cooled bar and dining area overlooks the flood lit expanses of the river and game viewing arena where lumbering herds of elephant gather nightly and shy leopards are lured to the forked branch of an acacia tree where a haunch of meat has been laid out for them. Menus are styled to feature traditional bush barbecues, spicy ethnic cuisine, internationally themed dishes and a broad selection of hearty safari favorites. All meals are included.

Sarova Shaba Game Lodge

Superior

Because the Shaba Game Reserve is semi-desert, the lodge is an oasis with a lot of fresh running water from a natural spring. The grounds are well tended and the buildings are thoughtfully designed to blend in with the environment. Accommodation is in thatched chalets, which face the river and have en suite bathrooms, mosquito nets and fans. The Surpelei Restaurant overlooks the free forming swimming pool and serves a wide variety of cuisines to suit even the most cosmopolitan palate; from breakfast and lunch, to table d'hote dinners. There is also a poolside and lounge bar. All meals are included.

Sarova Lion Hill Lodge

Standard

Set on a plateau in the Rift Valley, overlooking one of the world's greatest ornithological spectacles – Lake Nakuru, stands Sarova Lion Hill Lodge. Beautifully landscaped with natural foliage and a startling variety of flowers, the lodge offers comfortable accommodation complemented by delicious cuisine. The panoramic view from the lodge reveals a shimmering pink glow across the lake, created by millions of flamingo, pelicans and Marabou storks. The park is also the sanctuary for the rare black rhino, leopard, waterbuck and many species of bird. All rooms feature en suite bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities and a verandah with panoramic views of Lake Nakuru. Amenities include restaurant, bar, swimming pool, sauna and curio shop. All meals are included.

Serena Mountain Lodge
Superior

The only ‘tree hotel’ ever to be built on the slopes of Kenya’s legendary Mount Kenya, Mountain Lodge offers great game viewing whilst combining a glorious panorama of mountain vistas with the primordial splendors of an ancient rainforest. Floating high on the flanks of Kenya’s highest mountain and secreted deep within her largest forest reserve, the lodge offers not only the champagne clarity of mountain air, the tranquility of the forest and a colorful cavalcade of wildlife but also the chance of scaling the icy peaks of Africa’s second-highest mountain.

Guests can also awake to the trumpeting of elephant, fall asleep to the symphony of the African night or sit in stillness and observe the fascinating interplay of the animals as they arrive to drink, bathe, spar and forage around the water hole. Finally, they can venture down to the secret viewing hide by the water’s edge and experience the awesome thrill of being only meters away from some of the most massive beasts on earth.

Sailing like an ark above the rainforest’s waxy-green canopy, the first sight of Mountain Lodge sets the scene for the experience to come and provides a dramatic climax to the tantalizing approach up the lower slopes. A timbered drawbridge leads from a winding path in the depths of the rainforest, over a moat of sun dappled jungle and up on to the wooden ‘decks’ of the forest-green, timbered lodge. Inside, the impression of having boarded a ship is perpetuated by a combination of log paneled walls, timbered game viewing decks and winding stairs leading to a selection of snugly comfortable, cabin styled rooms. Cool, tranquil and hushed for optimum game sightings, the open air viewing deck looks down onto the endlessly shifting scenes of the wildlife theater that troops and teems around the salt lick and waterhole below.

Come evening, the softly glowing lamps and warmly upholstered armchairs allow for optimum night viewing whilst for those in search of a really close wildlife encounter, a special ‘hide’ has been built at the water hole’s edge delivering closeness to some of the world’s rarest animals. Inside, the cozy bar centers on a glowing fire and has been tastefully decorated with traditional Kikuyu handicrafts and a series of sepia prints depicting the traditional Kikuyu way of life.

The brightly renovated rooms feature thick-pile locally woven rugs and wall hangings, whilst the décor has been designed to provide glowing warmth and fireside comfort against the evening chill of this unique tropical mountain environment. The traditionally timbered dining room is surrounded by windows and has been built on stilts so as to seemingly float above the liana-strung forest whilst commanding enchanting views over this primeval environment. The menu has been planned to offer a blend of traditionally hearty safari favorites, spicy ethnic cuisine, crisp salads and internationally themed dishes. Breakfast and dinner is included.

Kichwa Tembo

Superior

Overlooking the endless game filled plains of the Masai Mara and shaded by dense forest canopy, this oasis of Hemingway style tents nestles below the Oloololo Escarpment. Kichwa Tembo's public areas include a reception area, lounge, bar and dining area, shaded swimming pool and leisure area all overlooking the endless game filled plains of the Masai Mara. Each well appointed tent affords sweeping views over the greatest grassland system on earth, still under the guardianship of the pastoral Ilkareskeshe Maasai tribe. There are 40 twin bedded safari tents with en suite facilities and all tents have stone floors, shower, toilet, washbasin, dressing table and wardrobe. The camp also has a curio shop and gallery.

Besides witnessing the ancient and often tragic spectacle of the migration, other marvels include black maned lion, cheetah, giraffe, elephant, red-tailed monkey and a host of antelope. Interpretive game drives and bush walks with resident guides and naturalists reveal the wonders of the Mara – as do bush breakfasts, visits to the Maasai cultural villages, sundowners on the escarpment or candlelit dinners beside the Mara River. All meals are included.

Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Superior

The lodge is secreted deep within the Masai Mara National Reserve and is set high on a bush cloaked hill, embraced by unique vistas and washed by a sea of richly rolling grasslands. It stands center stage to one of Africa’s most dramatic wildlife arenas and has a ringside seat for the greatest wildlife show on Earth, the legendary migration of the wildebeest.

Drawing its inspiration from the traditional Maasai cultural motif of a cluster of domed, mud-colored huts encircled by a “Boma” of brushwood, the Mara Serena offers a rare blend of raw African splendor and sumptuous sophistication. The essentially ethnic décor also draws on a vibrant color palette of sun burst colors, embellished by a unique selection of Maasai art to create the look and feel of a traditional bush encampment. The lodge features individual rooms, each with their own balcony and view of eternity, a sky blue swimming pool and a spectacular restaurant, overlooking a water hole where a fantasia of creatures collect to drink.

Styled to mirror the circular motif of a traditional Maasai "Manyatta", the lodge has been designed to blend international sophistication with raw African beauty. The wide spaced and secluded rooms have been sensitively designed so as to blend seamlessly into the landscape whilst offering magnificent Mara vistas from their private verandas. As for the interiors, individually styled in exuberant bush colors they also feature spacious bathrooms. The traditional safari-styled dining room overlooks the Lodge's water hole and features a vibrant bar area, a relaxed candlelit atmosphere and menu choices that include a broad selection of imaginative and traditional safari favorites. All meals are included.

Sarova Mara

Standard

To capture the true spirit of East Africa, there is nothing quite like the experience of adventure in Kenya's Masai Mara; the richest game sanctuary in Kenya. Situated on a natural elevation between two streams, Sarova Mara is the ideal base for safaris to this 'lion and elephant' country. The camp is set amidst wide gardens with manicured lawns and exotic flowers, whilst each of the 75 tents has a permanent roof and floor, own bathroom, hot water supply and electric supply.

Facilities include a restaurant serving cuisine of the highest international standards, bar, a well-stocked curio shop and a sparkling swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers. The viewing deck of the Panorama Bar provides magnificent views of the surroundings as you enjoy a refreshing drink. All meals are included.

Contact United Vacations 1-800-417-9246