Skip to content
Hamilton House seen across its expansive manicured lawn at dusk, the long whitewashed 1930s facade with terracotta-tiled roof nestled among towering indigenous trees under a dramatic evening sky

Hamilton House

Karen, Kenya

Timeless Colonial Elegance in the Green Heart of Karen

The leafy suburb of Karen sits at Nairobi’s south-western edge, where the city gives way to wide gardens and the distant blue outline of the Ngong Hills. Hamilton House occupies five private acres here — a quietly secluded estate of mature lawns and towering indigenous trees, yet within easy reach of both airports and the restaurants, galleries and attractions of Karen and Langata.

The house dates from the 1930s and was sensitively restored in 2025, preserving its colonial character while introducing every modern comfort. Interiors are elegant and understated — a generous Drawing Room for evening drinks, a TV Snug for quieter moments and a Dining Room seating the full party of ten. A broad swimming pool anchors the outdoor living space alongside an expansive veranda, outdoor dining, a bar and a wood-fired pizza oven.

Guest rooms are individually named and furnished, each with a private ensuite bathroom. Some overlook the swimming pool; others open onto a sheltered inner courtyard washed with natural light throughout the day. The Acacia Room sits slightly apart from the main house on its own private veranda amid the greenery — a peaceful retreat for those seeking an additional measure of seclusion.

Hamilton House is fully staffed and comprehensively catered, with bespoke menus built around guests’ preferences and an emphasis on delicious home cooking. Beyond the gate, the attractions of Karen and Langata are close at hand: the AFEW Giraffe Centre, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Elephant Orphanage, the Karen Blixen Museum and Nairobi National Park — with its lions, rhinoceroses and some 500 resident bird species — are all within easy reach.

The whitewashed inner courtyard entrance of Hamilton House, a stepping-stone path crossing a small koi pond bordered by tropical plantings, carved wooden sculptures and sage-green French doors

You will love

  • Original 1930s character retained
  • Five secluded & private acres
  • Fully staffed & catered
  • Pool, veranda & pizza oven
  • Peerless Karen & Langata access

Let us design your perfect itinerary.

Call 1300 130 218 Contact us
A twin bedroom at Hamilton House with arched elephant-print headboards, floral bedspreads, an upholstered bench, parquet floors and French doors opening to a private veranda beyond
A garden dining setting at Hamilton House with a polka-dot tablecloth, laid table for six and a large umbrella, glimpsed through lush foliage in bright afternoon light
A private garden courtyard at Hamilton House with ornate white cast-iron chairs and table set amid large potted tropical plants, climbing greenery and a wrought-iron gate
An ensuite bathroom at Hamilton House with a wooden vanity, a patterned ceramic vessel basin, a white armchair, a vase of pink roses and blue-painted timber wainscoting
A bedroom detail at Hamilton House showing an orange armchair with a wildlife-print cushion beside tall French windows overlooking the swimming pool and lush garden beyond
An ensuite bathroom at Hamilton House with two sculpted shell-shaped vessel basins on a wooden vanity, a white ornate mirror, open shelving and small-paned windows
A twin bedroom at Hamilton House with two arched elephant-print headboards, orange accent cushions, parquet floors and sliding glass doors opening directly onto the swimming pool terrace
A generous ensuite bathroom at Hamilton House with a freestanding bath, a wooden double-vanity beneath a large framed mirror, a chandelier and a bay window overlooking the garden
A close view of a bed at Hamilton House with an olive-green palm-print headboard, matching cushions and a red lacquer breakfast tray with a celadon teapot
The outdoor dining and pizza oven area at Hamilton House, a long wooden table set with bottles and flowers beneath canopied trees, a domed wood-fired oven visible in the background
The Drawing Room at Hamilton House with a deep white corner sofa, an embroidered ottoman, African mudcloth cushions, parquet floors and a carved wooden rocking horse beside tall windows
A sunlit courtyard seating area at Hamilton House with two armchairs and an upholstered ottoman, large terracotta urns planted with palms and French doors opening to the rooms beyond
The pool terrace at Hamilton House with sun loungers, a striped umbrella and a bistro table set with wine glasses, the ivy-clad white facade and sage-green French doors behind
Hamilton House viewed across its wide, manicured lawn under a dramatic sky, the whitewashed 1930s colonial house flanked by towering trees and lush tropical gardens
The private veranda of the Acacia Room at Hamilton House, with rattan chairs and a small table set against a whitewashed lattice wall, sage-green French doors open to the room beyond
A study corner at Hamilton House featuring an antique mahogany pedestal desk with a brass lamp, a botanical-print armchair and framed palm illustrations above a white-framed bay window
A veranda sitting area at Hamilton House centred on a lit stone fireplace, with two green armchairs draped in throws, a kilim rug underfoot and garden greenery visible beyond
The expansive covered veranda at Hamilton House, furnished with sofas, cane chairs and armchairs beneath a striped awning and looking out over wide, manicured garden lawns
The twin bedroom at Hamilton House with two beds featuring arched headboards upholstered in elephant-print fabric, matching floral bedspreads and framed vintage African artwork on the walls
The sweeping garden grounds of Hamilton House, with the swimming pool and striped umbrella visible beneath towering trees and a large decorative crocodile sculpture resting on the lawn
A living room corner at Hamilton House with an antique glazed bookcase, a painted carved wooden rocking horse, a cream sofa with an African mudcloth cushion and white-framed windows
A light-filled guest bedroom at Hamilton House featuring a king bed with a floral bedspread, parquet floors, a large vivid green botanical artwork and a chandelier above
The inner courtyard entrance of Hamilton House, with a stepping-stone path crossing a small ornamental fish pond set between whitewashed walls, potted tropical plants and carved wooden sculptures
The white-rendered facade of Hamilton House viewed across the swimming pool, its terracotta-tiled roof and sage-green French doors framed by lavender borders and lush tropical gardens

