Giraffe Manor Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

Giraffe Manor is a small boutique hotel in Nairobi’s Langata area, where your stay comes with an experience you will not find at an ordinary city hotel. The Rothschild’s giraffes regularly come up to the windows during breakfast and afternoon tea, creating some of the most memorable moments of a stay here. The manor sits on 12 acres of private grounds within 140 acres of indigenous forest, giving it a peaceful, secluded feel even though you are still in Nairobi. The city centre is about 20 to 30 minutes away, and both international and domestic airports are within easy reach. The house itself dates back to 1932 and still carries the character of its early days. Inside, individually styled rooms, traditional English manor interiors and spacious gardens give the property a warm, historic feel. What sets Giraffe Manor apart, however, is the way the giraffes become part of your stay, appearing at the windows as you enjoy breakfast or afternoon tea.

Where Is Giraffe Manor Located in Nairobi?

Giraffe Manor is in Langata, a green and leafy part of Nairobi that gives the property a peaceful setting while keeping you close to the city. The manor sits on 12 acres of private land, surrounded by about 140 acres of indigenous forest. This is one of the things that makes the location special. You are still in Nairobi, yet the setting feels far removed from the busy city streets. From here, it is around 20 to 30 minutes by road to Nairobi city centre, making it easy to combine a stay at the manor with visits to other attractions in the city or continue on to your safari. The surrounding forest and spacious grounds also provide the natural setting for the resident giraffes, which are a central part of staying at the manor. For travellers who want to enjoy Nairobi without spending their nights in a conventional city hotel, Langata gives you a much quieter base while keeping the city’s main attractions within easy reach.

Rooms and Suites at Giraffe Manor

Giraffe Manor has 12 rooms and suites spread between the original Main Manor and the newer Garden Manor, with two family suites included in the total. The original 1932 manor has six individually guest rooms, each retaining the character of a historic private house rather than following a standard hotel design. Some of the room names are connected to the history of the property, including a room named after Karen Blixen, reflecting the connection this part of Nairobi has with the wider Out of Africa story.

Main Manor Rooms

The six rooms in the Main Manor each have their own character and traditional furnishings. Four-poster beds, Oriental rugs, upholstered armchairs and classic décor give the rooms the atmosphere of an English country manor. Some rooms look towards the areas where the giraffes graze, so you can watch the animals from your own room when they come close to the house. It is this combination of historic accommodation and close giraffe encounters that makes staying in the Main Manor so distinctive.

Garden Manor Rooms

The Garden Manor adds more accommodation while keeping the same character and feel found throughout Giraffe Manor. Rooms across the two sections have spacious bathrooms and large patios, giving guests plenty of room to relax between meals and giraffe encounters.

Family Suites

Two of the 12 rooms and suites are family suites, giving families another accommodation option within the manor. The exact bedroom layouts and occupancy details can vary, so it is best to confirm the arrangement when booking.

Room Amenities and Giraffe Views

The rooms combine traditional manor-house décor with the comforts expected from a luxury stay. Features include four-poster beds, Oriental rugs, upholstered armchairs, spacious bathrooms and large patios, while selected rooms also look towards the giraffe grazing areas. Giraffe pellets are provided in the rooms, so early mornings can bring an unexpected visitor right to the window. When the giraffes approach the house, you can feed them from close range before heading down for breakfast.

Breakfast and Dining at Giraffe Manor

Dining at Giraffe Manor is part of the stay rather than something separated from the rest of the experience. Meals are served in the manor, gardens and other dining areas around the property, with fresh local ingredients forming the basis of the menus.

Breakfast with the Giraffes

Breakfast is the meal most closely associated with Giraffe Manor. It takes place in the manor dining room, where the resident giraffes regularly come up to the windows. With the giraffe pellets provided by the property, guests can feed the animals as they reach through the windows while breakfast is being served. The giraffes move freely around the grounds, so each morning has its own rhythm and the encounters happen naturally as the animals come around the manor.

Daisy’s Café

Daisy’s Café provides another place to eat during your stay, with Kenyan dishes, fresh juices, smoothies and a seasonal à la carte menu. It also works well when you are spending time at The Retreat, particularly if you want to combine a meal with some time around the pool or wellness facilities.

Orchid House Dining

The Orchid House provides another dining setting away from the main dining room. Having different spaces around the property gives guests a change of atmosphere, particularly during a longer stay.

Lounges and Included Drinks

There is no need for a conventional hotel bar at Giraffe Manor. Drinks are served throughout the lounges, dining areas and gardens, allowing you to enjoy them wherever you are spending time. The standard stay includes house wines, house beers, house spirits and soft drinks. The library and lounges also provide comfortable places to sit, relax and spend time between meals and activities.

Giraffe Encounters at Giraffe Manor

The giraffes are at the heart of the Giraffe Manor experience. The resident herd is made up of Rothschild’s giraffes, also known as Nubian giraffes, and they move around the property rather than being kept away from the guests.

Breakfast with Rothschild’s Giraffes

The morning feeding is part of breakfast, with the giraffes approaching the dining-room windows and reaching inside for the pellets provided by the property. You can feed them from the table while having breakfast, bringing you remarkably close to these tall, gentle animals without leaving the manor.

Afternoon Tea with the Giraffes

The giraffe encounters continue into the afternoon with tea time providing another opportunity to feed the animals. Because the giraffes move freely around the grounds, you may find them coming up to the manor at different times rather than having to wait for a single scheduled encounter.

