Accommodation in Mount Kenya
The Outspan Hotel Nyeri, located at the heart of Kenya’s tea and coffee growing highlands and near the spectacular Karuru Falls is an ideal getaway for any fun loving person. It has great ambience, vibrant gardens and verdant green lawns where peacocks roam at will.
In 1926 Major Eric Sherbrook Walker and his wife Lady Bettie chose the perfect spot between the Aberdare Mountains and Mount Kenya to build their dream Hotel in Nyeri. After purchasing land from the government, they built a new four bedroom hotel with private baths and running water.
The Walkers offered a bottle of champagne to whoever suggested the best name for the new hotel. It went to Grace Barry, a saw-miller who suggested Outspan meaning the place where the traveller outspan (un-harnesses) his weary oxen at the end of the day’s journey. Outspan was officially opened to the public on New Year’s Day 1928 with ten rooms.
Lord Baden-Powell, the Scouts Movement founder, and a friend of Walker spent the last years of his life at the Paxtu’s Cottage within the Outspan compound.
Today, Outspan with 45 unique rooms on 20 acres of splendid gardens and superior food and service, is an ideal destination for leisure and business.
Room Types at Outspan Hotel Nyeri
Cottages
The Outspan Hotel Nyeri cottages are uniquely designed for a group of friends and families seeking the best accommodation Nyeri has to offer since they are spacious enough to accommodate many people comfortably. The main bedroom is fitted with a double bed while the separate room has a single bed.
The cottage offered for your accommodation in Nyeri is well furnished with comfortable seats, satellite TV, tea making facilities and has a glass door that opens to a balcony with scenic views to the garden.
Deluxe Rooms
The Outspan deluxe room accommodation in Nyeri offers a private relaxing space, has a fireplace and private balcony. It is furnished with a queen sized bed for a comfortable and memorable stay at the Outspan Hotel. Each deluxe room has been fitted with a bathtub walk-in shower.
Outspan deluxe room accommodation in Nyeri hotel features satellite TV, tea making facilities and telephone in case any visitor needs help settling down in the rooms. Our visitors also have a direct view of the great scenery that is the Outspan garden.
Standard Rooms
Reminiscent of the 1920’s, The Outspan Hotel standard rooms are spacious and are built with wooden floors and a fireplace. They are furnished with a double bed or twin bed. For special cases where visitors need Nyeri County accommodation in one room, an extra bed can be provided. The standard room bathrooms are fitted with a bathtub with some rooms having both a tub and a shower. Our Nyeri County accommodation also features satellite TV, tea making facilities, telephone and a great view of the garden.
“SHERRY” LOUNGE & RESTAURANT
The Sherry Restaurant in Nyeri with an indoor and outdoor Terrace seating area facing Mt Kenya and Garden is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner serving both an A la carte and Table d’hote Menu. The indoor Restaurant with a fireplace is ideal for fine dining Table d’hote service while the outdoor Terrace is popular with the A la Carte Menu. Restaurant Capacity of 140 Pax including 60 Pax Terrace is adequate for both hotel residents and the frequent walk-in guests.
The Sherry Lounge with fireplace and facing Mt Kenya is an ideal spot for evening drinks and cocktails while enjoying the soft background music.
The Kahawa’s Bar located at the Sherry outdoor terrace serving hot and cold specialized Coffees or High Tea with assorted pastries is popular with families
The Thingira Private Dining room located upstairs in the Sherry indoor Restaurant is perfect for private dinners with special Table d’hote menus for up to 8 Pax.
THE TAVERN PUB
The Tavern Pub and Restaurant in Nyeri was established in 1982 and is a popular venue for local Nyeri residents with daily evening theme nights, Satellite TV Sports events, weekday business lunches and weekend afternoon family lunches. The A la carte menu offers a wide variety of food and beverages, specialized coffee and shisha menus of several flavours are also available at The Tavern.
THE POOL GARDEN
The Pool is open daily and especially popular on weekend’s where a A la carte menu (BBQ, Ice Cream, Smoothies etc) and Kids Playground is ideal for families
PAXTU MUSEUM
Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouts Movement was proclaimed the Chief Scout of the World in 1920 and in his 2nd visit to Kenya in 1935 fell in love once again with the wonderful views over the plains to the bold snow peaks of Mount Kenya to such an extent that when ordered by the doctor in England to rest in the winter of 1937, it was Outspan that he chose to come to.
Lord Baden-Powell was a friend of Sherbrooke Walker (Outspan founder and owner until 1961) whom he appointed as his first Scout Commissioner and Private Secretary. Lord Baden-Powell spent the last years of his life (1938 to 1941) at the Outspan in a special cottage called Paxtu (named from after his English Pax Hill’s home with Swahili for replacing. Lord Baden-Powell died on 8th January 1941 and is buried in Nyeri town. The Paxtu cottage, now Paxtu Museum and a protected monument (gazette 2001), is dedicated to his life and the scout movement and continuous to be visited annually by hundreds of scouts and guides from all over the world. Outspan Resident guests have free access to Paxtu Musuem while walk-in guests pay a fee.
