STAYCATION AT OLOLO SAFARI LODGE

Ololo Safari Lodge is probably one of the most unique resorts I’ve stayed at so far.
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Its location right in the middle of the Nairobi National Park gives its visitors a different experience from the usual resorts overlooking the ocean or tucked away in a remote corner of the city.
I’m surprised that I knew nothing about Ololo until last December when my sister and I were planning a staycation and looking for places to visit. After deciding that we didn’t want to go through the hustle of flying to the Coast amidst a pandemic, we started looking for resorts in Nairobi.
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And Ololo was among the first ones that piqued our interest. 

What appealed to us most about Ololo was how exotic it looked in pictures, despite it being in Nairobi, and that it offered a different experience than what we’re used to. It was also reasonably priced and located near enough that we didn’t have to worry so much about our journey there, but was still far enough that it felt like we were going on holiday.

As we hadn’t been to the resort before, we had a bit of trouble finding it and ended up making an unnecessary trip to Karen under the misguided belief (thanks to the Uber app) that it was located somewhere there. When we realized that it wasn’t, we had to drive all the way back to the Nairobi National Park in Lang’ata, which is where the entrance to the lodge is.

There are two ways to get to the lodge from the national park. You can either find your own way there from the entrance of the national park. For that, you’ll need to bring your own car. Alternatively, you can book in advance for Ololo to provide transport for you.
It took us about an hour to get to the resort from the national park entrance, and we arrived there just as the sun was setting. Upon arrival, we were offered cold drinks - which were much needed due to the warm weather - and enjoyed picturesque sights of giraffes walking in the distance as we quenched our thirst. Afterwards, we were shown to our room and immediately started freshening up for dinner.
Dinner at Ololo is served at 7:30 pm, while breakfast is served at around 8:00 am in the morning. Depending on the package you choose to go for, you may also be entitled to lunch, which is served between 12:00 noon and 2:30 pm.
We spent two unforgettable nights at Ololo Safari Lodge, and while there, we were treated to healthy, hearty meals made with ingredients from their farm. We also took part in a farm tour and spent our afternoons basking in the sun and swimming in the pool.

As usual, I took a few pictures and filmed a vlog of our stay.

But before that, here are my *5 Tips for planning a holiday at Ololo Safari Lodge:
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1. Choose your room wisely. If you’re working with a small budget, consider staying in a tented cottage. One tented cottage can house three guests at a time. They are also spacious and have both a shower and a bathtub in the bathroom. However, if you have a few extra coins to spare, then you can either try out the tower room or the terrace room - both of which are even more spacious and offer a great view of the park.
2. Plan your trip to the lodge in advance. Decide whether you’re going to make your own way there and have a look at your journey on Google maps before you set out. However, if you would rather arrange to be picked up by the lodge’s transport, call and book it in advance to avoid a long wait at the park. It costs Ksh. 4,000 per trip (going to the lodge from the park and coming back to the park after your visit counts as two trips). Ololo transport also includes a game drive, which makes it worth every penny. 😉
3. While in the lodge, there are many options of where to dine. Try to make the most out of your stay by trying out as many of them as possible. Each one has its perks. My favourite one is the one on the deck near the swimming pool and overlooking the park. It provides the perfect backdrop for daytime dining.
4. You will need to pay a fee to enter the national park (Ksh. 400 for locals and $35 for non-residents). You will also be charged up to Ksh. 3,000 per day if you’re going in your own car). Make a note of exactly what time you pay for your tickets as you are charged per hour. If you overstay your visit to the park even by a few extra minutes, you might be asked to pay the entrance fee amount again.
5. Finally, if you can’t afford to stay at Ololo but would like to visit it anyway, consider booking the ‘Farm tour & Lunch’ deal which not only gives you access to the farm but also provides you with an opportunity to tour the lodge and enjoy an afternoon in the swimming pool.

​- ✗O✗O.