Visiting Giraffe Manor: Everything You Need to Know
Visiting Giraffe Manor is a once in a lifetime experience, so I want to make sure you have all the information you need to make your stay absolutely perfect and unforgettable.
So before I get into the details, you’re probably wondering what Giraffe Manor is all about, right? What’s the big deal. Keep reading, and I promise all your questions will be answered.`
What is Giraffe Manor?
Giraffe Manor is an exclusive Boutique hotel in the heart of Kenya. It is owned by the Safari Collection, and it is known as one of the most Instagrammable properties in the world and the most iconic building in Nairobi, perhaps even in all of Africa.
Giraffe Manor has been a breeding center for the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes even longer than it has been a hotel. Only 80 Rothschild’s giraffes remained in Kenya in the 1970s, but now their numbers have reached over 1000 in the wild thanks to the careful breeding program at the Giraffe Center. Many of the giraffes born at the Manor are eventually released into the wild to grow natural populations.
You can join their Giraffe Sponsorship Program by choosing to foster a giraffe. 50% of your fee goes directly to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation to help giraffe conservation efforts all over Africa and the rest is donated to conservation and community programs.
Where is Giraffe Manor?
Giraffe Manor is just 30 minutes outside of Nairobi, Kenya. It sits on 12 acres of private land amid an indigenous forest oasis that goes on for another 140 acres. Transportation in a private chauffeur to and from the property is included in your stay.
The Manor House is stunningly beautiful with a historic elegance and charm. A stay at Giraffe Manor is like stepping back in time as it dates back to the 1930s when visitors first flocked to Africa to enjoy safaris.
Can you visit Giraffe Manor without staying there?
Part of the charm of this property is the exclusivity and the intimate experience with the giraffes so only staying guests are permitted. No visitors are allowed, BUT you if you’re not staying at Giraffe Manor you can visit the Giraffe Centre, which is technically part of Giraffe Manor. The Giraffe Centre is a public place and anyone can visit. It is open everyday from 9am-5pm. This is where the giraffes hang out when they’re not at the Manor.
How far in advance do I need to book my stay?
Because of social media, this property is becoming more and more well-known and sought after. Because there are only 12 rooms, it is recommended to book at least 12-24 months in advance to secure your desired dates. If you’re traveling as a family (4 people), you will want the Karen Blixen suite or the Finch Hatton suit. The Karen Blixen will offer the opportunity to feed the giraffes from your balcony.
Inquiries for your desired nights can be made on the website. You just fill out a form, and someone will get back to you via email within a few days. The staff was very helpful and receptive.
If your dates are not available, you can ask to be put on the waitlist. This is what I did, and a few weeks later I was fortunate enough to receive an email saying that one night opened up for the Daisy Room. I was on cloud 9, and I don’t think I’ve ever whipped out my credit card faster!
Just keep in mind there is no guarantee that a room will become available, so make your preparations as early as possible to guarantee you a room. Also, the property is expanding to include 5 more rooms that will be available for guests in the near future.
How much does it cost to stay at Giraffe Manor?
Rooms start at $875 per adult and $605 per child. I paid $1750 for one night at Giraffe Manor in the Daisy Room for two people. Larger rooms like the honeymoon suite or the family suites will be more expensive. There is an initial deposit required up front followed by the rest of the payment closer to your stay.
Most people only choose to stay at Giraffe Manor for one night because it is so expensive. Plus, this property can only be booked for one night on it’s own. If you wish to stay longer, you are required to also reserve a package deal with another accommodation from The Safari Collection, such as Sala’s Camp in Masai Mara.
Is it worth the price?
I know what you’re thinking…$1750 for ONE night?! Are you out of your mind?!
Well, maybe! Remember that this is a once in a lifetime experience. How many people can say they’ve eaten breakfast with giraffes?
The price includes airport transport to and from Nairobi. It also includes 3.5 meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tea time. Alcohol is also included, but don’t drink so much you sleep through breakfast like my neighbors did!