GUIDED NATURE WALK At OUTSPAN HOTEL NYERI
The Outspan Hotel Nyeri is famous for its expansive grounds, beautiful gardens and over 300 bird species available around the hotel’s airspace. There are many fun walking activities in Nyeri you can indulge in while here as you savour the beauty of the environment in Nyeri. On your guided nature walk along river Chania, our naturalist will help you identify the unique flora & fauna and a waterfall gorge where the river squeezes between black rocks.
The highlight of the guided walk is the massive five hundred-year-old Mugumo tree, sacred to the Kikuyu people. Our naturalist will give you a few details about the tree and how much it meant to the people especially in the old days.
CHANIA WALKING, JOGGING AND BIKING TRAIL AT OUTSPAN HOTEL NYERI
The 1.5Km Chania natural Trail that winds its way around the hotel’s inner perimeter is popular for walking, jogging and biking. The Trail use is free to Outspan resident guests and available to other guests for a fee.
SPORTS ACTIVITIES AT OUTSPAN HOTEL NYERI
Indoor facilities include Snooker (one of the rare tables in the country), Squash and Table Tennis. Outdoor facilities include Lawn Tennis, Swimming Pool and the walking / jogging / biking Trail. A private members 9 hole Golf Club is adjacent to the Outspan Hotel where guests can pay Green Fees to enjoy a game of Golf.
ABERDARES GAME DRIVE
The 2hr game drive taken in the afternoon is a perfect time to enjoy the beautiful sunset at the Aberdares while watching all the animals found in the Aberdare National Park. It is also a chance to see the beautiful indigenous flora and fauna that is synonymous with the Aberdares.
The game drive is taken using powerful jeeps with experienced drivers who double up as wonderful tour guides who are experts in helping the visitors spot wild animals even from their hideouts. Their expertise will leave you cherishing your time on the game drives for a long time to come.
During the game drive, you are poised to see four of the big five including the Black Rhino, the Leopard, Elephant, and Buffalo. You can also view the Spotted Hyena, the Sykes, Colobus and Black-faced Vervet monkeys. Lastly, one can view very rare animal species including the Bongo Antelope and the Giant Forest Hog.
Last but not least, as you complete the Game Drive, The Outspan serves refreshing cocktails and dry bitings as you bask in the glory of the spectacular Aberdare sunset.
SOLIO GAME DRIVE
The Solio Ranch Game Drive is your chance to view the black and white rhinos at the Solio Game Reserve which is a privately-owned wildlife conservancy geared toward rhino conservation. The 17500-acre reserve, 22 km north of Nyeri town plays a major part in the protection and breeding of black rhinos in Kenya. It is recognised as one of the most successful private rhino breeding reserves in Kenya.
Besides the black and white rhino, our visitors can view some unique wildlife species including the Buffalo, Zebra, Giraffe, Eland, Oryx, Impala, Waterbuck, Thompson’s Gazelle and Warthog. The Salient zone is indeed spectacular since all these wild animals co-exist together.
This game drive is taken together with our experienced drivers who double up as tour guides in powerful four-wheel drive vehicles which enable our visitors to explore the magnificent Solio Ranch.
MEETINGS & BANQUETS AT OUTSPAN HOTEL NYERI
Outspan Hotel is the ideal destination for business and/or social meetings and banquets in Nyeri. Outspan partners with professional suppliers of team building services and banqueting equipment (tents, furniture, and cutlery). Four meeting rooms and several outdoor garden venues are available for business and family functions up to a capacity of 500 pax.
MALKIA ROOM
The new Malkia Room facing Mt Kenya and Gardens offers the perfect environment for meetings and banquets in Nyeri. It can also be used for team-building for employees. The room has dedicated facilities including Car Park, Reception, Secretariat Room and Washrooms. Meeting capacity is 54 Pax Theater, 24 Pax Classroom, 22 Pax and 16 Pax Boardroom style. Banquet Capacity is 80 Pax Cocktail and 60 Pax Dinning. Room hire includes free Wi-Fi, ceiling mounted LCD Projector with drop screen, remote control, and a PA system.
KIRINYAGA ROOM
Kirinyaga Room, adjacent to The Tavern Pub is ideally located to host family and business banquets in Nyeri e.g. weddings, cocktails etc. Meeting capacity is 110 pax theatre, 40 pax classroom, 26 pax and 24 pax boardroom style. Banquet capacity is 120 pax cocktail and 100 pax dining. The room hire includes free of charge Wi-Fi while LCD projector / screen and PA system are available for a fee.
SHEBROOKE WALKER ROOM
The Shebrooke Walker Room is located away from the main hotel adjacent to the Swimming Pool and has a private garden ideal for meetings and banquets in Nyeri during the day or evening… Meeting capacity is 80 Pax Theatre, 30 Pax Classroom and 24 Pax Boardroom style. Banquet Capacity is 80 Pax Cocktail and 60 Pax Dinning. The Room hire includes free of charge Wi-Fi while LCD Projector / Screen and PA system is available at a fee.