AFEW Giraffe Centre Visit

A stay at Giraffe Manor also includes entry to the nearby AFEW Giraffe Centre. The visit adds a conservation side to the experience and allows you to learn more about the giraffes beyond the encounters at the manor. It is a natural addition to the stay, especially if you want to understand more about the work surrounding Rothschild’s giraffes.

The Retreat, Infinity Pool and Wellness

The Retreat gives you a quieter place to swim, relax and enjoy some downtime away from the historic manor.

Infinity Pool

The tree-lined infinity pool is one of the main features of The Retreat. You can swim, sit beside the water or simply take a break from the day’s activities, with the surrounding grounds still giving you a chance to see giraffes moving nearby. Access to The Retreat is also available around check-in and check-out, making it useful if you arrive before your room is ready or have time to spare after leaving your room.

Spa and Massage Treatments

The Retreat also has a two-room spa where guests can enjoy massage treatments alongside the other wellness facilities. It is a peaceful place to slow down between time in Nairobi, giraffe encounters and the next stage of your safari.

Conservation at Giraffe Manor

Giraffe Manor is home to a herd of Rothschild’s giraffes, also known as Nubian giraffes. The giraffes are a central part of the property, and their presence is closely tied to the conservation work that has shaped the manor over the years. Giraffe breeding has played an important role in this history, with the conservation programme contributing to the increase of Rothschild’s giraffe numbers in the wild. This makes the encounters at the manor more than a memorable way to see giraffes up close. Conservation is part of what gives the property its character, with the giraffes playing such an important role in the experience. A visit to the nearby AFEW Giraffe Centre is also included during your stay, giving you more time to learn about Rothschild’s giraffes and the work surrounding their conservation.

What Is Included at Giraffe Manor?

A stay at Giraffe Manor includes more than your room and meals. The following are included as part of the stay:

• House wines
• House beers
• House spirits
• House soft drinks
• Laundry service
• Entrance to the AFEW Giraffe Centre
• Arrival and departure transfers within the property’s specified time windows
• Transport around the Karen and Langata areas within the specified time windows
• Access to The Retreat during check-in and check-out
• Dining at the Orchid House

The exact transfer and operating time windows are not specified here, so it is best to confirm them when booking rather than assume fixed hours.

Things to Do During a Stay at Giraffe Manor

A stay at Giraffe Manor can easily include more than time with the resident giraffes. Its location makes it convenient to combine the manor with some of Nairobi’s well-known attractions, while still leaving plenty of time to enjoy the property at a relaxed pace.

Visit the Giraffe Centre

The Giraffe Centre is a natural addition to your stay at Giraffe Manor. After spending time with the giraffes at the manor, you can visit the centre to learn more about giraffes and conservation. Entry is included, making it an easy activity to add to your Nairobi itinerary.

Game Drive in Nairobi National Park

You can also arrange a 4×4 game drive in Nairobi National Park and enjoy a proper safari without travelling far from the city. The park covers about 45 square miles and is home to animals such as lions, buffaloes and zebras. Its close location to Giraffe Manor makes it possible to combine a game drive with your stay without giving up most of a day travelling to a more distant safari destination.

Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

A visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage can also be included in your time around Nairobi. It gives you the chance to see the work being done with orphaned elephants and adds another wildlife-focused activity to your stay.

Visit the Karen Blixen Museum

The Karen Blixen Museum is another worthwhile stop nearby. The former home of the Danish author, whose life in Kenya inspired Out of Africa, fits naturally into a stay at Giraffe Manor and adds a cultural and historical side to your Nairobi visit.

Enjoy the Grounds and Leisure Activities

You do not need to leave the manor every day to keep your stay interesting. There is plenty to enjoy around the property and its surrounding grounds, including nature walks, horse riding and a visit to the Orchid House. For a slower afternoon, you can play boules or croquet, take a swim at The Retreat, or simply enjoy the peaceful setting. This gives you a good balance between sightseeing and unhurried time at the manor, particularly if you prefer not to fill every part of your Nairobi stay with scheduled excursions.

Booking Giraffe Manor

Giraffe Manor is one of those places where it pays to book well ahead. With only 12 rooms and suites, availability can become limited long before your Kenya safari begins, particularly around busy travel periods.

How Far in Advance Should You Book Giraffe Manor?

For fixed travel dates, booking 9 to 12 months ahead is a sensible approach. During particularly busy periods, rooms can sell out more than a year in advance, so it is best to secure your stay before arranging the rest of your Nairobi itinerary around those dates. Giraffe Manor is also reserved for overnight guests. You cannot simply arrive for breakfast or afternoon tea without staying at the property. This keeps the experience more private and gives guests the chance to enjoy the giraffes without the crowds you would find at a general visitor attraction.

Is Giraffe Manor Worth Staying At?

Giraffe Manor is far more than a place to sleep in Nairobi. The real attraction is having giraffes wander up to the property during breakfast and afternoon tea, creating the kind of close encounter that makes a stay here very different from a conventional city hotel. The experience continues beyond the dining areas. Some rooms look out towards the giraffe grounds, while The Retreat provides an infinity pool and spa for guests who want time to relax between activities. You can also combine your stay with visits to the Giraffe Centre, Nairobi National Park, and the Karen Blixen Museum, making the manor a convenient base for seeing more of Nairobi. The main thing to keep in mind is availability. With just 12 rooms and strong demand, leaving the booking until the last part of your Kenya safari arrangements can make it difficult to secure your preferred dates. If you want a Nairobi stay built around close giraffe encounters, a historic manor setting, and easy access to some of the city’s well-known wildlife and cultural attractions, Giraffe Manor offers something very different from an ordinary hotel stay.