Giraffe Manor, Nairobi
Giraffe Manor is a boutique hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, with a resident herd of wild giraffes.
Built in 1932, Giraffe Manor was modelled on a Scottish hunting lodge. We stayed for two nights at the end of our safari trip and we’re so glad that we did. It is an eccentric place to stay (it is a little like staying at a beloved aunt’s home, who is slightly obsessed with giraffes)
All areas of the Manor have a tribute to these wonderful long-legged creatures, from the giraffe-shaped water jugs on the tables, the topiary in gardens, to the artwork and photography covering the walls throughout. Our advice is to fully embrace the wonderful world of Giraffe Manor…
The resident herd of Nubian/Rothschild’s giraffes have roamed the lawns since the 1970s when Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville first adopted an orphaned Rothschild’s giraffe called Daisy.
Daisy would make her way up to the house and poke her head through the open window hoping for a snack. Now, each morning and evening, the herd of giraffes do the same thing, poking their long necks into the windows in the hope of a treat, before retreating to their forest sanctuary.
The Nubian/Rothschild’s species of giraffe was once highly endangered, but Giraffe Manor has long been part of a breeding programme which has successfully grown their numbers in the wild.
We arrived in the afternoon and just in time to join the giraffes for afternoon tea in the garden (I told you it was eccentric). This ritual occurs each day around 4pm, where the giraffes make their way up to the manor for an afternoon snack. Cakes and tea were laid out for us, while pellets were distributed around for us to feed these beautiful and surprisingly gentle creatures.
The original manor house is decorated in a traditional style, with plenty of dark wood, parquet flooring and tasteful fabrics. It has six rooms, with five of them named after giraffes past and present; Betty, Daisy, Jock, Lynn and Marlon.
The suite is named after the writer Karen Blixen, who penned the infamous book Out of Africa, an account of her life while living in Kenya. In 2011, a new section of the manor was created, The Garden Manor, that sits right next door. Although built 78 years later, the owners Tanya and Mikey have used reclaimed materials from the period in which the original manor was built and its design replicates that of the main house. The Garden Manor also has six lovely additional guest rooms: Salma, Edd, Arlene, Helen, Kelly and the Finch Hatton Suite.
Our first morning we drew back the curtains to find a giraffe at our window. What better a wake up call could we ask for? We realised that it was time for breakfast, served downstairs in the original manor house, with large windows big enough for craning giraffe necks.
We enjoyed pancakes and Eggs Benedict whilst opposite they munched on (presumably not quite as scrumptious) pellets. You can feed the giraffes before or after breakfast here, and it makes for a great photo which the staff very much encourage and get involved with.
When not hanging out with the giraffes you can head over to The Retreat, a resident only spa, gym and sanctuary to relax and recharge. Designed to a slightly more modern spec, we loved it here and on our final day we were checked into a day room where we could relax and prepare for the journey home.
Lunch and dinners at Giraffe Manor are created in a set menu format, made with ingredients from local producers or grown on site in the shamba (kitchen garden). Other produce on offer celebrates Kenyan farmers and local communities; loose-leaf tea from Muthaiga Tea Company supports female entrepreneurship and fair wages, Laki Laki Greek-style yogurt supports a local orphanage and Ololo farm’s regenerative free range chicken farms pasture-reared poultry and works hard to enhance soil health.
If you fancy a romantic candle lit dinner, or a quiet daytime moment, make sure you checkout the Orchid House. A magical hidden corner at the manor, filled with 150 beautiful orchids, book it for dinner and it will be filled with candles and a table set just for you. (www.thesafaricollection.com/properties/giraffe-manor/activities/orchid-house/)
The Plush Life verdict: Giraffe Manor is one of the most unusual places I have ever stayed. Does it live up to the hype? Well, where else can you have breakfast with giraffes?
The details: Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya +254 733 224 446 stay@thesafaricollection.com (www.thesafaricollection.com/properties/giraffe-manor) Prices on request
