Ololo Safari Lodge Nairobi

Ololo Safari Lodge offers the warmth and comfort of a home with effortless style and personalized service. Originally an old Kenyan homestead and since converted to a small lodge, Ololo is perfectly situated, on the beautiful banks of the Mbagathi River which forms the southern border of the Nairobi National Park.

The lodge is a mere 45-minute drive through the park from Nairobi and both main airports, yet the lodge’s secluded location feels like a world away. Set on a productive 20 acre working farm, Ololo offers the joys of delicious ‘paddock to plate’ fresh ingredients. With our established and secluded gardens, guests are able to settle in and soak up a unique safari experience.

Wildlife is right on our doorstep and all can enjoy breathtaking views over the national park, to the famed Ngong Hills in the west, sundowner in hand. Or you may like to wile the hours away at the lodge by the pool, adventure on a safari into the park, take a tour of the Ololo Farm or perhaps an excursion with us into historic Karen.

Ololo’s rooms are unique and diverse, each tastefully appointed with attention to historical detail. The accommodation at Ololo ranges from the farm’s old converted stables, our tented cottages under makuti thatch, the original suites in the main house of the lodge and our two family spaces – the Family Wing & the original farm’s hay shed, converted to our Stable Cottage.

In the cooler months, guests may sit by the fire-pit in the garden or cosy up to our blazing fireplace in the inviting living room with our stone clad cellar and small library close at hand. Whatever time of the year you visit, it’s easy to enjoy the serenity and home-style comfort that Ololo offers.

THE FAMILY WING
Ololo’s new, light filled Family Wing overlooks the Nairobi National Park and our gardens, with a private sunny stone terrace and potted leafy plants. The interior of the wing is light filled, relaxed and furnished with pieces of Ololo’s handcrafted furniture.

Upstairs is a king sized bedroom in a cosy mezzanine area, with a delightful en-suite bathroom and an old classic bath under makuti thatch. Downstairs at the end of the rondaval shaped living area, is a seperate sleeping space for family, with a second bathroom and kitchenette. The Family Wing comfortably sleeps five people, and an extra bed can be added downstairs.

TENTED COTTAGES
Our three tented cottages provide guests with a bush experience, sleeping under a traditional makuti thatch roof, with canvas and stone walls. These safari-style king-sized rooms are nestled amongst our gardens with it’s spreading and shady acacia trees. All have private terraces that overlook the national park.

Each tent is self-contained, with large beds, comfortable armchairs and modern bathrooms. Drift off to sleep to the sounds of Africa – the cough of a lion, the calls of monkeys and baboons, and the rustle of hundreds of species of birds.

THE STABLE COTTAGE
This delightful three-bedroom cottage is located at the end of the Stable Rooms and was once the farm’s hay shed. Now featuring modern, light-filled interiors the Stable Cottage sleeps a maximum of six guests, and has two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a large outdoor terrace. The cottage is perfect for families, groups, or extended stays.

THE OLD STABLE ROOMS
The original stone-walled stables of the property once housed the horses of the Ololo Farm. They have now been transformed into seven comfortable and cosy rooms with an average room size (including the bathroom) of 17.6 square metres. Each room is designed and furnished individually, with attention to historical detail.

The Stable Rooms have ensuite bathrooms and small pergola covered terraces at the front of the building. The terraces overlook our gardens, with it’s abundant birdlife. These charming rooms are popular with guests traveling as a group or for family members who wish to be accommodated close to each other.

THE GUEST MAIN LOUNGE 
After restoring and repurposing the original building, the Chapman’s opened Ololo as a safari lodge early in 2016. The lodge design and interiors are a blend of old and new, filled with an eclectic collection of handcrafted furniture, made by our skilful fundi carpenters with a backdrop of handprinted fabrics and artwork from both Kenya and Australia.

​Guests can relax in Ololo’s spacious living room in front of the cozy fireplace, with wine selected from the Ololo stone cellar, or sit in the quiet of the adjoining library.

