You’ve probably already seen pictures of Giraffe Manor on social media – you know…the ones with beautiful giraffes poking their heads through the windows of a luxurious breakfast room. Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya is one of the most instagrammed hotels in the world, and for good reason, the ability to get up-close-and-personal (I mean, REALLY personal) with Rothschild giraffes is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Read on to learn more about our experience, and everything you need to know about staying at Giraffe Manor.
Related Post: How We Spent 4 Days in Cape Town
Related Post: Planning a Safari in Kruger National Park
Is Giraffe Manor worth the cost?
Even though staying at Giraffe Manor was at the top of my travel bucket list, Kevin and I debated for a long time whether or not it was ACTUALLY worth the splurge. I mean there’s no other way of putting it…at roughly $500/per person, per night…staying at Giraffe Manor is a very very VERY expensive experience. So, is it worth the cost? YES. And note – this stay was NOT sponsored; we paid for everything out-of-pocket, and this is my honest opinion. A stay at Giraffe Manor is really a unique experience, and worth the splurge. Let me help put things in perspective…
The grounds at Giraffe Manor are stunning
The historic manor is one of the most iconic buildings in Nairobi. The staff go above-and-beyond to make you feel at home, and the interior design manages to maintain a wonderful balance between old world elegance (every room features a romantic four-poster bed), character (lots of giraffe paintings and art-deco sculptures scattered about!), and a certain cozy homeliness. With only 12 rooms available (6 in the Garden Room, 6 in the Manor House), there’s also an intimate feeling to your stay that you wouldn’t be able to get from a large-scale resort or chain hotel.
Meals are included at Giraffe Manor
You’re not just paying for a room at Giraffe Manor, you’re paying for full board. This means that your stay comes with breakfast, lunch, and dinner….and a luxurious afternoon tea! This isn’t your typical boring, bland hotel buffet….you’re getting gourmet, fine-dining style three-course meals that are incredibly delicious! For example, our dinner menu included a soup and salad for appetizer, a crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside Beef Wellington for our main meal, and a tangy lemon tart for dessert.
The afternoon tea that happens every day is also a delight, complete with a large selection of desserts, scones, and savory sandwiches.
TIP: You have the option of eating with the other guests, or having a more private set-up. Just let the staff know ahead of time which option you prefer.
Alcohol is included at Giraffe Manor
Enough said.
Transportation is included
Giraffe Manor is roughly a 25-minute drive from the Wilson Airport in Nairobi. The hotel will arrange free transportation to-and-from the airport; it was such a saving grace to be welcomed into a clean, air-conditioned black sedan after a long international flight (and not have to worry about calling a taxi, or navigate the horrendous traffic of Nairobi).
The hotel will also arrange transport to anywhere in Nairobi during the course of your stay – free of charge! For example, we had some extra downtime and wanted to do a couple of activities in Nairobi. The hotel arranged a driver to take us to the Utamaduni Craft Centre where we were able to pick-up a few souvenirs from local craftsmen, and also helped arrange a half day safari at Nairobi National Park!
TIP: I highly recommend visiting Utamaduni if you can. It’s only a 10-15 minute drive away from Giraffe Manor. I’m not usually a souvenir shopper, but had a wonderful time browsing through the local goods.
Supporting a good cause
There’s more to Giraffe Manor than just pretty pictures. The hotel donates money to the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife with every guest stay! These contributions are important – they fund a program that supports breeding of the endangered Rothschild giraffes. Every hotel stay also includes a free visit to the neighboring Giraffe Center where you can learn more about these goofy long-legged animals, and all of the efforts dedicated to keeping them safe from extinction!
There are four different types of giraffes, and the Rothschild Giraffes are unique in that they can be identified by their white socks! Rothschild giraffes are much smaller than Maasai giraffes, another species which can be found in the nearby Maasai Mara.
Outstanding service
The service at Giraffe Manor is….outstanding. There’s just no other word to describe it. The staff does such a good job of making you feel comfortable and special, and you can tell how much they love the giraffes as well. Every one of the staff members knew every giraffe’s name and history, their little personality quirks (for example, which giraffe is the most gentle, which one is the most shy), and their stories. They helped us feed the giraffes in the safest way possible, and helped take the best photos!
