Afrika House is an accommodation located in Langata, Nairobi

The Artist’s Cottage, Langata, Nairobi

A delightful and welcoming 2-bedroom private retreat, The Artist’s Cottage is peacefully and securely tucked away on the southern fringes of Nairobi. The AFEW Giraffe Centre is just a short walk away and the many wildlife, culinary, cultural and retail attractions of Langata and Karen are all close at hand.

Summary

A hospitable home-away-from-home just beside Langata’s lovely Casa ya Ndoto
Perfect for a stopover in Nairobi before and after safari trips, or for longer stays in the city.
Accommodation includes office, living room, eat-in kitchen and spacious veranda with living & dining areas.
Cosy and comfortable interiors, well furnished with hardwood floors, handmade furniture and artworks.
Set on a lovely 5-acre plot with yellow-bark acacia trees and wonderful bird life
Enjoy regular visits by giraffes and warthogs from the AFEW Giraffe Centre
Set in a quiet residential neighbourhood very close to Nairobi National Park
30 minutes or less from Wilson Airport and 45 minutes from JKIA
Accommodates up to 4 guests in 2 double bedrooms, each with an adjacent bathroom.
Rates from $150 for 1 guest per night self-catering, breakfast available by arrangement

Detailed information

Two bedrooms – with either double or twin beds
Two bathrooms – each with shower and bathtub
Well-equipped eat-in kitchen
Office
Spacious living room with smart tv
Large veranda with dining and sitting areas
Wi-fi
Daily housekeeping
Nightly turndown
In-room massages available
Security guards on premises 24/7
5-acres of lawns and grounds with yellow-bark acacias
A profusion of bird life
Regular visits by giraffes and warthogs from the AFEW Giraffe Centre
Set in a quiet residential neighbourhood

Nearby attractions include –

Location

Ngong Hills at Dusk

The leafy and affluent suburb of Karen sits to the South West of Nairobi towards the foot of the Ngong Hills. Karen is an attractive and peaceful place to stay away from the city centre – which is easily accessed via ever-improving ring roads and bypasses. The neighbourhood of Langata, quieter and less-developed than central Karen, is the southern part of Karen and adjoins Nairobi National Park.

Karen Blixen House Museum – Karen

Karen’s most famous resident is probably Karen Blixen, whose 6000-acre farm estate and coffee plantation covered much of the area, and whose Kenyan life is immortalised in the book and film Out of Africa. Karen Blixen lived in Bogani House on Karen Road between 1917 and 1931 – now owned by the National Museums of Kenya, it remains very much as it was during early colonial times and is open to visitors daily. The nearby Karen Blixen Coffee Garden houses Swedo House, the original farm manager’s house from 1906, as well as the historic Grogan Macmillan House moved from downtown Nairobi in 2008 to save it from destruction.

AFEW Giraffe Centre – Karen

The area’s wildlife and conservation attractions include the AFEW Giraffe Centre where feeding the several resident Rothschild’s giraffes is a must. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Elephant Orphanage is situated just inside Nairobi National Park. Watching the baby elephants receive their 11am feed is always very popular.

The Artist’s Cottage sits within the exclusive Mukoma Estate, part of a very safe community with restricted access and patrolled by security guards 24/7. Special zoning laws ensure that no high-density or high-rise construction is allowed, making the area extremely peaceful and surrounded by nature. The property shares a border with the Giraffe Centre, and is less than 5 minutes’ drive from the Nairobi National Park and the entrance to the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.

Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Nairobi National Park covers an area of 117.21 square kilometres (28,963 acres) and is easily accessed from Karen via Magadi Road or Langata Road. The park hosts a wide and diverse wildlife population – it is common to see Rhinoceros, Lion, and Buffalo as well as large numbers of plains game, and the park is home to up to 500 species of permanent and migratory birds. One can also visit the Animal Orphanage and Safari Walk – both situated at the park’s main gate.

Nairobi National Park

There are numerous retail and culinary attractions in Karen and Langata – major shopping malls include Galleria and The Hub on Dagoretti Road. Boutique shopping centres for arts, crafts, clothes and souvenirs include Langata Link on Langata South Road and House of Treasures on Dagoretti Road – both of which also house nice places to eat and drink. Favourite restaurants and bars in Karen include Cultiva Farm, The Talisman, The Wine Box and Haru Sushi on Karen Road.

Talisman Restaurant – Karen

How to get there

The Artist’s Cottage is situated just off Mukoma Road in Langata’s Mukoma Estate. Access from Nairobi City centre, from central Karen and from the city’s two airports is via Langata Road and then either via Langata South Road and Hardy or via Magadi Road. Driving time from Wilson Airport is around 30 minutes and around 45 minutes from JKIA.

Visitor’s Book

“My family had a wonderful stay at the cottage. The property was beautiful and serene. My kids had a great time just walking around the property looking at the various trees, plants and wildlife. The house had everything we could have wanted and was in a great location. We are a family of 5, with an infant, and Mario had a crib set up in the study. We were all very comfortable. Mario is extremely friendly and accommodating and was sure to offer us recommendations on restaurants and other attractions. And he makes a mean negroni! If we are back in Nairobi, we would definitely stay at Mario’s again.”

“We absolutely loved our stay at the cottage! It is a haven of peace and quiet, beautifully decorated, and with very responsive and welcoming hosts. Ideal for those who want to escape busy Nairobi life but still be in reach of the city’s perks. We will certainly be back! Thank you so much to Mario and the entire team.”

“If you are traveling to Nairobi, and looking for a home-away-from-home, then this is the place. It is in a beautiful private compound in beautiful tree-lined Karen. The host and his caretakers are excellent. They even came in to do a turn down service in the evening. They also offer a wonderful English breakfast. As this was our first time to Nairobi, they even set us up with an awesome driver who we used for our entire stay. Many thanks to Mario the owner for his kindness and great local recommendations.”

Rates

Self-catering Accommodation Rates