An absolutely fantastic travel company - every one of the many trips they have organised for us over 22 years have been faultless and fabulous.

Judith & Roger Williams

Would do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!

The McGowan Tribe

It certainly was the best trip we have EVER had. The experiences were mind blowing.  We want everyone we know to experience Africa - the animals, the people - magical.

Jo-anne & Dean Mifsud

The Classic Safari Company is the best I have dealt with. Extremely knowledgeable & professional, friendly, patient & understanding of first timers to Africa.

Annette Whiley

Classic Safari Company were brilliant - 10/10

Di & Kingsley Yates

Classic Safari is the place to go to for "top end" adventure travel.

Ron & Alison Guthrie

If you want the most sensational experience in Africa let Julia and the staff at Classic Safari Co plan it for you! Their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for their job means your every wish will be fulfilled.

Miriam & Joseph Harrison

Their experience and knowledge of Africa is evident and we couldn't have been happier with the total package. This has given us a taste for Africa - now we are ready for more.

Andrew & Pip Stevens

Classic Safari Company has done it again! A unique experience that ticked all the boxes - wildlife, culture and dining experience. A dream come true!

Ros Wheeler

Absolutely everything was first class & so well organised.

Simon & Jackie Adams

The trip of a lifetime, couldn't have dreamt of a better adventure if I tried.

Emma Jeffcoat

You can't improve on perfection. I had my best birthday and holiday with my family celebrating my 80th birthday in Africa. Everything that Julia organised was perfect and the whole trip was a highlight!

Buckingham Family

Everything was perfect! Advice and information on destinations and activities hit everything I had hoped to experience. I contacted the Classic Safari Company upon recommendation and have now, in turn, recommended to others.

Tim Bradley

Very knowledgeable and patient. Our trip was all that we hoped for. Wonderful!

Jane & Robert Happell

Thank you for making our trip to Africa so spectacular. The attention to detail really made it special. It really was the trip of a lifetime.

Paul Cozzi

An amazing experience - the best family holiday we have ever had. We were extremely impressed by the meticulous attention to our itinerary. I can't speak highly enough of all the elements of this exciting journey!

Sheryl & Robert Taylor

We loved it all. Our son wants to go back tomorrow. We would ALL go back again!

Laurence & Remi Cunningham

Classic Safari are the people who genuinely know other culture and offer incredible insight to perfectly meet your expectations.

Melanie McMillan & Iain Jones

The trip exceeded my expectations and was the best family holiday I have ever had. Our children simply loved it and now I know more about African wildlife than they do about our own farm animals.

Rowntree family

We are so happy we put our trust in CSC, we had an amazing adventure and would recommend them to anyone.

Kim & Brad Balance

Julia you did a fantastic job - everything was first class. Well organised, efficient and stress free. We all agreed it was the best holiday we've ever had. Cant wait to travel with CSC again.

Milford family

We wanted the opportunity to see as many wildlife parks as possible and the Classic Safari Company provided an action-packed itinerary that included six, with 11 tiger sightings and nine leopard. This was overlaid with an introduction to Jaisalmer, Jaipur and the 'real' India. Pench and Panna were the hidden gems of a really great trip, very well organised, seamless and enjoyable. As a solo traveller I felt incredibly safe at all times. I want to go back!

Mark Taylor

Exellent and wonderful, reaching way above expectations.

Elizabeth Mackintosh

Thank you for putting together the ancestral adventure of a lifetime. I cannot speak highly enough of the trip.

Jenny Kidd
A wide-angle garden view of Hamilton House showing the swimming pool, a large bronze crocodile sculpture on the lawn, the covered pool pavilion and towering trees under a partly cloudy sky
Icon

begin your journey now

Take advantage of our highly personalised advice, inspiration and experience
Call 1300 130 218 Contact Us