​Our restaurant is open to the garden and the park, and often tables are set up on our vine-covered terrace, or under the old acacia trees in the garden. Evening drinks can be enjoyed with a brazier to ward off the cooler night air or guests can enjoy their ‘sundowner’ sitting by the

When there is something special going on around the globe – we put it up on the big screen inside for all to see. It may be your favourite team in the World Cup, a Kenyan winning the Boston marathon or simply a desire to watch ‘Out of Africa’ after visiting the Karen Blixen Museum.

THE TOWER ROOM
Located in a stone-clad tower with a balcony and a private rooftop terrace, the Tower Room has extensive views right across the park, and to the famed Ngong Hills in the west. This contemporary suite is light and airy and furnished with pieces of furniture made by our clever fundi carpenters, in the Ololo workshop.

THE TERRACE ROOM
This spacious suite has a traditional living area with armchairs and an open fireplace, colonial furnishings, artworks, flowers from our garden and a marble bathroom with a classic roll-top bath. The suite’s private terrace is a cool and tranquil space to relax, or a setting for a romantic private dinner.

DINING
​’The Kitchen at Ololos’ chefs create delicious menus daily. Our bread, cakes and pastries are all baked in-house. Ololo’s menus are proudly created around produce on hand, grown here at the farm under organic farming practices.

We harvest our produce daily in the morning for the kitchen. All chicken and duck meat is grown at Ololo, as well as our fresh flavoured eggs. Mushrooms are also harvested daily from our mushroom house for your breakfast, or to top a delicious fillet of beef in the evening. All our ice creams and yoghurt is made from our own pasteurised milk, fresh from the farm.

Dine under the trees, on our terraces or on colder nights, in the restaurant with small braziers (jikos) to ward off the cold night air. You may wish to wile away the afternoon, enjoying a drink from our fully stocked bar, while relaxing and watching game pass by in our open lounge area overlooking the park.

BUSINESS IN THE BUSH 
Our bush setting is the ideal venue to hold a unique and memorable business meeting, retreat or team building event. Situated only a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi and it’s central business district, Ololo is the ideal ‘out of town’ destination with a bush difference.

Located on the southern border of the Nairobi National Park, and a mere 40 minutes from Nairobi, Ololo is able to provide a unique safari experience for conference delegates. It goes without saying that all our day conference guests are served an exquisite lunch, under the acacia trees as well as morning and afternoon tea on the conference terrace.

Your team are able to conduct meetings in in our beautiful, light-filled conference area overlooking Nairobi National Park, with all the privacy that is required. Delegates can choose to head out on a game-drive after a busy day, and if staying overnight enjoy a group bush dinner under the stars by our fire- pit.

THE EXPERIENCES
Crossing the Ololo footbridge is the beginning of a unique, once in a life time experience with all of us at Ololo. You can choose to do as many …. or as little… of the adventures we have on offer. ​Relax around the pool with a sundowner and bitings or perhaps go on a wander to take a look at the Ololo farm or our furniture workshop.

We can take you on game drives into the only national park in the world on the edge of a capital city. Nairobi National Park is a surprise package and many of these birds and animals are visible from our terrace and restaurant as they move around the bush.

Ololo also takes guests to visit the renowned Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage without having to exit the national park. You are invited to take part on an excursion to Karen to visit the famed Karen Blixen Museum, the Giraffe Centre or Kazuri Beads.

Or more to your inclination some shopping at local markets and boutique stores can be arranged. Anselm Hot Glass Studio and Kitengela Glass is a walk away across the neighboring farms to Ololo, with one of our Askari guides.

THE ORGANIC FARM
During your Ololo experience visit our farm which supplies our wonderful in-house restaurant, the ‘Kitchen at Ololo’, with fresh produce daily.

​Most of what appears on your plate comes directly from our thriving vegetable gardens, mushroom house and ever-expanding farm orchard. We produce fresh eggs and rear all the chicken as well as duck, enjoyed in your delicious meals. Ololo Farm is now selling our duck, chicken meat and eggs commercially, into the Nairobi market.

Even the milk on your table is sourced from Ololo Farm’s small dairy herd and is pasteurised and made into our delicious, fresh yoghurts and ice creams. Our chefs and kitchen hands – Kyeti, Nicholas, George , Maria and Shukri all love to experiment with the our seasonal produce, fresh from paddock to plate!

