Christy M.
Yelp
This was our second time staying in the AKL (Deluxe Villa in Kidani Village). I have loved both stays here, but it's not perfect.
The good: it's beautiful! Themed grounds, lobby, rooms. Obviously, the animals are the main draw. They have several species, including wildebeest, zebra, giraffes, addax, greater and lesser kudu, ankole cattle, impala, nyala, waterbuck, red River hog, gazelle, okapi, eland, and a variety of birds, including crested cranes, female ostrich, maribou, and ground hornbills. They don't have the paper spotting guides anymore, just a QR code you can scan, which isn't the same. The animals roam free so you see a variety each day. Some of the rooms have great views and some less so.
The staff are friendly and helpful (bell service, front desk, concierge, and animal handlers were all great, and housekeeping was over the top fantastic! Remember you can tip and leave compliments for them too!)
The rooms are great. We stayed in a 2 bedroom suite (3 bathrooms, kitchen and living area) with a savanna view balcony. I'm a very picky sleeper but the beds were comfortable, pillows were great, and it was shockingly quiet in the rooms. I barely heard anyone else around us! There is a small washer/dryer in the room, and while it's pretty loud, I didn't hear anyone else's going through the wall the whole time we were there. No toilet flushes, early showers, yelling kids, nothing! Only when someone was dragging furniture above us and a kid ran back and forth once in the hallway did I hear anyone else. Very peaceful!
There were plenty of outlets and USB ports around the rooms, 3-zone temp controls, good water pressure, and fully appointed kitchen (fridge/freezer, toaster, stove/oven, microwave, coffee maker, dishes and utensils).
The food options are all delicious, but limited if you don't plan ahead (getting to that in the next part)
The pool and play area on the Kidani side is really cool with a water slide and multiple activities for kids.
The bad: obviously, the main downside is the price. But other than that, I only have a few negatives. First, the location of the room makes a huge difference. Staying on the lower levels gets you a closer view of the animals, and not all savannah views are equal. Some have much more limited space or other obstructions like fences, barn buildings, and pipes. The Sunset Savannah views are safest. Also, realize that this is a vast and spread out hotel, so the walk from the lobby to your room may be extremely long.
While it's mostly a very quiet and peaceful hotel, there can occasionally be rude guests who yell at the animals or thinks the echo is fun and scream on the balconies. This only happened a few times and was short lived (never too early or too late, and only noticeable if the balcony doors were open), but it did take some of the magic away when someone was shrieking like a gibbon and scaring the animals away!
The food options, while delicious, do not allow for spontaneity. Most restaurants in both parts of the AKL (Kidani and Jambo House) require reservations far in advance. The Mara is a counter service spot at Jambo House, and the only one not requiring reservations. The food is good (basic chicken strips and burgers , along with flatbread pizzas and African inspired curry dishes), and has grab and go items like sandwiches, salads, desserts, and basic market items. Because the resort is so far away from the others, it is not convenient to hop on a bus and go to a different location if you want a quick meal. You can either frequent the Mara, try to get in to one of the other restaurants on the waitlist, or plan to eat in your room. We had a grocery delivery or you can buy a few frozen items like pizzas in the lobby gift shop.
There is a shuttle that to goes between Kidani and Jambo every 15 minutes or so (or you can walk in about that time, but if you have a room on the far side of the hotel, the shuttle is usually an easier option!). The park busses go to both locations, but since it's a more remote resort, plan to have a slightly longer wait and ride than many of the others.
All in all, I love the resort. As an animal nerd who loves East Africa, it's my favorite hotel. It comes at a price (financially and convenience-wise), but it's a wonderful experience!