One of the most magical and unique places in the world, Giraffe Manor is a beautiful hotel and estate in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1970 the Leslie-Melville family started adopting Rothschild giraffes which live happily with their growing families on this 150 acre property. They are one of the most endangered animals on the planet. The giraffes roam freely and visit the manor in the mornings and afternoons to get fed so if you stay at the hotel you will get intimate interactions throughout the day with these incredible animals.
Afternoon Tea
A happy hour unlike any other. During the afternoons the giraffes meander towards the manor for their afternoon feeding and you get a chance to feed and interact with the giraffes up close. There are cocktails and snacks served on the terrace while you get the unique opportunity to feed multiple giraffes. It’s an exhilarating experience and definitely a highlight of your stay.
Besides giraffes there are warthogs that live and roam the property all day long. They are funny little animals that grunt and chase eachother around. We loved watching them.
One of the staff took us over to the side of the manor to get some one on one time with one of the giraffes while sitting on this beautiful on this swing. When you feed the giraffes you are given pellets of food to give them. The giraffes are very gentle with their long black tongues and will even give you kisses if you want. The staff is wonderful and loves taking photos of you with the giraffes which we guarantee you will cherish forever!
Breakfast
The morning we had at Giraffe Manor was our favorite! Before sunrise the giraffes freely make their way to the manor for breakfast. Before bed the staff will give you a bucket of pellets because when you wake up you will be greeted by a giraffe standing outside your balcony. It was a surreal experience and we were lucky to have Eddie the largest male visit us this morning. Look how big he is!
When it’s time for breakfast you will go to the breakfast room where you eat and then get to feed the giraffes again. They peek their heads through the windows during breakfast while you are eating which is adorable. They are very curious and friendly.
Such an incredible morning!
The Manor
The manor was built in 1932, the heyday, of the colonial era in Kenya. It was an elegant hotel that visitors first flocked to in East Africa to enjoy safaris and is still visited by people from all over the world to this day. There are only twelve unique rooms in the manor so they book out very far in advance. We booked two rooms for one night over a year in advance and felt extremely lucky.
The inside of the manor is decorated beautifully. It makes you feel like you are on a movie set. There is a gin and tonic bar with fun garnishes where you can make yourself a cocktail while you look at old African maps & books in the drawing room or sit down for a game of chess.
This is Lily (pictured below). She was a young female who was very friendly, loved attention and would come poking around the manor looking for treats.
The Grounds
Besides the giraffes and warthogs which are the highlight of the property, the outside grounds of the manor are stunning with tons of lush greenery, a vintage greenhouse, sprawling gardens, towering trees, and sunny terraces. It is a magical atmosphere especially with the occasional giraffe strolling by.
We had an special candlelight dinner in the greenhouse and then went to the patio to watch the sun set behind the trees with the giraffes in the distance. A perfect ending to a magical day.
Staying at Giraffe Manor is a bucket-list experience and being able to spend time with these beautiful animals was priceless. Every moment at Giraffe Manor like a real life fairytale.
