About us

Discover the warmth of Kenyan hospitality, the beauty of Nairobi, and the comfort of a home away from home.

At Mdawida Homestay, we pride ourselves on offering a unique and immersive experience that goes beyond traditional accommodation. Nestled in the heart of Nairobi, our homestay provides a warm, welcoming environment where guests can truly feel at home while exploring the vibrant culture and stunning landscapes of Kenya.

Mdawida Homestay was founded with the vision of creating a space where travelers can experience authentic Kenyan hospitality.

Our name, Mdawida, means “people” in the local language, reflecting our commitment to community, connection, and cultural exchange. We opened our doors with the aim of providing a comfortable, friendly, and enriching environment for guests from around the world.

We aim to offer more than just a place to stay; we want to create meaningful experiences that our guests will cherish long after they leave.

we offer a diverse range of comfortable accommodations, including cozy one-bedroom studios, luxurious private en-suite rooms, and spacious dormitory-style rooms for groups, all designed to provide a home-away-from-home experience. Guests can enjoy authentic Kenyan hospitality with curated excursions to iconic attractions like the Nairobi National Park, Karen Blixen Museum, and the Giraffe Centre, as well as unique cultural experiences such as the Kibera Community Visit and the Maasai Market. We ensure personalized service, helping with tour arrangements, transportation, and local recommendations, all while fostering a warm and inviting community atmosphere.

Meet Some Happy Customers

     Excellent  
     Based on 34 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Rodrigue N 
 2019-07-19
 
 
 Verified The best
Budget-friendly, near a zoo. I stayed at Mdawida for 4 days. It was the best. If you just want to chill in your room, this is the right place for you. Privacy is respected. But if you are chatty and want to hang out or discover what's good about Nairobi, you have arrived. Sarah is the best host. Shout out to Trevor!
  
 
       
   Kristian T 
 2019-02-13
 
 
 Verified Velcoming Family
We stayed at the Mdawida Homestay for 3 nights and we felt like a part of the family. Breakfast was included and lunch and dinner was offered for a cheap price. We enjoyed playing football with the kids when we were at home. Serah was kind enough to take us around town and to a waterfall one of the days. We are definately staying here the next time we are in Nairobi.
  
 
       
   Nadine A 
 2018-10-31
 
 
 Verified A warm welcome to Kenya
We recently stayed at Mdawida Homestay for 7 nights - coming and going between our adventures. Ronnie & Serah (and their amazing extended family) were gracious hosts even before we got to Kenya! Since this was my first trip to Africa, I had many questions which Serah promptly answered via email. Serah helped connect us with an incredible travel agency, Njema Safaris (which I highly recommend), who arranged our Masai Mara Safari. If you want to stay in a westernized hotel isolated from any contact with the locals, this place is not for you. But if you want to truly experience the gracious hospitality of the warm Kenyan people, please stay at Mdawida Homestay. Ronnie & Serah and their delightful boys made us feel like we were part of their happy extended family. We had many great conversations about Kenyan culture, and Serah helped us navigate our travel plans, using Nairobi as a home base. We had a lovely private clean room with en-suite bathroom, free wifi and a TV that allowed us privacy when we needed "space". I wouldn't hesitate to book with them again should I be so lucky to return to Kenya.
  
 
       
   cramac 
 2018-08-16
 
 
 Verified Ottimo rapporto qualità prezzo
Si trova piuttosto distante dal centro, ma vicino al Nairobi National Park, all’organatrofio degli elefanti, centro giraffe, Karen Blixen museum e ristorante Carnivore. Comunque il centro si raggiunge facilmente, traffico permettendo, usando taxi o Uber. La mia camera era essenziale ma con tutto quello che serve. Praticamente è un vero e proprio Bed and Breakfast. La proprietaria è stata gentilissima. Aiutandomi a trovare una nuova sistemazione il giorno del mio arrivo a Nairobi, che è stato ritardato di un giorno per cancellazione del mio volo. Qui ho poi soggiornato la mia seconda notte a Nairobi, di ritorno da un safari. Inoltre, ha anche fato in modo che fossi rimborsato per la prima notte, nonostante i termini di cancellazione fossero scaduti. Davvero una brava persona.
  
 
       
   JamboJambo18 
 2018-06-19
 
 
 Verified Friendly and Welcoming Homestay Built Around the Family
I stayed at Mdawida Homestay for two nights in June 2018. The homestay is inside a gated community, a five minute walk (two minute drive) from the main entrance on Police Dog Unit Road. Mdawida is ideally located: both Nairobi city centre and Nairobi National Park are a short ride away, as is Wilson Airport (Nairobi's second airport). There are also several convenience stores within a five minute walk of the gated community. Serah, Ronnie and their children were charming and helpful hosts during my stay at Mdawida. The children even gave me a Swahili lesson during breakfast on my first day while Ronnie showed me how to order an Uber taxi on my phone (this was my first ever Uber ride!). The breakfast of coffee, toast, jam and omelette was the perfect start to a day of touring Nairobi and Mathare on foot. After breakfast I played football with the children in the yard but had to stop after five minutes because they were far too quick for me and I was already out of breath! I had a private room with en-suite bathroom and TV. It was spacious, very clean and comfortable and I slept well both nights. At the end of my first day, I sat outside in the yard with a few beers and talked to some of Serah and Ronnie's family who were visiting for Madaraka Day. I get the impression Serah and Ronnie have a very large close-knit family which was great to see. I planned to stay another night at Mdawida after my safari and trip to Lake Naivasha but my plans changed and sadly I had to cancel - apologies Serah! If I ever return to this part of Nairobi, I won't hesitate to book my accommodation with Mdawida Homestay again.
  
