This unique Gaudi inspired earthen home will fill your mind with light & colour. Without a straight line in the place it’s a feast for the eyes.
The original rondavel is the kitchenette - it leads onto a cosy living room and bathroom (accessed by going down exterior stairs from the bedroom on the upper level) & has access to one of the most iconic pools on the planet - this is a stay you won’t forget.
There is a small lower patio & upper balcony with views across the Silole Sanctuary.
The space
This quite extraordinary space is the brainchild of the Croze family who moved to the Kitengela plains in the late 70’s. Inspired by the outliers of architecture (Gaudi & Hundertwasser) & Kenyan traditional building styles, they created their family home loosely based on the kraal or masai manyatta - a ring of huts encircling a central space.
Glass house is one or the original huts in the ring. This home has grown organically (sometimes quite literally) for the last three decades.
Downstairs there is the bathroom, sitting room with fireplace and kitchenette. Upstairs (reached via exterior stairs) is the bedroom.
Stroll next door to visit one of the quirkiest art glass studios on the planet - Kitengela Glass. Their café serves pizza, pasta & superlative homemade ice cream, fine coffee & cold beers - watch as the glassblowers ply their craft under a glittering planetarium dome or join in and take a glassblowing experience.
Guest access
You will have unfettered access to the swimming pool and Nani’s Wonderland (sculpture garden & environs) is free for you to wander around in.
The last 5km to the house are on a rough murram road. We are off the beaten track, away from the hustle and bustle of town/city life, and for those who would like to visit Nairobi daily we suggest choosing accommodation closer to town. Large ubers (preferably not chapchap/small ones) can bring you here and it’s best to book one of our local taxi drivers to collect you after your stay - ideally to bring you here also if you don't have your own transport.
Please follow our written directions and not Google. If unsure please call us.
We also recommend bringing supplies with you as we are 10km from the nearest supermarket.
Ideally please do not come after dark as we can be difficult to find if this is your first time. For those arriving in Kenya late at night we recommend using one of our local taxi drivers to collect and bring you here from the airport.
We are about 45 minutes from Wilson airport and about an hour & a quarter from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport - traffic contingent - and 45-60 mins from Karen/town.
Other things to note
We are situated near the Nairobi National Park. There are baboons and Sykes monkeys who love a bit of thievery - mostly of food - so keep the windows closed when you’re not in the house and keep food in closed containers and the fridge.
The bathroom is downstairs off the living room, so you will need to descend the exterior stairs to use it from the bedroom.
As we are living in a beautiful, rural, quiet residential area no parties are permitted (also per airbnb rules) & no loud music. This is the perfect place to swap city life for a tranquil environment for a couple or a solo traveller who wish to unwind.
Deliveries are possible from Karen, Langata or Nairobi from various restaurants or grocery stores. We will assist you with local rider numbers and delivery suggestions.
We have 24 hour caretakers on the property.
We have good wifi.
On the property we also have Mirror House - magical mosaic (a double) and Pool House - Gaudi in the bush (a double, twin and a single in an annex).
Looking for a coastal escape? We also host two unique beachside properties in Watamu - sun, sea and stunning glass art await. Both homes are a 2-minute walk from the ocean via private beach acess - perfect for peaceful seaside mornings and sunset strolls.
