Urban, loft-like style blends effortlessly with warm African colours at Nairobi's Tribe Hotel. This pioneering lifestyle property sets itself apart with atypical angles and an unrivalled appreciation for tribal crafts. Some 900 hand-sculpted artefacts from all over Africa have been gathered here, capturing the continent's diversity and evoking a sense of splendour that is raising the luxury hotel stakes in the continent.
Architecture at the Tribe Hotel
Spread across three wings in the heart of Nairobi's diplomatic district, a soaring sunlit atrium links the Tribe's 137 guest rooms and suites. Inside, cool granite and stretches of dark Indian slate temper earthy combinations of cumin, sandstone, and brown-sugar hues. Architect Mehraz Ehsani continues this balance by using authentic Kenyan materials in public spaces. These include the Kaya Spa, which takes inspiration from the country's sacred forests; the well-stocked library; the rooftop bar; and the heated pool, surrounded by waterfalls and gardens.
Tribe welcomes guests to a luxurious experience. The hotel maintains a benchmark of excellence in every aspect of its offerings. The 128 guestrooms and suites excite and soothe at the same time—rich, deep colours mixed with natural stone and wood, stainless steel and glass features blend with rustic metal and handmade wooden furniture, and world-class amenities and new-age technology seamlessly complement local fabrics and artefacts.
To reflect the true beauty of the continent, Tribe has turned to local artists in a big way. Some of the works on display have propelled their creators from unknowns to celebrated international artists. The hotel also works with high-end galleries that focus on art by Kenyans for Kenya.
Back to the nomadic days when weary travellers were greeted with sincerity, invited to feast and exchange stories, and rest in the comforts of home… a very comfortable home. It is this return to core fundamentals that heralded the advent of “boutique” hotels – properties that define themselves through individualized attention, genuine concern for the guests’ needs and a sense of pride in delivering solutions not just service.
