A gem on the slopes of Mt Kenya

By Caroline Nyanga

?I needed to spend time away from the ever-noisy Nairobi city so when my husband came up with the idea of  going out of town, we decided to visit Nanyuki town for a change.

Our destination was Falcon Heights Hotel, situated within the bustling market town of Nanyuki on Laikipia Rd, five minutes drive from the the Airforce base and Nanyuki District Hospital.

Nanyuki is the crossroads to many of East Africa’s most beautiful wild areas, situated in the heart of Kenya right under Mount Kenya and on the equator.

It took us less than three hours to get there in our car. As we walked into the hotel that is nestled in lush landscaped gardens, we couldn’t help but notice the building’s elegant design and the tastefully furnished interior.?

Once inside, we checked into the hotel room. A double room costs Sh8,700 while a single one costs Sh6,500, inclusive of bed and breakfast.

As we were ushered into our room, we were not disappointed. The room was spacious and its tasteful interior decor gave us the feeling that we had stepped into a luxurious home. We learned that the hotel had 16 such rooms, including an executive two-bedroom cottage.

Our room had a bathroom, LCD flat screen, IP phone, wi-fi, hair dryer and shaving unit and plush lounge chairs. We also discovered their complementary coffee and tea service.

African sun

We also discovered that if we wanted to relax away from the rooms or restaurant, we could go outside and soak up the warmth of the African sun beside the sparkling pool, which is next to the cocktail and coffee bar. The hotel has also set apart a kids corner at the pool area with a baby pool for younger children.

In the evening, we had the option of spending time on the lawn with its special ambience or beside a cosy fire with a pre-dinner drink before savouring the hotel’s culinary delights.

After settling into our rooms, we decided to move to the Fountain View Restaurant for dinner. Here, we learnt that their menu comprises a buffet or a la carte depending on one’s choice.

Although we had the choice of going for buffet, which costs Sh1500 and comprises a starter soup and a main course dish, we opted for some chicken stir-fry that cost us each Sh550. This was followed by a glass of fresh juice.

English breakfast

We also had the option of a main course of chicken, beef, lamb, fish or pork done according to our taste that ranges between Sh550-800.

In the morning, we woke up to an English breakfast comprising juice, fruit, cereal, eggs, bacon, sausages, tea or coffee with pancakes or toast at Sh1500.

By the end of our visit, our dining experiences made us realise that there are truly good restaurants out there that Nairobians may not be aware of. Only three hours from the city was a world of fine dining, where décor meets a fusion of intercontinental flavours and cooking techniques, designed with the ultimate dining experience in mind. The clean lines and spacious layout of the restaurant are sophisticated elegance personified. And the friendly waiters including the good service rendered make it exceptional.

We also discovered that the hotel has an ultra-modern conference facility that can host up to 50 guests indoors and 500 outdoors.

The hotel has hosted weddings, family retreats, chama retreats, business lunches, office parties, birthday parties and dinner parties.