Jacaranda Hotel Nairobi, Nairobi

The outdoor swimming pool has a shallow end, a pool bar, and sun loungers. The fitness centre offers yoga and aerobics classes plus a steam room and sauna. A kids' club, a playground, BBQ facilities, a garden, and a sun terrace provide outdoor spaces for families.

Each of the 128 guest rooms has a minibar, a plasma television with satellite channels, and a safety deposit box. Rooms include a seating area and a private bathroom with a bath; some offer garden views. The hotel was built in 1964 and remains a known celebrity hotspot in Nairobi.

The hotel sits in Westlands, directly opposite The Sarit Centre shopping mall, reachable via a gate from the garden. Nairobi National Museum is 1.9 km away, and Karura Forest is within easy reach. An airport shuttle to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (21 km) can be arranged at a charge.

Two onsite restaurants serve local and international cuisine, plus a pool bar and a snack bar. A complimentary daily social reception is held for guests to mix and enjoy drinks. Live music performances and a nightclub/DJ operate on select evenings.

The full-service spa offers deep tissue massage, facials, body wraps, body scrubs, and hot stone treatments. Beauty services include hair colouring, haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and waxing. Fitness/spa locker rooms, a steam room, and a sauna are available for all guests.

Location: Opposite Sarit Centre mall, 1.9 km from Nairobi National Museum

Rooms: 128 rooms with minibars and plasma satellite TVs

Dining: Two restaurants, pool bar & complimentary daily social reception

Wellness: Full-service spa with hot stones, facials, and body wraps

Entertainment: Live music, nightclub/DJ, kids' club and playground

Family: Kids' club, playground, and shallow-end pool with sun loungers