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Lake Bogoria Spa Resort, Lake Bogoria, Kenya

Location:

The resort is located approximate 2km from the entrance of the Lake Bogoria National Park and is 266 kilometres from Nairobi. The resort is set in a peaceful quiet surrounding that offers nice views of the surrounding hills. We really enjoyed this location because this was one of the few places in Kenya where we were allowed to leave the hotel grounds without any problems from the hotel staff. One morning, we went for an early morning jog and were able to enter Lake Bogoria National Park free of charge.

Room Comfort:

The accommodations range from rooms in a building to rooms in bungalows. We stayed in a bungalow, and although it was very nice from the outside, the room on the inside was very bland and simple. The room wasn't small but it wasn't spacious either but it did have a nice veranda that offered beautiful views of the surrounding area. The bathroom was also a moderate sized and had good water pressure and hot water in the shower. Our room had one double bed and a single bed and air conditioning. The bed was surrounded by a mosquito net. We were a little bit disappointed with the room because we expected more from a hotel that markets itself as a 'spa resort'. If they added some traditional paintings or other traditional decorations, it would really improve the look and feel of the room.

Cleanliness:

The room and bathroom were clean. The hotel grounds were well maintained. The staff was dressed in professional and clean uniforms.

Service:

The service at the hotel was great. A welcome drink and hot towel were provided upon arrival. Check-in and check-out were simple and efficient. The staff was courteous, professional and friendly. We had requested an early morning breakfast and they were happy to accommodate our request. There are 2 pools onsite, one with cold water and one with hot water. The hot water pool is a natural water pool that receives its water from the surrounding hot springs.

Food:

The food was decent. The buffet breakfast and buffet lunch offered a wide variety of foods. At dinner we received a 3-course meal and had the option of 2 dishes for all courses. During morning and afternoon, you can spot ostriches and monkeys on the grounds beside the restaurant. Just, watch out for the monkeys as they have become accustomed to stealing food from unsuspecting hotel guests at the restaurant. A beer cost 150 shillings which was very reasonable compared to other resorts in Kenya. One thing we didn't like was that we didn't receive our change after paying for our beers. It seems that the staff decided to keep their own tip rather than giving us our change back and allowing us to decide on the tip.

Overall Value:

The service was okay and the surroundings are beautiful, but the resort needs some updating to hold their "spa resort" appeal. It seems like the hotel is past its prime and due to the drop in tourism to this area the hotel does not have the means or incentive to maintain itself as it should. We like to think that should tourism to this area increase again, the hotel would upgrade its rooms. Nevertheless, we recommend this hotel due to its proximity to the Lake Bogoria National Park and the lack of other good accommodations in the area.

Other Notes:

This is one area of Kenya where you have freedom to explore the area on foot or bicycle. Although it's very hot in this area, the area is good for jogging, mountain biking, hiking, boating and wildlife spotting. The Lake Bogoria National Park is really beautiful and full of wildlife so take advantage of the fact that you can explore this area on foot.