The Entim Sidai forest is one of the few remnants of the original Ngong and Karura
forests that straddled Nairobi before the original British settlements in the first part of
the last century.
Entim Sidai means the “beautiful forest” in Maasai language. We are on Rura drive.
Rura in Maasai means to sleep. The two Maasai names pay homage to the Maasai
herdsmen who use to come here at night to sleep at the glade in the forest that
shielded them from cold winds from the Nairobi plains where they had grazed their
cows during the day.
The glade has been turned into the beautiful gardens that serve as function venues
during the day and for barbeque dinners by the camp fire at night complete with
rich forest noises from crickets and hyraxes.
The boutique hotel acknowledges the colonial heritage of this space by maintaining
the original house built in this compound in 1924 (About 100 years ago). Some hotel
rooms, the spa, a conference room are in this historical house featuring a few
interesting artifacts of that era.
The forest is patched a top a hill that affords it an exceptional view of the Ngong Hills
that would make the neighboring Karen Blixen house of the out of Africa fame a bit
envious.
Today, the glade is being developed with the target of becoming the most beautiful
garden in the East African region. The frequent camp fire dinners capture the spirit of
what Entim Sidai has been for generations starting with the Maasais, the British settlers
and now for all of us.
The gardens have an eclectic mix of plants and flowers from UK brought in by the
European settlers in the last century. The new additions of flowers and plants have
mainly earned their space through their capacity to boast and attract bees.
The forest has over 400 species of plants that attract birds, bees, butterflies. The
medicinal use of some plants attracts a few Maasai Herbalists who are often ready to
share their knowledge.

Entim Sidai, Experience Tranquility and Calm