What a joy it is to discover a sublime new Nairobi getaway less than 45 minutes from my front door. Cliff Top Cottage sleeps four, it’s perfectly proportioned, impeccably designed and possibly the city’s dreamiest, most idyllic escape.
Skirt around the back on the Ngong Hills, leaving those whirling windmills to wave languidly at the city, and you enter Kimuka, a country of rolling hills and pastoral land. Cliff Top cottage perches atop a bluff facing towards Tanzania, where the endless plains are caressed by blue skies or buffered by ominous dark clouds threatening to dampen purpled fields. The house was built for the priceless view; windows and doors, the sweeping coral stone deck, and the shimmering pool stand in mute admiration of the valley. Eagle wheels and sunbirds sparkle, and hyrax skips over sun-bleached rocks. Cliff Top Cottage exudes calmness, tranquillity, a marriage of man and natural magnificence.
The cottage is a testament to Kenya’s natural environment and history. Visitors are greeted by abundant plant life, indigenous trees, and bushes planted to bring life to the heat-hazed slope. The house is off-grid, run entirely by solar and renewable energy sources. The house’s coolness beckons you through an ancient Swahili door–one of an army of antiques and history-laden treasures that have been salvaged from around coastal Kenya. Care has been taken in the placement of every single item within this house. It’s the perfect marriage of modern conveniences and timeless elegance.
Cliff Top Cottage is small, but mighty. Its grand entrance leads to a central kitchen island with everything you need to create a meal. A huge brass lamp dominates the lounge area but cannot compete with the endless view across the valley. To the left and right are two large bedrooms (a double and a single), both with ensuite bathrooms. The showers are spacious, the water is hot and plentiful, luxurious toiletries are laid out, and the beds are squishy with fine quality sheets and plump pillows… but Cliff Top Cottage is all about the outside.
The gargantuan deck houses several distinct areas: a sunken lounge for cocktails, a relaxed area with a TV and log burner for cooler nights, a formal dining area, a less formal breakfasting area, and the eternally tempting heated swimming pool. It’s a lesson in how to live outdoors; you almost need never step inside, never walk away from the valley–and when your view is this good, it’s the only way to live.
It is rare to find a house that feels so far away from the grind of daily life, so close to Nairobi. Who knew the magical lands that were hiding behind those humped hills? Just think, you could finish work and be sitting on the deck at Clifftop Cottage in less than an hour.
Things to know about Cliff Top Cottage Nairobi
- Two bedrooms, both en suite
- Heated swimming pool
- Totally off grid
- Wi-Fi
- DSTV
- Netflix
- Outside dining
- House staff
How to get to Cliff Top Cottage Nairobi
Cliff Top Cottage is in Kimuka–just 45 minutes from Karen.
Cost of Cliff Top Cottage Nairobi
27KSH per night – sleeping four
Contact and how to book
Book via Airbnb here or contact Sian on 0713 040 024
Book Your Kenya Trip – Insider Tips
Find everything you need for visiting Kenya on my TRAVEL RESOURCES page.
Find everything you need for moving to Kenya in my THE EXPAT GUIDE TO LIVING IN NAIROBI book.
- Kenya Accommodation: Booking.com has the cheapest rates for hotels and guest houses in Kenya.
- Accommodation Reviews: TripAdvisor is my go-to portal for checking reviews on accommodation/restaurants in the local area. I never book without checking TripAdvisor first.
- ESIM: Airalo allows you to access the Internet from virtually any country without paying roaming charges
- Car Rental: Rental Cars is managed by Booking.com – guaranteed reliable.
- Tours and Guides in Kenya : Check out Get Your Guide and Viator – reputable companies that do tours within Kenya and East Africa.
- Travel Insurance: Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I recommend Visitors Coverage, which covers you for East Africa and offers ‘special insurance’ for safaris and adventure sports:
- Visitors Coverage
- Compensair – if you have a cancelled or delayed flight, you may get a refund.