The Emakoko Lodge

The Emakoko is a family-owned and run lodge artfully built into the side of a valley on the Mbagathi River, which borders the Nairobi National Park a 45 minute transfer from both airports in Nairobi City.

The Emakoko allows people to start and finish their safari in the wildlife environment they have travelled so far to enjoy.

The concept for The Emakoko was born in 2009. Anthony & Emma Childs who have lived in Kenya all their lives felt that the safari experience for most guest was tainted by their arrivals and departures from Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city.

Transfers from the airport to Nairobi National hotels can take anything from one to three hours due to terrible traffic. It made no sense that every visitor into the country was driving around a very unique game park in order to get to their destination.

For many Nairobians, Nairobi National Park is a fantastic refuge from the hustle and bustle of Kenya’s capital Nairobi. Over the years the Nairobi National Park, although not a particularly large park compared to many in Kenya, has become to a huge number of wildlife species. A natural wildlife habitat next to a capital city is unique and it seemed obvious that using the park would be a great way to start how one meant to go on.

The  Emakoko allows people to start and finish their safari in the wildlife environment they have travelled so far to enjoy. Within 15 minutes of clearing customs they can be viewing game in Nairobi National Park. The only ”transfer” delays likely to be encountered route to or from The Emakoko are the natural pauses to watch a pride of Lions or waiting for Rhino or journey of  Giraffe to cross the road.

The beautifully appointed rooms look out over the game park so one can fall asleep to the sounds of Africa, a lion roaring or the cry of a lone hyena, an amazing contrast to the sounds of traffic, ambulances, fire engines and dogs barking which are the normal sound of any sleeping city.

There are five rooms on the same level as the main areas and a further five rooms with the most  spectacular views positioned on top of the cliff, overlooking the valley.

The Emakoko boutique offers a wealth of treasures all locally crafted in Kenya. The shop is also one of the main Africa Adorned (Jewellery  Ltd) outlets; Africa Adorned is the unique collection of original yet traditional timeless jewellery, designed by Lippa Wood and Joanna Garner and hand made in the Maasai Mara supporting the local communities.  

The Emakoko is situated on the Nairobi park boundary and we have directed access into the park, this is where all our game drives take place. The Emakoko has 4 Toyota Land cruisers, converted especially for game viewing. Our guides are also KPSGA qualified and have a huge amount of knowledge on the flora and fauna in the area. Nairobi National Park is famous for its very healthy black Rhino population and is renowned for very close encounters with lions.

Nairobi National Park is manage by the Kenya Wildlife Service ( KWS ) who along with the Kitengela  Landowners association ( KLA) distribute some of the park’s revenues for community projects in the area. There are many issues wildlife predation on domestic livestock, and the KLA and KWS have an enormous task of managing human / wildlife conflicts. By visiting Emakoko, one contributes directly to this revenue which is instrumental in looking after both the community and the park. The Emakoko has supported the local community  with the ‘lion lighting schemes’ which is one way in which predators have been deterred from attacking the community Bomas. To date we have ‘lit up’ 8 Bomas in the area and so far so good!

The Athi –Kapiti plains which border Nairobi National Park, is the home to the nomadic Maasai tribe.

Unfortunately the traditional pastoralist lifestyle of Maasai in the area is under threat due to the encroachment of Nairobi’s urban ‘sprawl’. The Maasai are now feeling the pressure of a new cash driven society buying up pastoral land and pressures to abandon tradition are great. Fortunately  the Maasai in our area have yet to be touched by the new urban wave and this is something that we would like to maintain. There are various projects in the area initiated by The Emakoko and as visitors to the logde we encourage our guest to participate.