Giraffe Manor, Nairobi

• Stay on a 150-acre sanctuary in the suburbs of Nairobi, home to a thriving population of rare Rothschild's giraffes.
• The Scottish hunting lodge-style manor was built in 1934, and its interiors retain original details like curved French windows, herringbone parquet floors, carved fireplaces, and Art Deco bathrooms.
• Each of the 12 guest rooms is completely unique, with options for four-poster beds, fireplaces, terraces, and soaking tubs.
• All meals are included in the rate, and giraffes often make an appearance for breakfast and afternoon tea.
• If you ever get tired of hand-feeding the giraffes, there's a selection of lawn games (like croquet and boules), an outdoor infinity pool, a gym, and a small spa.

• Giraffes can't access a few of the rooms' windows, so make sure to book one of the upper-story front rooms if that's a priority for you.
• Rooms in the original Giraffe Manor are reserved for guests who have booked a safari circuit trip at other Safari Collection properties.
• This is a popular spot, and rooms book out months and sometimes years in advance.

Authenticity

This ivy-clad country house was built in 1932, but it didn't get its name until the 1970s, when owners Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville offered sanctuary to the area's critically endangered Rothschild's giraffes. Today, the giraffe numbers are thriving, and the boutique hotel is part of the exclusive Safari Collection, owned by fourth-generation Kenyans Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartley. A neighboring Garden Manor was built in 2011 (perfectly replicating the design of the original), and guest rooms are now spread between the two structures, each named after a character in the manor's history. "Daisy" honors the reserve's first female giraffe, while "Karen Blixen" displays the Out of Africa author's original dressing table.

Location

The hotel sits among 150 acres (61 ha) of protected reserve, located between the leafy Nairobi suburbs of Karen and Langata. The Kenyan capital is a 30-minute drive northeast, and you can reach the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in around 45 minutes. It's an ideal location for safaris and day trips into nearby Nairobi National Park, and you'll find plenty of interesting sites within a 15-minute drive, including the Sheldrake Wildlife Trust (home to an orphanage for endangered elephants and rhinos) and the Karen Blixen Museum, dedicated to the beloved Danish author.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Twelve air-conditioned rooms are split between the original Giraffe Manor and the newer Garden Manor. Many feature period details like lead-paned French windows, herringbone parquet, carved fireplaces, vintage steamer trunks, and antique four-poster beds; some include private terraces and views toward the Ngong Hills. Superior units add deep soaking tubs and sitting areas with sleeper sofas, while suites offer two bedrooms with a separate living area. The spacious bathrooms have an Art Deco feel, with rain-style showers, robes, and locally made organic toiletries. All rooms have WiFi, but there are no TVs here. 

Amenities

All stays at Giraffe Manor include full board, with three meals, a daily English-style afternoon tea, and most house wines, spirits, beers, and soft drinks. A complimentary chauffeur service is also included in the rate, and the hotel is happy to arrange roundtrip transportation to Nairobi and the airport. In between giraffe visits, you can relax in one of the many inviting lounge areas (some with roaring fireplaces), or head to The Retreat, where you'll find a large outdoor pool, gym and spa facilities (including a sauna, steam room, hot tub, and treatment rooms), and a small café with smoothies and snacks.

Family-Friendliness

Children are welcome at Giraffe Manor. Beyond the obvious thrill of hand-feeding the giraffes, kids will also find plenty of outdoor space, accented with a large garden swing and lawn games like boules, croquet, and life-sized Jenga. Inside, the welcoming lounge areas offer painting activities, board games, and puzzles, and picky eaters are happily accommodated by the kitchen staff. The Superior rooms and Suites are the best options for families; the former accommodates two adults and two children with an extra sleeper sofa, while the latter features a living room and two separate bedrooms. 

Wildlife

There are normally 10-12 Rothschild's giraffes roaming the 150-acre reserve, often found grazing around the manor and snacking on dried grass pellets fed by hotel guests. Guests can stroll over to the neighboring Giraffe Centre (partnered with the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife) to learn more about the captive breeding and release program, which has helped Kenya's population of 100 Rothschild's giraffes grow to over 1,000. Along with the resident giraffes, the grounds are frequented by monkeys, warthogs, and bushbucks, as well as some of the reserve's 160 bird species. 

Sustainability

Beyond its successful wildlife conservation efforts, Giraffe Manor is committed to sustainability, utilizing solar panels as its primary power source and filtering its own drinking water on-site using reverse osmosis. Even the gym machines harness power and send it back to the grid. The property is plastic-free, and the restaurant sources its ingredients from local, organic farms (produce is also grown in the on-site gardens, which utilize compost from the kitchens).