​Ololo is proud of it’s sustainable farming techniques, as well as our water recycling and composting systems. This includes the production of our natural fertiliser “Ololo Worm Tea” through worm composting. 100% of kitchen and food waste is either fed to the Ololo chickens or composted for use in the gardens.

Our water comes from our bore hole which we share with the local community, as well as filtered for guest’s drinking. A ‘grey water’ recycling and filtration unit treats all waste water that is then used in the Ololo gardens. The Ololo farm has recently been granted our organic status in April 2020 through Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN).

Our seasonal produce includes: Button-head and Oyster mushrooms, Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Mint, Basil, Sukuma (Collard Greens), Lemon grass, Rosemary, Kiwi, Lettuce mix, Rocket, Tarragon, Baby Leaf Spinach, Spinach, Eggplant, Celery, Leek, Cabbage, Beetroot, Coriander, Dill, Parsley, Fennel, Onions, Tomatoes, Sorrel, Potatoes, Mustard salad, Okra, Strawberry, Passion fruit, Courgette, Tree tomato, Radish, Garlic, Baby leaf lettuce, Spring onion, Rhubarb and Cucumber.

We’d love to take you on a tour during your visit and you are invited to help collect your breakfast eggs from one of our fat little hens! Egg collection happens between 11am and 2pm and the milking at 6:30am and 4:30am each day.

GAME DRIVES AT NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK
Morning game-drives at Ololo typically start at 6am, returning for a late breakfast, and the afternoon drives begin at 4 – 4.30pm. We are able to do a wake-up call to your room with coffee, tea or hot chocolate & banana bread for the morning game-drives before you get going.

Your guide will be happy to discuss how long you hope to be out and what aspects of the park you are interested in. Game-drives occasionally may be on a shared basis and some groups or individuals may be asked to join others.

SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST “BABY ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE”
Founded in 1977 by Daphne Sheldrick in honour & in memory of her late husband & naturalist David Sheldrick, the trust is today one of the most successful orphan rehabilitation programmes in the world. Ololo is able to take all non-resident guests to Sheldrick’s exclusive of entry or adoption fees.

KITENGELA HOT GLASS
A glass-blowing workshop and shop located nearby Ololo which has been built into an iconic ‘Tolkien’ brick dome. Watch re- cycled glass being transformed into remarkable pieces with a lovely hand crafted look. Guests are welcome to walk to the workshop accompanied by Ololo staff.

GAMES & FITNESS
If you’re feeling energetic in between safaris, enjoy some games under the trees. Here you’ll find badminton, table tennis, bocce/boules, a frisbee, footballs and a bow, arrows and target (parental supervision required for this one). Or if you want to keep your fitness up, then we have a skipping rope, a stationary bicycle and yoga mats.

GUIDED BIRDING TOUR
There are over 500 bird species recorded in the park, including resident and migratory birds. Some of the most commonly spotted birds in the park include the African Fish Eagle, Crowned Crane, Secretary Bird, Marabou Stork, Southern Ground Hornbill, and Yellow-throated Sandgrouse.

​Around Ololo you’ll find many of the smaller (but just as pretty and fascinating) species. So take a walk with one of our guides, and learn about the birdlife, as well as the interesting trees and plants that grow in our gardens. ​It’s seriously one of the most diverse birding ecosystems in the world!

PAINT & SIP 
Whether you’re a seasoned artist, or just feeling a little creative, get inspired by the beautiful landscapes and wildlife around us to create your own masterpiece. Perfect for families, or for couples who are looking for a relaxing (and perhaps romantic) activity.

We can setup the easel in your desired location; overlooking the park, on the terrace/balcony of your room or in the gardens under the trees. And of course, it wouldn’t be called ‘Paint & Sip’ without your favourite bottle of wine, or mocktail for the young ones.

OLOLO HANDMADE 
Our talented craftsmen, or fundis in Swahili, pride themselves on creating quality handmade furniture that add character and charm to any home. Our designs are unique and individual and we ensure that our furniture is built with meticulous attention to detail and to the overall quality of each individual piece.

Website: www.olololodge.com

Rooms: 16

Price: from 492 EUR per night