Shepherd Huts
Nanyuki, Kenya
These British-inspired raised wooden huts are probably the quirkiest motel-style accommodation in the entire country. An ideal stopover if you are passing through Nanyuki for a spot of business, this is one for anyone who loves a charming, rustic, yet spotlessly clean room to rest their weary heads on.
Price
Rooms at Shepherd Huts go for Ksh 4,000 for 1 person and Ksh 6,000 for two.
Strengths
With regards to stylish, affordable and easy charm, there is really nowhere in the area that beats the Shepherd huts.
Weaknesses
The lack of self-catering facilities make it difficult to really stay more than a couple of days unless you are happy dining at Barney’s across the way every day. Meanwhile, if it’s spacious rooms with all the modern conveniences that you are after, then this is probably not the place for you.
Location
Set opposite the Nanyuki airstrip and behind the One Stop shopping center, the four huts are easy to find and, with a parking area that sits adjacent to the huts, extremely easy to access.
Style and character
Inspired by vintage British traveller horse-drawn caravans of yesteryear, these wooden raised huts offer petite living quarters with a spacious porch from which to sit and admire the stunning views of Mt Kenya. The charming bathrooms are intentionally designed to create a rustic African “mabati chic” feel.
Service and Facilities
Working more as a motel than a classic hotel, Shepherd Huts offer minimal extra facilities. Rooms include a fridge, kettle, tea bags, instant coffee and enough glasses to invite a handful of friends round for a quick sundowner. Bathrooms are equipped with solar-heated showers, towels and soap.
Rooms
Despite their bijoux dimensions, the white painted interiors of these huts, their glass doors and large floor-to-ceiling windows, make the space feel bright, airy and accommodating.
Food and Drink
The One Stop shop and cafe is in short walking distance and provides basic foodstuffs. In the mornings cooked breakfast are available on request, while coffee and sandwiches are served throughout the day.
Value for money?
While of course there is cheaper accommodation available in town, you are paying a little extra here for the pure aesthetic value of the place. Any hotel with a direct view of Mt Kenya will always cost that little more, because it stands to reason that those of us with a romantic streak are more than happy to fork out something more for a room with a view.
Family Friendly?
A perfect stopover for families on road trips or with pets, the rooms all contain one extra bed for a family of three.
http://www.onestopnanyuki.com/shepherd-huts
Reviewed by Katy Fentress in March 2018.
