Giraffe Manor: the Kenyan hotel overrun by giraffes

Situated in the heart of the Kenyan bush you’ll discover the unique hotel of Giraffe Manor. Surrounded by 140 square acres of indigenous bush, Giraffe Manor may seem a little out of the way but in reality it’s only a 20 kilometres drive from Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. The Manor – which was built in the 1930s – has maintained its glorious periodic charm; it was modelled on a Scottish stately home by European royals and nobility at the beginning of the Twentieth Century for them to spend their summers out in the beauty of the African bush hunting large game animals. Nowadays the stately home is a luxurious holiday retreat with a wildlife twist; the grounds have been a sanctuary for a herd of giraffe for over 20 years. First set up by the AFEW (African Fund for Endangered Wildlife) the grounds were used to nurture a specific giraffe subspecies (The Rothschild or ‘Baringo’ Giraffe) whose numbers were rapidly dwindling. No longer are the Rothschild Giraffes numbers falling: in fact they have been thriving throughout the entire African continent for over a decade. The giraffes have grown rather fond of their habitat. The chances of them venturing off into the wilderness seem very slim as they adore the constant petting and attention they get from the hotel’s guest and staff! The manor offers an exquisite opportunity for the discerning guest. The rooms are authentically furnished to suit the nobles for whom they were originally intended, so expect comfort beyond belief: four-poster beds, grand antique wardrobes, game animal-rugs, hunting trophies, and spa-inspired en-suite bathrooms. This is all wrapped up within the cosy wood and stone grandeur which exudes from every corner of the wonderful manor house. Dining is a different experience in itself. Be it afternoon tea in the drawing room or a candlelit dinner in the majestic grand hall, you should always be ready to greet a stranger; the giraffes frequently pop their heads through the window to join in at meal times. Some of the adult giraffes are even able to reach to the sills of the top accommodations, so expect little privacy from the surrounding wildlife. This factor makes Giraffe Manor unique to any other hotel in the world and the perfect accommodation to live out that safari holiday dream. The wildlife isn’t just on your doorstep, it’s coming through your window! Peter Richards is a Digital Marketing Manager at Tropical Sky. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.