Giraffe Manor

Giraffe Manor is a 1932 house standing on 12 acres of private ground inside a 140-acre forest reserve on the edge of Nairobi. Built originally as a private residence in the style of a Scottish hunting lodge, it was bought by Betty and Jock Leslie-Melville in the 1970s, who began a breeding programme for the Rothschild's giraffe on the grounds. That programme continues, and the resident herd still wanders the lawns at will. Twelve rooms occupy the original manor and the Garden Manor, an extension added in 2011 with six further ensuite rooms. Each is named for a giraffe with its own history on the property, from Jock, who fathered over twenty calves before his death in 2009, to Salma, born at the manor in 2011. Giraffes put their heads through the dining room windows at breakfast and turn up again for afternoon tea on the lawn. You can also cross the front lawn to the AFEW Giraffe Centre, included in the stay. Next door, The Retreat adds a 21-metre infinity pool overlooked by the sanctuary, along with a spa, sauna, steam room and gym. Rooms keep fireplaces, mosquito nets and tea trays; the grounds hold an orchid house with around 150 plants. Check-in is at noon, check-out at 10am.