 
       
   Hisako I 
 2018-01-24
 
 
 Verified Family Friendly and Comfy
This was my first time in Africa with my 5yr old son. They communcated with me until the day I boarded my flight, Serah replied to my emails quickly. when I got there, the room was cozy, mosquito net was there and they provided bedding and towels. This was perfect for my son and I. The kids were on winter break so we lucked out and my son made so many friends with Serah and her family. They served us breakfast which was whenever we woke up due to jetlag. This is not a commercial hotel. Serah was accomodating of our needs during our stay, assisted us with uber and travel advice. She advocated for me when an uber ripped me off. She stands up for her customers. You will feel so safe, secured and loved in this home. My son cried on his way home. I cried. This is a home and you will feel so welcomed and leave knowing you have an extended family in Nairobi. she allowed my son and I stay past checkout to provide us with rest prior to boarding our flight. The room was clean, no issues with meals and boarding. There's a mall nearby that's 200-300 ksh per one way. They have Wi-Fi free and flexible with your routine. Would recommend for everyone, especially families with children and those who really want to immerse themselves with a Kenyan lifestyle.
  
 
       
   normski117 
 2018-01-21
 
 
 Verified Warm, friendly and comfy
Staying with Serah and Ronnie in Mdawida Homestay was the perfect start to my trip to Kenya. It was the end of the Christmas holidays and they had family and friends staying too. It was a house full of fun, warmth and laughter. I arrived very late from the airport, but Serah was there to let me in to my room and make me comfy. The next day they organised a last minute trip round a bit of central Nairobi and Kibera with a local guide. That was a really interesting day and I highly recommend it. The next day Serah took me to the Giraffe Centre and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, as well as to Ocean Sole. It was a paid excursion, but to be honest it was like hanging out with friends rather than a guide and it was a really fun day. The homestay is in a gated community and so is very secure, but if you want to be in the centre of Nairobi and things, then this might not be the best choice for that, although you can get a matatu there if needed. For me that wasn't a problem and Serah and Ronnie will be able to organise things for you. They were super helpful. They make breakfast for you and you can pay for extra meals which were really delicious and they catered for my veggie diet too. The room was clean and the one I stayed in had an ensuite toilet and shower. I'm not sure of the other rooms so you would need to check. Next time I go to Nairobi, I will definitely be going back!
  
 
       
   Benja B 
 2017-04-04
 
 
 Verified Excellent homestay in Nairobi.
I was planning a holiday in Nairobi with family (wife & small kid aged 10 ) and wanted a homestay in an estate where the kid could also engage with others his age and learn from them but not feel lonely with us grownups etc Our stay at Mdawida (Sunvalley Estate) with the Mdawida family (mr. Ronny & Mrs. Serah Mdawida) was the best decision i could have ever taken for this trip. It was a lovely house nestled in an amazing estate only 20 minutes away from the airport next to the amazing Nairobi national park, a very interesting drive up to the place. They both went out of their way to make our stay comfortable and were particularly patient with our naughty son who had questions about everything. A special mention of the home keeper's - Hellen & Violet who tolerated us & our child and kept us up with those lovely cups of coffee & the delightful cuisines they cooked for us. Serah took us on an amazing drive (despite the rain) to wongonyi in Taita, Voi. It was a major eye opener to us. The sceneries and culture were simply breathtaking and amazing. Would recommend this homestay for everyone who can value the presence of the Mdawida's. We learnt a lot as a family and hope to be in touch with them forever. For us it was a home vacation.!
  
 
       
   Redmango43 
 2017-04-01
 
 
 Verified Safe, Friendly Home Base in Nairobi.
My husband and I booked this place for the few days we had before heading off on safari in East Africa. We were very happy with the accommodations and the staff. While we didn't stay in the main house, the owner, Serah put us up in a house next door, our room was HUGE really HUGE! With a nice balcony that looked out over the gated community. We had a lovely large shower and a simple yet filling breakfast every day. Serah also arranged for airport pick up and rides to and from activities each day with the best driver in Kenya, Wilfred whom we came to view as a dear friend. One of the best mornings we had was spent chatting with Serah who is intelligent and personable, a perfect host. Maxie, our second hostess was attentive but allowed for plenty of privacy. We would stay in this place again, as it's very convenient to many attractions close to that side of town (Nairobi traffic is notorious) including the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, the new Galleria (with excellent currency exchange, best rate we found, and a SUPER new super market)! There are not a lot of extras you may find in a fancy hotel, (gym/bar etc) but we were super comfortable, and felt incredibly safe. Highly recommend! OH PS the Wifi was very good!
  
 
       
   Brodi R 
 2016-09-16
 
 
 Verified What a great space
This was a great place to stay for the week while exploring Nairobi. An awesome family that make you feel right at home instantly. The rooms were spacious and quiet for sleeping. You should definitely consider this spot when staying in Nairobi! You won't be disappointed.