Summer is almost synonymous to vacation time. The Coronavirus pandemic, however, has made it difficult for people to enjoy the weather in the same way that they used to during every other holiday. In Kenya, August is the best time for vacations because most schools and educational institutions are closed for mid-term break. Hotels are usually fully booked during this season. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, most hotels are currently closed. Only a few hotels and restaurants remain open, with strict Coronavirus restrictions in place. Honestly, the holiday mood is not there at all. Despite the freedom to travel within the country and opportunity to enjoy the summer vacation at the coast, I opt to stay home in the cold Nairobi weather for safety purposes; Covid-19 cases are rapidly increasing in Kenya. While we figure out how to connect with others and stay safe during our vacation, we should also remember to be eco-friendly. Through my sustainability journey, I have found many eco-friendly hotels in Kenya during my local travels to add to my local travel bucket list. Here are a few:

@watamutreehouse

Watamu Treehouse: Located in Watamu island, Kenya, this is a very unique and breathtaking boutique hotel built around trees. Not a single tree was cut down during its construction and it is completely plastic-free. This is the perfect hotel for those who would like to enjoy nature, relax and unwind. It is also most ideal for vegans and vegetarians, as they have a vegan-oriented menu.

@jacarandabeachresort

Jacaranda Beach Resort is one of the few family-oriented beach resorts in the coast of Watamu that offers a beautiful view of the crystal-clear sea with snow white beaches. They care about the environment by choosing to go plastic free with paper straws at their restaurants and recycling bins to ensure no littering. They also have a thrift store where tourists can donate clothes, accessories or products, which are sold to other tourists who visit the hotel. The proceeds go to their Jacaranda School Foundation to help kids get an education. 

The Old Man and the Sea Restaurant is a great spot to have seafood in Malindi, with reasonable prices and vintage decor soothing to old souls. They earned my sustainability points by swapping single-use plastic straws with cute metal straws when serving drinks to their clients.

@barbarofficialpage

Barbar Restaurant in Malindi is one of my favourite restaurants because of how modern and open it is. It is also a cool, relaxing spot to have drinks and delicious Italian pizza with friends. I love that they have paper straws and have customised their water bottles to old school glass bottles bearing their logo to make a sustainable brand statement.

@villarosakempinski

Villa Rosa Kempinski is a luxury 5-star hotel in Nairobi, Kenya that offers the perfect fusion of European luxury and Kenyan hospitality, which is evident in their service and delectable food. This hotel is perfect for Saturday hangout sessions and Sunday brunch with friends and family. They are sustainable in many ways, starting with their plastic-free glass water bottles, paper straws and take-out packaging to their luxury travel camps like Ole Mara Kempinski, which also offers green tourist attractions and wildlife adventures.

@palletcafe_ke

Pallet Cafe and The Alchemist Bar

Pallet Cafe and The Alchemist Bar are two separate joints in Nairobi with similar upcycled decor. Pallet Cafe is a cute coffee shop in Nairobi that serves delicious snacks, perfect for coffee dates and brainstorming ideas while working on your laptop. The Alchemist Bar is great for delicious snacks, drinks and nightlife with friends. They both have authentic decor made from recycled and upcycled items like bottle tops, wall decor, plastic jars upcycled into hand-washing jars, car tyres recycled into seats and table furniture and also beverage glass bottles upcycled into beautiful, artsy flower vases used for table décor. They also have chandeliers hanging on their ceilings to illuminate their restaurants.

There are so many more eco-friendly spots in Kenya on my local travel bucket list that I can’t wait to review. Meanwhile, you can add this to your bucket list of eco-friendly hotels and restaurants to visit one day, post coronavirus pandemic. Do you have any recommendations for eco-friendly places to visit in your country?