Giraffe Manor

OVERVIEW: 

One of the world’s most instantly recognizable properties, Giraffe Manor is an iconic Nairobi boutique hotel surrounded by 140 acres of indigenous forest in the pretty Langata suburb. Best known for the resident giraffes that roam its grounds, poking their heads through the manor windows at breakfast time, the hotel provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience matched by high-quality accommodation within a stone’s throw of Nairobi’s international and domestic airports. Be aware that Giraffe Manor fills up more than a year in advance, so we highly recommend booking early! Rates are full board and include all meals, a selection of house drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), laundry, entrance to the AFEW Giraffe Centre, and transportation around the Karen and Langata area.

LOCATED IN NAIROBI, KENYA:

Giraffe Manor is located on 12 acres of private land in the leafy suburb of Langata, on the outskirts of Nairobi. Getting here usually takes 45–60 minutes by car from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, depending on traffic. Domestic flights operate out of Wilson Airport, about a 25 minute-drive from Giraffe Manor. Again, due to Nairobi traffic, we usually allow more time, particularly on weekdays.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT GIRAFFE MANOR:

Guest accommodation at Giraffe Manor consists of 12 rooms and suites split between the original 1932 building and the newer Garden Manor. Each building has five double/twin rooms, named after giraffes who have roamed the manor’s grounds, and a suite suitable for families. Please be aware that the original manor rooms are reserved for guests staying at one of The Safari Collection’s other properties. All units have a chic country-house aesthetic and special features such as toasty fireplaces, stained-glass windows, four-poster beds, and parquet floors. Some also have balconies, windows, or verandas, from which you can feed the giraffes with the provided grass pellets (the giraffes have access to the rooms named Kelly, Helen, Lynn, Marlon, Jock, Daisy, Betty, and the Karen Blixen Suite). You’ll find a double or twin bed/s, bedside tables with reading lights, a seating arrangement, a writing desk, and a tea-and-coffee station. The en-suite washrooms are often slightly quirky, with a shower, twin washbasins, a flush toilet, and some with a bathtub (please let us know if you have specific preferences, and we’ll help you select the appropriate room). The duplex Finch Hatton Suite has a fireplace ideal for keeping warm on chilly Nairobi evenings. It accommodates two adults on the ground floor and two to three children in a loft mezzanine accessed via a spiral staircase. At 113m2, the largest unit is the Karen Blixen Suite, on the top floor of the original manor house. Here, you’ll find a king-sized bed in the master bedroom and an interleading twin room with an additional daybed suitable for a young child.

Both buildings have communal spaces, including inviting lounges and dining rooms. The original manor is home to the iconic ‘sun room’, where inquisitive giraffes poke their heads through the windows over breakfast and afternoon tea, and there’s a library with a selection of books, games, and a handmade chessboard. Guests dine together around a long table in the formal dining room, and a traditional afternoon tea is served outside on the manicured lawns. Next door, there’s a wellness centre called The Retreat with a 21-metre infinity pool, fully equipped gym, steam room, sauna, and hot tub. Massage and beauty treatments are offered, using premium organic brand Healing Earth products. Daisy’s Café is also located here, and guests can choose from a selection of juices and smoothies or sit down to a meal from the seasonal à la carte menu.

ACTIVITIES AT GIRAFFE MANOR:

Giraffe Manor offers plenty of activities for the family, mostly centred on the resident giraffes for whom the property is renowned.

• Breakfast with giraffes

  – Breakfast or afternoon tea with the giraffes is an absolute highlight of staying at Giraffe Manor. Watch these gentle giants gently poke their long necks through the windows, searching for grass pellets – a rare and truly special encounter reserved for a privileged few.

• Giraffe Centre

  – Nairobi’s beloved Giraffe Centre allows visitors close-up encounters with the resident Rothschild’s giraffes from an elevated feeding platform. It’s run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, and there’s an area where you can learn about the fund’s work and find out some interesting facts about this gentle, endangered species.

• Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

  – The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is renowned for its orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program, and meeting the elephants at their Nairobi Nursery is an absolute highlight if you’re transiting through the city. From 11am until midday daily, guests can visit the young elephants for their mud bath and milk feed at the orphanage in Nairobi National Park. Access is by advance booking only.

• Nairobi National Park

  – Located on the city’s southern outskirts, Nairobi National Park is an extraordinary wild space, home to an impressive wildlife population, including lion, leopard, hyena, and more than fifty black rhino. Stretched against a backdrop of towering skyscrapers, the park is unique to Nairobi and worth visiting if you’re on an extended stay.

• Karen Blixen Museum

  – Set up in the home that once belonged to Danish writer Karen Blixen, of Out of Africa acclaim, the Karen Blixen Museum is a journey back in time, featuring antique furniture, artwork, and memorabilia offering guests a glimpse into a bygone era. The museum gardens are beautiful, and there’s also a nature trail and gift shop on site.

• Horseriding

  – Malo stables offer wonderful forest horse rides with views of the Ngong Hills, led by professional hosts. Various riding options are available, and we can even include an alfresco lunch. We recommend you book in advance and note that a 50 per cent deposit is required to secure the booking.

• Orchid House

  – Orchid House is a beautiful, light-filled room in the manor where guests can go to read, meditate, or sketch one of the 150 orchids growing there. With prior notice, we can even arrange a candlelit private dinner in this lovely setting.

• Lawn games

  – You might like to try croquet or boules outside on the manor lawns. Alternatively, at The Retreat next door, they have giant Jenga – great fun for all the family.