Plus, your hard earned money is going towards a good cause. The staff are absolutely WONDERFUL, and you can tip them extra if you wish at the end of your stay. Even more so, The Safari Collection is dedicated to high end, sustainable tourism and educating the community about wildlife conservation. That big chunk of change isn’t just paying for your Insta-worthy photos, it’s helping save the giraffes from extinction.
I believe in spending money on experiences, and visiting Giraffe Manor was the #1 item on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. I have memories to last a lifetime, and for me, that’s priceless.
When is the best time to visit Giraffe Manor?
Giraffe Manor is open all year with the exception of mid-April to mid-May when they do maintenance and repairs. Since Kenya is close to the equator, there are few seasonal differences, although the rainy seasons are mid-March to May and mid-October to December. There really is no bad time to visit.
I visited at the end of July, and it was perfectly sunny and beautiful.
How many nights is enough?
Because Giraffe Manor is so pricey, most guests will only stay for a maximum of two nights. I only stayed for one night, and although I was a little rushed and caught up in the excitement of it all, I was definitely able to see everything and get the full experience. So unless you really want to splurge, I’d recommend one night.
You’ll arrive a little before noon on the first day, just in time for check in, and the next day you’ll leave around the same time. You will spend almost a full 24 hours at Giraffe Manor if you stay one night, but the property is pretty small and compact so it’s pretty easy to see everything.
Plus, the giraffes only come around for about an hour to an hour and a half the first afternoon, then they are around from about 5:30-8:00am the next morning. This allows you plenty of time to eat in peace and stroll around the property without constantly worrying about pictures with those gentle giants.
What else is there to do at Giraffe Manor?
What, breakfast with giraffes isn’t enough for you? Geesh, tough crowd!
All jokes aside there is a lovely gift shop with tons of souvenirs where I bought an ADORABLE giraffe ring. Trust me, you’re going to want to bring back some souvenirs from a trip like this!
There’s also a spa on the property, but I probably wouldn’t recommend booking a treatment unless you stay for more than one night. In addition to the 5 new rooms, a pool is also coming soon.
I definitely recommend spending your free time exploring the property. Although it’s rather quaint, every inch is ornately and exquisitely detailed with giraffe-themed trinkets.
At the end of your stay, instead of heading back to Nairobi or the airport right away, you can have the driver drop you off at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where they have feedings for baby elephants at 11am. You can get tickets in advance for this adorable encounter.
You can also be taken to a nearby souvenir shop, some of which have fixed prices but others you can haggle your heart out!
And as long as you’re in Kenya, you absolutely HAVE to go on a safari! Kenya is known for having some of the best safaris in Africa, and if you’ve never been I have a guide to first time safari tips and tricks.
Although the giraffes and sloppy kisses are definitely the highlight, the Giraffe Manor property and surrounding area offers lots to do during your time.
How much time will I get with the giraffes?
To be honest, not as much as you’d expect. This is good and bad because it’s a little rushed for picture fanatics like me who only stay one night, but it’s also somewhat of a relief that there’s so much time without the ever-present giraffe induced chaos so you can just walk around and enjoy yourself.
The first afternoon of your stay they’ll be around for about an hour to an hour and a half. The second morning they get up as early as 5am and stick around until about 8am.
What a day at Giraffe Manor looks like
A stay at Giraffe Manor begins pretty luxuriously, with pickup from a private chauffeur in a spacious van. You’ll arrive just in time for a delicious lunch and some time to get settled into your room and get acquainted with the property before your first encounter with the giraffes. This is when you’ll have the most free time to stop by the gift shop, spa, or mingle with the other guests.
Around 5-5:30pm, preparations for tea time will begin. The staff lays out an ornate assortment of pastries and fruit to snack on along with tea. Before you know it, giraffes start emerging from the woods in front of you. They wait and keep their distance for awhile before approaching because they stick to a tight schedule, and they know EXACTLY when it’s time to get fed!