Feeding giraffes at Giraffe Manor
There are two dedicated giraffe feeding times at Giraffe Manor. The first feeding time is in the morning, around breakfast time. The second feeding time is around 3-4pm, when afternoon tea is served in front of the property. The feeding times run like clockwork – the giraffes are super smart and know EXACTLY when to show up at the building.
You aren’t allowed to feed the giraffes without a staff member present. This is not only for the safety of the guests, but also for the giraffes! The staff members will bring large buckets of molasses/grass pellets during feeding times, and show you how best to interact with the giraffes. At first, it was a bit intimidating to feed the giraffes because they can get quite aggressive, but once we got the hang-of-it, it was a total blast!
Your hands will get extremely sticky when feeding the giraffes, but there are handy washing stations at the front of the building for you to use. Giraffe saliva is anti-septic so don’t be afraid to give them a few kisses (I did….Kevin did not).
Which room should you stay in at Giraffe Manor?
If you can, I would try to book a room inside the manor instead of one of the rooms located in the back extension. We stayed in the Daisy Room, which is located in the manor, and also has a private balcony overlooking the main courtyard. I would HIGHLY recommend booking this room if you can because it means you get early access to giraffes in the morning. No joke, we were woken up at 5am to the sound of giraffes poking their heads through the balcony fence, eager to get some tasty pellet snacks!
How to take the best photos at Giraffe Manor
In all honesty, we probably took hundreds of pictures during our stay, and ~50 of them ended up being post-worthy. You’re dealing with wildlife after all, and the giraffes aren’t willing to stay still for ANYTHING. It really comes down to a little bit of luck, and a LOT of outtakes.
Breakfast is an especially chaotic time to take photos because every guest wants to get an ‘insta-worthy’ breakfast table shot with the giraffes, and the giraffes are extra hungry and energetic during this time. It was HILARIOUS watching people try to take photos with the giraffes in the morning because they kept stealing food off the table (one of the giraffes stole several roses from nearby table vases), and knocking their heads against the windows.
TIP: Go to breakfast early (I mean…be there by 6:30am sharp) if you want a table near the windows.
Trust me when I say that there was a LOT of drooling on phones, head-butting, and playful nipping involved with breakfast. And a LOT of blurry pictures.
Ask the staff for help or advice with taking photos. They were more than willing to help us, and even directed us to different locations so that we could get the best angles!
Are the giraffes treated well at Giraffe Manor?
Yes! Trust me when I say that the giraffes are well-treated at Giraffe Manor. The Giraffe Center is a sanctuary for this endangered species! They are free to roam around the grounds and do whatever they want to do. The building is located on 12-acres of private property, next to 140 acres of forest.
Other tips for staying at Giraffe Manor
- A one-night stay at Giraffe Manor is more than enough time to get the full experience! Don’t feel like you need to drop thousands of dollars for a long stay, to get the best interaction with the giraffes.
- Make sure to tip the staff for their impeccable service! There’s a tip box in the foyer.
- Because of its limited availability and popularity, it’s best to book a stay at Giraffe Manor at least 6-12 months in advance!
- If you’re traveling on a budget, and a stay at Giraffe Manor is just too much of a splurge, you can still get a wonderful experience with the giraffes at the Giraffe Center.
- If you’re celebrating a special occasion, make sure to let the staff know! They’ll do everything they can to make your stay extra special.
Have questions or need help planning a visit to Giraffe Manor? Leave me a comment below!
You Might Also Like: A Guide to Visiting the Sahara Desert
Related Post: How We Spent 4 Days in Cape Town
Related Post: Planning a Safari in Kruger National Park
Thank you for sharing this information, dear!
I want to plan a surprise trip for my daughters 30th birthday which is a little over 2 years away. I want her to have the experience of a life time. I wanted her to stay in the Giraffe Manor 1 night but experience Kenya for the rest of her stay. Looking for suggestions on other places to stay and other things to experience in Kenya
Hi Laura, I’m going to keep a watch on your post for answers. I want to go for my 40th & that will be in two years as well. I did notice she stated they provide “free” transportation to & from the airport as well as anywhere in Kenya. My opinion is it’s included in the price. I did notice they have safaris & tours as well.
Have you considered doing a trip to Masai Mara? We did a 4 day safari there (staying at Governor’s Camp and Kandili Camp) and loved it.