You’ve probably heard of Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya, where the resident Rothschild giraffes pop their heads through the windows to eat breakfast from the palm of your hand. The photos I saw online looked absolutely magical, like something straight out of a storybook! Believe me when I say, it is even more magical in person!
About Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor, an exclusive boutique hotel owned by The Safari Collection, is located in the leafy Nairobi suburb of Langata, on a 140 acre sanctuary. The manor was built in 1932, and it was modelled on a Scottish hunting lodge. The original manor house has six rooms: Betty, Daisy, Jock, Lynn, Marlon and the Karen Blixen Suite. In 2011, a new section of the manor was created – The Garden Manor – which sits right next door. The Garden Manor also has six lovely guest rooms: Salma, Edd, Arlene, Helen, Kelly and the Finch Hatton Suite. The newest addition to the property is a separate building with a pool, a spa and the Daisy Cafe restaurant which is not included in the price that you pay for the room. Because of its size, rooms can be difficult to come by, with dates often booked out a year in advance.
Rotschilds Giraffes & Giraffe Centre
Lots of people had questions for me about the safety and care of the giraffes, some people were worried that they maybe exploited for tourism and after visiting, I have to say nothing could be further from the truth. The AFEW (The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife) is located next to Giraffe Manor and runs the breeding programme of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. When AFEW was founded in 1979. there were only 80 Rothschild’s giraffe’s left in the country and thanks to their work, numbers have risen to 1,800 as over 50 giraffes have been returned to the wild. The giraffes are free to roam around between the Centre and the Manor as they please and because they like food they spend their days in the Centre, this is mainly because of all the people who come to visit between 9am and 5pm, and then during the mornings and late afternoons they head to the Manor. As a guest of Giraffe Manor, the visit to the Centre is free, you can go whenever you want and you will be greeted with a guide who will tell you everything about the history, conservation and the giraffes.
Getting There
We stayed at Giraffe Manor towards the end of our visit to Kenya for one night. We arrived from Masai Mara around noon to Governors Airport where we were met by a driver from the Manor. Giraffe Manor is roughly a 25-minute drive from Wilson Airport in Nairobi. The hotel will arrange free transportation to-and-from the airport; The hotel will also arrange transport to anywhere in Nairobi during the course of your stay – free of charge!
What is included in your stay
Almost everything! From dining to cocktails, laundry service, wifi, pick up and drop off to the airport and a visit to the Giraffe Centre next door where you can learn more about the conservation and breeding of these giraffes. Things that are not included are treatments and visits to the spa and meals at the Daisy Cafe restaurant.
What to expect at Giraffe Manor
There are two dedicated giraffe feeding times at Giraffe Manor. The first feeding time is in the morning, at breakfast time. As soon the sun starts to rise, giraffes come to your balcony/window waiting for food. Around 6:30am they all move towards the dinning room for the famous breakfast. The second feeding time is around 5pm, when afternoon tea is served at the front of the property. The feeding times run like clockwork – the giraffes are really smart and know when to show. You aren’t allowed to feed the giraffes without a staff member present. This is not only for the safety of the guests, but also for the giraffes! During the feeding time, the staff members will bring large buckets of pellets, and show you how to feed them but also take pictures and videos of you. You actually get your personal waiter who is with you at all times!
The service at Giraffe Manor is outstanding. There’s just no other word to describe it. The staff do such a good job of making you feel comfortable and special, and you can tell how much they love the giraffes as well. Every one of the staff members knew every giraffe’s name and history, their little personality quirks, and their stories.
Tips
- A one-night stay at Giraffe Manor is more than enough time to get the full experience!
- Make sure to tip the staff for their service! There’s a tip box in the foyer.
- Go to breakfast early (be there at 6:30 am) if you want to get a good table by the window
- If you can, try to book a room inside the manor instead of one of the rooms in the extension. I would especially recommend a room with a balcony as that gives you early morning access to the giraffes! We stayed in the biggest room, the Karen Blixen Suite (because that was the only room left when we booked)
- Because of its limited availability and popularity, it’s best to book a stay at Giraffe Manor at least 6-12 months in advance!
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