Does an instagram picture of a giraffe sticking its long neck through the window to pinch a breakfast snack sound familiar to you? Hey, I’m sure it does! We are talking about one of a kind Giraffe Manor located in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Giraffe Manor- what is so special about this boutique hotel? Why does it attract celebrities from all over the world?
ABOUT THE GIRAFFE MANOR
Giraffe Manor belongs to the properties of The Safari Collection. The estate spreads across 12 acres of land within 140 acres of indigenous forest in the Langata suburb of Nairobi. Giraffe Manor’s original and iconic building dates back to the 1930s.
Probably the most unique thing about the Giraffe Manor is the herd of resident Rothschild’s giraffes wandering around the hotel. It’s the giraffes and the interaction with them that attracts people from all around the world.
Giraffe Manor is located approximately 45 minute drive from the Nairobi Airport. Once you arrive at the property you are immediately astonished by the picturesque area and you feel like you just walked into the ‘Out of Africa’ movie. In fact, one of the rooms was named after Caren Blixen!
The atmosphere of staying here is just as unique as the entire property . The old buildings, surrounding gardens and all the decor… simply wow! Everything in the Manor is stylistically coherent and beautiful.
HOW MUCH IS A NIGHT IN THE GIRAFFE MANOR?
What do you get for the price of the stay? Giraffe Manor, just like all the other properties of The Safari Collection, has all inclusive rates. All meals, most drinks (including house wines, beers and spirits), laundry, transfers, Wi-Fi access and entry to the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife’s (AFEW) Giraffe Centre are included.
It has to be mentioned that The Giraffe Manor is on the more expensive side of accommodation. The cost of a night in The Giraffe Manor starts from $750 per person.
THE GIRAFFE MANOR AVAILABILITY
As per current directions of The Safari Collection, their recommendation is to book a stay even two years in advance. There are always cancellation slots, but if you dream of staying here you need to get in touch as early as possible. Without a doubt- the exposure on social media gained the Manor a huge popularity and this is why you need to be fast to book the date.
The ideal stay in the Giraffe Manor is 2 nights, however if you are restricted by your budget- one day will be enough to experience the best of the property and have the signature breakfast with the giraffes!
The check in time is 12:00 pm and checkout is 10:00 am. The check in and check out time is really strict because of the really high hotel’s occupancy.
VISIT THE SAFARI COLLECTION FOR CURRENT RATES AND AVAILABILITY
CAN YOU STAY IN GIRAFFE MANOR IF YOU’RE NOT A GUEST?
The Giraffe Manor day visit isn’t possible if you’re not a guest, but there is a local forest sanctuary where you can feed the same giraffes that hang around the hotel. This option is perfect for all the budget travellers who travel to Nairobi and want to experience the interaction with Rothschild’s giraffes.
THE ANIMALS IN THE GIRAFFE MANOR
Even though you may think that the giraffes wander around the place all the time and they always come around for a snack, you need to remember that they are wild animals and it’s not guaranteed that you will have a chance to interact with them. Every hotel guest is assigned to a butler who helps you catch animals’ attention. In fact, the giraffes are not interested in playing with you at all. The moment you stop feeding them they walk away into the bush and the picture game is over. The butlers do a great job to keep the giraffes around as long as they can and they also teach you the unexpected behavior you can expect from the wild animals. Yes, you can feel a giraffe’s kick on your bum once you show her your back!
It is really important to listen to all the tips the team gives you. You don’t get to feed the giraffes every day, so you need to be aware of any unexpected behaviour or general safety rules.
It is really impressive how much the staff know about the animals. For them, every single giraffe is special. They have names, specific behaviors, they like different things. The effort the team makes to look after giraffes is truly incredible.
For the photography lovers- there are many spots around the property which will allow you to photograph the animals from the best perspective. The butlers are also very enthusiastic and happy to help you get the beautiful shot that you’ve always wanted!
THE GIRAFFE MANOR BUILDINGS
There are two buildings within the property- The Main Manor and the Garden Manor which is an extension. We stayed in the Garden Manor and it was equally beautiful! Our butler managed to move us to the main building for the iconic breakfast as it is more possible that the giraffes will pop in there.
FOOD IN THE GIRAFFE MANOR
The food served in the Giraffe Manor is as extraordinary as the entire property. Top chefs, top recipes and locally sourced ingredients- dining in this hotel is a 5-star experience. What is also great is that everyone gets to dine at the same time which lets guests interact and get to know each other.
BREAKFAST WITH THE GIRAFFES
Now, about the famous breakfast. The giraffes start coming to the main manor at around 5:30 in the morning. You need to wake up really early so you don’t miss the moment.
Is there any other property in the world where you get to share your snacks with the giraffe? There is not. This is why this place is so unique. This is why it attracts crowds. If you love unique experiences, the Giraffe Manor is the right place for you to visit.
THE GIRAFFE MANOR INTERIOR
Every decor detail within the Giraffe Manor blends perfectly with its unique ambiance. Everything is perfectly designed to maintain the 1930’s spirit of an old Kenyan residence. The rooms are elegant yet cosy, incorporating beautiful art, vintage furniture and high-end decorative touches.
You can find plenty of other amenities around the property, too. There are gardens, swings, outdoor lounge area and the greenhouse- all for you to enjoy.
MY THOUGHTS ON THE GIRAFFE MANOR
Without the doubt, The Giraffe manor is one of the most unique and spectacular properties in the world. Despite its growing popularity, the hotel contributes to the preservation of the Rothschild’s giraffes which are on the bank of extinction.
It is incredible how the Safari Collection contributes to the preservation of the Rothschild’s giraffes. Did you know you can even adopt one of the animals and contribute to its maintenance?
Experiencing this place is more than just a hotel stay. It’s a cultural, culinary and historical experience that teaches you the love for animals and nature.
VISIT THIS PAGE TO READ ABOUT SASAAB LUXURY LODGE- ANOTHER PROPERTY OF THE SAFARI COLLECTION.
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