You’ll spend about an hour feeding them and taking photos in front of the Manor and on the Insta-famous swing. They’ll eventually get full around 6:30pm and leave just in time for you to get ready for dinner.
Dinner is another delicious four course meal. As usual, the dessert was my favorite! After dinner, you’ll want to head to bed early because you’re in for an early wakeup call.
The next morning, the giraffes will be outside your window before it’s even light out, as early as 5:30am. You can feed them from the balcony with a food bucket that’ll be in your room before heading downstairs to breakfast.
The giraffes get their breakfast first, and you’ll get those iconic photos by the windows that you undoubtedly swooned over on Instagram before planning your trip! Since the giraffes are a little messy, everything will be cleaned once they leave. Then, you’ll get a choice of several yummy options for your own breakfast, and I highly recommend the passion fruit pancakes!
You’ll have a little more time after breakfast to walk around before gathering your things and being taken back.
As you can see, a stay at Giraffe Manor is pretty short, but jam-packed with excitement, sloppy kisses, and delicious cuisine.
Is Giraffe Manor kid-friendly?
Yes! When I visited, there was one couple who brought their children. In my opinion, this isn’t the best trip for children just because of how expensive it is and kids have a very short attention span. I think it’s hard for children to really appreciate experiences like this.
Are the giraffes nice?
The giraffes are very friendly as long as you have food. They’re not mean, but they’re truly only interested in the food. If you’re continually feeding them but then run out of food, they get a little angsty and might head bump you.
Do I have to kiss them?
No, of course not! Although I think everyone should kiss a giraffe at least once! It’s very easy. All you have to do is show them that you have food in your hands, then show them that you put it between your lips. Just be warned, they’re very sloppy kissers! Although it’ll still probably be a lot better than your ex-boyfriend.
Do they have a photographer?
Giraffe Manor doesn’t have any designated professional photographers on site, but every party gets assigned a staff member to help them interact with the giraffes. They’ll show you how to feed them and make sure you always have food in hand. They also give you pose ideas and are more than happy to take photos for you! Trust me, they have been doing this long enough that they know ALL the good angles.
I recommend setting your camera up on a tripod and let it take photos while handing the staff member your cell phone to take video. That’s what I did!
Because there aren’t many guests on the property, there isn’t really a line to take photos, but if it it then it’s pretty short. Everyone takes turns with different giraffes, depending on which one is nearby and how hungry they are that day. Some guests (like me) are very picture-focused and take a little longer than the guests that are more just along for the ride.
Final Tips
- Tell them ahead of time if you have a food allergy or anything like that. When I got there I told them that I don’t particular enjoy fish, so they offered me an alternative.
- Wear cute clothes, but not your best shoes. If you’re anything like me, you’re going to be taking A LOT of pictures. I packed a few different of my favorite outfits, but my shoes got pretty dirty from stepping on so many food pellets and who knows what else!
- There are a few warthogs that live on the property, too. Don’t feed them because apparently they can get a little aggressive. They have lots of grass to eat, and there are TONS of those little pellets that fall on the ground for them, so don’t worry about them going hungry.
- Wash your hands often. Apparently the giraffes don’t like to smell/taste the saliva of the others ones so you might have some trouble getting them to eat from your hands if you don’t keep them clean.
- RELAX AND HAVE FUN! Remember, you once dreamed about being where you are now. Enjoy it.
Would I go back?
Truth be told, I like to explore new places before I think about returning to old ones, but given the opportunity (and the weight of my wallet), I would love to go back to Giraffe Manor. I would return in a heartbeat. And now I know exactly what to expect so I believe a return visit would be more relaxing.
Would you visit Giraffe Manor? Let me know!
Klaus Goldmann
Is there a room available in April, May , or June?
Sightseeing Señorita
Klaus GoldmannYou can contact them via their official email or inquire via the website and ask about availability! It’s usually booked over a year out though since there’s so few rooms, but they will be able to put you on a waitlist in case another guest cancels.