Giraffe Manor: A Boutique Hotel with Resident Giraffes
Giraffe Manor is a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel run by The Safari Collection. Known for being one of the most photographed properties in the world, Giraffe Manor sits on 12 acres of private land surrounded by 140 acres of indigenous forest in Nairobi’s Langata suburb. The historic manor, with its classic 1930s appeal, offers guests a chance to step into a scene from the movie “Out of Africa”, with rooms named after the author Karen Blixen.
The highlight of Giraffe Manor is the herd of Rothschild’s giraffes that visit the hotel in the morning and evening, stretching their long necks through the windows in search of a treat. Visitors can book a stay at Giraffe Manor or include it as part of a custom Kenya safari package with The Safari Collection.
Giraffe Manor is owned by Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartley, who purchased the property in April 2009. The hotel’s iconic resident giraffes have roamed the lawns since the 1970s, when Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville rescued an orphaned Rothschild’s giraffe named Daisy.
Giraffe Manor prioritizes animal welfare, employing four key practices to ensure their giraffes are well taken care of. They allow the giraffes to move freely during encounters with guests and never restrain them. The best time to visit Kenya and Giraffe Manor is from June to October during the dry season, when the weather is ideal for sightseeing.
Location:
Gogo Falls Road,
Nairobi,
Kenya
Images by , 500px, honestlywtf.com.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Giraffe Manor, Lang’ata, Nairobi, Kenya
- Access
- Giraffe Manor is a private hotel and accepts only registered overnight guests; no day tours, meals, photoshoots or drop-in visits. The operator says non-guests cannot access the property, including people staying at the adjacent Retreat. The nearby AFEW Giraffe Centre is a separate public attraction. A public map pin is omitted to avoid directing unbooked visitors to the private entrance.
- Admission
- There is no day-visitor ticket. Entry is included only with a Giraffe Manor overnight booking; rates vary by room, date and occupancy. Check the operator’s live booking calendar. The neighboring Retreat’s day passes are separate and do not include Manor access.
- Time needed
- The operator says two nights is the ideal stay. Check-in begins at noon; arriving by early afternoon lets overnight guests take part in the afternoon and evening program and the following morning’s breakfast. This is lodging guidance, not a timed public attraction visit.
- Best season
- The operator lists Giraffe Manor as an all-year stay but closes it in May for maintenance. The exact closure dates vary by year; confirm them before booking. Nairobi has rainy periods in March–May and mid-October–December, but the operator says seasonal differences are relatively small and does not name one best month.
- Opening hours
- For overnight guests, check-in begins at 12:00 noon and checkout is by 10:00 a.m. There are no public opening hours or walk-in visits. The operator’s FAQ says it accepts no day visitors for meals or tours, including guests staying at the adjoining Retreat.
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-28
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