Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor is situated on 120 acres of forested land in the Karen district, just eight miles from Nairobi’s city centre. Built in 1932, the house was bought by Jock Leslie-Melville and his wife Betty in 1974. On learning of the highly endangered status of the Rothschild’s giraffe, Jock and Betty set up the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife and began a giraffe breeding programme at property. Over the last 50 years the Rothschild’s giraffe population has increased from 80 to over 800, many of which have been returned to the wild to supplement wild populations and/or to repopulate areas.
Accommodation & Facilities
Giraffe Manor has ten double bedrooms and two family suites, all of which are individually furnished – some with period pieces originally belonging to Karen Blixen. The Finch Hatton and Karen Blixen rooms are the two family suites. Both have king-sized beds on the ground floor and twin beds on a mezzanine floor accessed via a spiral staircase. The twin beds are suitable for children up to 12 years. A small day bed can also be added to this room to accommodate a third child if required. Both suites have fireplaces and a seating area. (Please note that the giraffes do not have access to these rooms so can not be fed from them. You will be able to feed the giraffes during the breakfast and tea services whilst staying at Giraffe Manor).
Eating & Sleeping
Children will be offered a children’s menu at the beginning of their stay and are requested to order one sitting in advance. Although there are no specific childcare facilities, a baby-listening service can be arranged so parents can dine after children have gone to bed. Typically, this will be one of the housekeeping staff.
Wildlife & Activities
It is the only place in the world where you can feed giraffe from your breakfast table, and even at the front door as these gentle giants try to squeeze into the foyer. As well as feeding and photographing giraffe and warthogs at Giraffe Manor, guests can also wander through the adjoining primeval forest spotting some of the 180 bird species living here along with possible sightings of bushbuck and dik dik.
Specifically for children ….
• Feeding the resident Rothschild’s giraffe – there are currently 10 giraffe at Giraffe Manor. They visit guests early in the morning in time for breakfast and also in the late afternoon in time for afternoon tea.
• Croquet and boules.
• Painting in the Orchid House.
• Visit the Giraffe Sanctuary next door to Giraffe Manor.
• Visit the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant orphanage nearby and adopt a baby elephant.
• Step back in time and visit the Karen Blixen Museum nearby.
