“This remarkable, peaceful, luxurious place exceeded any hopes we had for our stay in Nairobi. Mario and his lovely family made us feel like we were coming home. Our room was large, gracious, uplifting and super-comfortable. Arrangements were effortless and every need accommodated. Breakfasts were terrific. Masha, the housekeeper, is saintly. Mario arranged a car for us at 3 AM (!!) when our flight was delayed. In short – this is the place to stay in Nairobi!!”

Martin, California, September 2017

The charming Casa ya Ndoto (‘the house of good dreams’) is now the private residence of a small family with young children who live in the main portion of the house. Host Mario and his family are often around to greet visitors, and housekeepers Masha and Charles are always on hand to welcome and assist guests.

The guest accommodation consists of two adjacent double bedrooms in the guest wing of the house – linked to the main property, yet private and with their own separate entrances. The rooms are large, pristine and elegantly-appointed – a blend of old-world style and modern amenities. Both have hardwood floors, high ceilings, handpicked furniture and a unique selection of contemporary artworks.

Comfortable beds, Egyptian cotton sheets, floor-to-ceiling mosquito curtains and ceiling fans ensure deep and peaceful sleep, soothed by the sounds of nature all around. Each bedroom has a spacious and luxurious bathroom with shower and large claw-foot bath tub. The rooms share a spacious shady veranda looking out towards the Ngong Hills, where guests are served a delicious breakfast at the time of their choosing.

“We spent two nights relaxing at Casa Ya Ndoto and they are two nights we will never forget. Our room was just perfect, clean and beautifully decorated. We were treated to a delicious breakfast (fresh fruit & juice, yoghurt, eggs and bacon etc.) each morning and enjoyed watching the warthogs play in the garden. Our hosts gave us service you would expect at a 5-star hotel. The lush grounds of the property provided a delightful escape from fast-paced city life and made returning home after a long day that much better. We cannot thank everyone at Casa Ya Ndoto enough for the way they accommodated us. When we return to Kenya there is no doubt we will be staying here again. I cannot recommend it enough!”

Hayley, Australia, January 2018

The guest veranda is a lovely place on which to relax and watch the area’s spectacular sunsets and to spot giraffes and warthogs in the next door conservancy. The property’s five peaceful green acres are full of yellow-bark acacia trees and attract a wide variety of birdlife. Guests are welcome to wander the grounds and to enjoy the flora and fauna (with a few exceptions such as work spaces and staff areas). Also sharing the compound are a lovely Russian Blue cat and three goofy dogs with their own separate quarters (and who are only allowed around guests if the guests feel comfortable)

The bedrooms have reliable high-speed wi-fi, cable tv and dvd player. A Kenyan cell phone is made available to foreign guests for local calls to restaurants, shops and taxis. Daily housekeeping and nightly turndown are offered. Massages in the room can be arranged. Security guards are on the premises throughout the day and at night. While accommodation is generally on a ‘bed and breakfast’ basis, the hosts and staff are happy to organise additional meals in case of late arrivals.

Casa ya Ndoto sits in a quiet and secure semi-rural location with no through traffic, well away from the hubbub of the city centre – yet it is easily accessed from central Nairobi and its airports. Travel time to Wilson Airport is around thirty minutes, and to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport around forty five minutes (traffic permitting) – with roads and communications improving all the time.

“Mario’s place was incredible. It is very close to the Giraffe Centre and the Elephant Orphanage. The home is beautiful and even better than the pictures show. The breakfast on the patio was amazing and we were joined by visiting warthogs. Mario and family were so kind and went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. They had great suggestions for drivers in the area and restaurants for lunch and dinner. We booked last minute, but Mario was so accommodating and easy to communicate with by phone before arrival. We cannot say enough good things about this home and we’re so appreciative about our stay there.”

Andrea, Kisumu, October 2017

Pick-ups and drop-offs can be arranged by the hosts using local, trusted taxi drivers, with whom they have pre-negotiated competitive rates. The house is also close to several shopping malls (Galleria, The Hub), and boutique shopping centres for crafts and fashions (Langata Link, The Souk) and to several top-rated Nairobi restaurants, including The Talisman, The Tamarind, The Boho Eatery and Hemingway’s Hotel.

The Langata and Karen area offers many must-see attractions including the AFEW Giraffe Centre, only fifteen minutes’ walk away, the world-renowned David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage beside Nairobi National Park, about a ten minute drive away, and the Karen Blixen Museum, around fifteen minutes away by car.