Nairobi in Kenya is home to the world-renowned Giraffe Manor Hotel. Where else can you have breakfast in the company of giraffes poking their heads through a window? This unique experience has made Giraffe Manor one of Kenya’s most desirable accommodations and a travel bucket list item for many.
The hotel sits within a sanctuary for rare and endangered Rothschild giraffes, who visit twice daily – during breakfast and afternoon tea. When not at the hotel, these tall residents spend their time either at the adjacent Giraffe Center or roaming the nearby forest.
Getting There
Giraffe Manor is located in Karen, a southern suburb of Nairobi, not far from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Your room rate includes a transfer between the airport and the hotel, so you don’t need to worry about arranging the transportation. Traffic in Nairobi can be heavy, and the journey can take from 35 minutes to one and a half hours.
Domestic flights operate out of Wilson Airport, which is even closer. However, due to the unpredictable nature of local traffic, it can take 25-60 minutes to get there.
From our own experience: Our flight from Wilson Airport was scheduled to depart at 9:30 AM, so we had to leave the Giraffe Manor by 7:30. We were lucky that it was a Sunday and there was no morning traffic. On a weekday, we would have to leave at 6:30 AM, missing out on the breakfast with giraffes. Keep that in mind when planning your stay.
Property Overview
The mansion, built in the 1930s, has retained every bit of its old-world charm with a dreamy look and feel. Adding to this enchanting atmosphere are the giraffes that visit the property at specific times of day, creating a truly magical experience.
The Giraffe Manor has only 12 rooms: six in the Historic Manor and six in the directly adjacent Garden Manor. Although the Garden Manor building is new, having opened in 2011, it is equally lovely. The common areas of this boutique hotel include a lounge room with a fireplace, sofas, and armchairs to rest and relax; the famous breakfast room in the Historic Manor, known as the ‘Sun Room’; a cozy library with books, board games, and TV; the formal dining room in the Historic Manor; as well as dining room in the Garden Manor.
Between the Historic Manor and the Garden Manor is a dining patio, which is the usual location for lunch and dinner. Sometimes breakfast is also served there. In fact, our first Giraffe Manor breakfast was set up on the patio. We had a company of giraffes joining our table the entire morning. It’s by far our favorite breakfast location at the hotel.
There is an outdoor sitting area in front of the main entrance of the manor house. From there, you can see the Giraffe Center in the distance. This is also the place where afternoon tea is served at 5 PM and where you can feed giraffes or maybe even get a kiss from one.
Giraffe Manor has a lovely swimming pool, SPA center, and well-equipped gym.
Rooms
Each Giraffe Manor room has stunning décor and a unique personality. Most of the rooms are named after giraffe residents.
Suppose you are looking for a unique opportunity to feed a giraffe from your bedroom window or private balcony. In that case, the best rooms are Betty, Jock, Daisy, or Marlon in the Historic Manor and Kelly or Helen rooms in the Garden Manor. For a family of four, Karen Blixen Suite offers the opportunity to feed giraffes from the balcony. Additionally, Lynn’s room in the Historic Manor offers the possibility of feeding long-necked friends from the private terrace.
We stayed in the Finch Hatton Suite on the Garden Manor’s ground floor. It is one of two suites that can accommodate a family of up to five people. You can’t feed the giraffes directly from the Finch Hatton Suite, but we didn’t find this a deterrent because you only need to walk a few steps to feed them from the courtyard or dining area – giraffes are everywhere!
The spacious Finch Hatton Suite impresses with its thoughtful design. Featuring a cozy fireplace and king-size bed in the main area, it also offers two single beds on a mezzanine level accessed via a charming spiral staircase. A day bed provides sleeping space for a third child if needed. The suite includes a comfortable seating area and wardrobe with an in-room safe. The luxurious en-suite bathroom boasts a large double-headed shower, elegant twin sinks, and a deep soaking bathtub.
Meal Time
Breakfast with the giraffes is the highlight of any stay at Giraffe Manor. For breakfast, guests are divided between Historic and Garden Manor dining rooms. Head out of your room around 6:00 – 6:30 AM to catch the giraffes’ morning arrival. As you leave your room, you’ll likely spot a few giraffes waiting for treats at the entrance. Others will already have their heads inside the dining room, eager for breakfast. Guests feed giraffes with pellets made of dry grass, corn, and molasses. Once the sun is completely up, more giraffes show up. Hungry warthogs follow around, eating leftovers from the grass. The whole scene is definitely magical!
Your new long-necked friends stay there till approximately 9 AM before leaving for Giraffe Center. It’s plenty of time to interact with them, take photos, and enjoy a delicious breakfast.
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Absolutely everything in Giraffe Manor is included in the room rate, from all meals and drinks to laundry service, WiFi, chauffeured vehicles for sightseeing around Karen and Langata, and airport transfers. For lunch on the first day, we had a Kenyan-themed buffet, while on the second day, we had a delicious and beautifully presented set menu.
Activities
Activities at Giraffe Manor include excursions to the nearby Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, the African Heritage House, various art and craft shops, such as Kobe Tough (formerly known as Kazuri Beads), and a visit to the Giraffe Center.
Elephant Orphanage
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant nursery is open to the public daily (except December 25th) for an hour between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM, when the calves come in for their daily mudbath and midday feed. You must have a reservation, as only a limited number of visiting slots are available each day.
You can adopt an orphan elephant in person on the day of your visit for a minimum contribution of US$50 per year or online. As a memento of your adoption, you’ll receive an adoption certificate, an elephant watercolor print, and a profile of your chosen orphan. Regular updates and photos are sent throughout the year.
Giraffe Center
The Giraffe Center is open seven days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM, including weekends and all public holidays. If you’re staying at Giraffe Manor, a visit to the Giraffe Center is free of charge. Although the Center is busy throughout the day, it’s a great place to feed, photograph, and learn about the Rothschild giraffes.
Afternoon Tea
Once the nearby Giraffe Center closes, the giraffes make their way over to the Giraffe Manor for afternoon tea.
The staff will be with you the entire time to help you interact with giraffes because some of your new tall friends can headbutt. Everyone at Giraffe Manor is a great source of information about giraffes’ personalities. For example, we learned that Edd, the only adult male in the tower, is the friendliest. Edd loves people! Or that we should be careful with Daisy, a dark-coated giraffe with a clipped left ear. She doesn’t particularly like children. Or if we approach Kelly, the tallest of the females with a light-brown coat, we should stand right in front of her, not by her side. And we better have some pellets in hand as ‘food for friendship’ is Kelly’s motto.
Our stay at Giraffe Manor was nothing short of magical – an experience that exceeded all our expectations. It’s a place that carves itself into your memory and one we hope to return to someday.
Good To Know
- Book as far in advance as you possibly can. Check out their reservation calendar and plan your safari around available dates. We would recommend booking at least a year in advance.
- Looking for alternative accommodation close to Giraffe Center? Check availability at Hemingways Eden Residence, a charming boutique property bordering Giraffe Sanctuary Forest. It is luxurious enough to serve as the perfect place to recharge before or after your safari.
