Giraffe Manor
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
“INCREDIBLE. This was probably one of the most accommodating hotels I’ve ever stayed at for food allergies.
Every meal was a multi-course experience, and the food was honestly some of the best I’ve EVER had. As someone who is both gluten-free and nut-free, I was nervous my options would be limited—but it was the complete opposite. I had pancakes, pastries, chocolate lava cake, sorbets, steak, coffee, soups, salads, vegetables, pita bread, hummus, countless dips… the list goes on.
For extra peace of mind, there’s an excellent hospital just 10 minutes away if it’s ever needed. But the staff made me feel so safe from the moment I arrived. They knew exactly who I was and always had gluten-free alternatives prepared before I even had to ask. During afternoon tea, for example, while everyone enjoyed the pastry spread, they brought me my own beautiful selection of gluten-free treats.
The giraffes are what draw you here, but the hospitality and incredible food are what will stay with me. I’ll be thinking about this experience for a long time.”
Elephant Bedroom Camp
Location: Umoja, Kenya
“I was honestly nervous about staying somewhere so remote with severe food allergies, but this camp knew how to deal with food allergies! Before our trip, we sent photos of my allergy translation cards, and when we checked in, they already knew who I was—and the chef even had my cards printed in the kitchen.
We had the same waiter for every meal, so I always felt confident my allergies were understood (even though I still double-checked everything!). At breakfast, he walked me through every safe option since it was buffet style, and I stuck to simple favorites like omelettes and fruit where I know cross-contact wasn’t an issue.
The staff handled my allergies so well that I never felt like an inconvenience. On top of that, the resident elephant wandering through camp made this an unforgettable safari experience. I’d absolutely recommend staying here—just be sure to communicate your allergies before your trip!”
Nomad Beach Resort
Location: Diani Beach, Kenya
“Once again I’m very impressed with how the staff handled my food allergies. Once I arrived, I informed the staff of my allergies and gave them my allergy translation cards. They took it very seriously and asked if they could take my cards to print and hand out to the staff. They printed multiple copies, labeled it with our room number so it was clear who had the allergies, brought them to the kitchen, and handed them out to the staff. When you sat down to eat, you had to tell the waiter your room number so they immediately knew who I was and my restrictions. Every time I ordered, the waiter told me he would talk to the chef to confirm it was safe. One time he did come back and ask me to order something else because the fish I wanted was marinated in a soy sauce, so it would not be safe. Which just confirmed for me that they were on top of it all! I will also add that some people choose to end their safari at more remote beach destinations, but Diani Beach has a great hospital nearby if you need. I always like looking for that extra layer of protection!”
Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant
Location: Mombasa, Kenya
“Even though on our trip all of our food was included in our hotel stay, we were recommended this restaurant from a local, and I’m so glad we decided to try it! Online there was a section for their FAQs, and one of the questions was “do you accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies” and the answer was “Yes, we can accommodate most dietary preferences and allergies provided you inform us in advance / mention it when making your reservation.”
You need to make a reservation for this place because there are only two time slots you can show up for dinner. When booking, we notated my allergies.
When we got to the restaurant, I pulled out my allergy translation cards, and immediately our server brought over her manager. She’s the one who looked over my food the entire dinner. Although the menu wasn’t labeled, I was able to order a crab dish and a dessert. She confirmed both were safe to eat, and then she specifically brought out my dishes. So I know she was watching the staff in the kitchen to make sure it was okay! The food was amazing, and the atmosphere in the cave was beautiful. The cave is thought to be between 120,000 and 180,000 years old, and in the evenings, the restaurant glows in the muted light of candles, and diners’ eyes are naturally drawn to the twinkling stars above. Amazing!”
Naboisho Camp
Location: Maasai Mara, Kenya
“If you’re allergic to tree nuts, make sure this camp is on your safari itinerary—the entire camp is completely nut-free! The chef is also allergic, and so there are absolutely no nuts on the premises! The food here was absolutely INCREDIBLE, some of the best gluten-free food I’ve ever had. And they keep you full! Mornings are spent on game drives where they pack a breakfast for you. This includes fruit, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, gluten-free banana bread, etc! Lunch was three courses and always started with a different gazpacho soup. It was so fun to have SO MANY desserts when I am used to not having desserts with a nut allergy. Tea time, they had different pastries out and had a separate gluten-free tray, labeled just for me! At this camp, you also get the same waiter during your stay, so he was familiar with my allergies and always made sure I had gluten-free options (since the camp was nut-free, I felt so confident here! I don’t think I’ve ever felt this “normal” while on vacation!). On evening game drives, they packed some snacks for us to enjoy. My tins were all labeled and separate from the rest of the truck to make sure they were safe. The staff went above and beyond for me! The gluten-free food was some of the best I’ve ever had, and I always appreciate when a place “gets it” when it comes to allergies. They even had labeled for some items being dairy-free and lactose-free, if those applied to you. Some of the food I ate included chocolates, pork chops, a custard dessert, ceviche, margaritas, pita bread with various assorted tapas-style foods, and an Indian-style dish, etc.!”
