Giraffe Manor Review
Nairobi, Kenya

Quick Facts

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Highlights:

★★★★★

Nairobi, Kenya

Car
40-50 min from NBO airport

Small

12

• Iconic hotel
• Great service

• Fantastic conservation initiatives
• Stunning historic architecture

Reviewed by Florian

Introduction about the Giraffe Manor

Before starting this review of the Giraffe Manor, let’s give you a quick introduction about this amazing boutique hotel.

Giraffe Manor is one of the most iconic hotels in Africa and for good reason. Originally built in the 1930s, this historical manor sits on 140 acres of private land in the leafy suburb of Langata, about 40 minutes from Nairobi’s international airport.

Today, the property is composed of three main areas:

The Historical Manor, the original building filled with character and charm.

The Garden Manor, added later to accommodate more guests while keeping the same vintage design.

The Retreat at Giraffe Manor, the newest addition, mainly designed for day-room use before late international flights, featuring a pool, spa, and restaurant.

What makes Giraffe Manor so unique is its giraffe sanctuary. The Rothschild giraffes that roam the property are part of a conservation program designed to protect and reintroduce them into the wild once they’re ready. They freely wander around the estate and come say hi to the guests several times a day, allowing guests to feed them. This is definitely a surreal and unforgettable experience worth the journey and the wait.

The Property: Truly Stunning

Let’s dive into this review of Giraffe Manor with a quick tour around the property.

Everything about Giraffe Manor feels timeless. The architecture, the interiors, the gardens, everything looks like a scene from a fairytale. You’ll want to take out your phone or camera every few steps to capture the beauty of the surroundings.

Both the Historical Manor and Garden Manor maintain their authentic colonial charm, with ivy-covered walls, cozy fireplaces, and wooden staircases. It’s intimate, elegant, and full of personality.

The Retreat, although newer, has been built in the same classic style, blending perfectly with the original manor. It features a large heated pool, a spa, a restaurant, a bar and a gym, all beautifully designed. It’s the perfect place to relax before or after your safari adventures.

When it comes to beauty and authenticity, our review of Giraffe Manor could not be more positive.

Our Room: Betty Superior Room

We stayed in Betty Room, one of the most popular rooms in the Historical Manor and for good reason. It’s absolutely beautiful, decorated in a warm colonial style with elegant furniture and a vintage atmosphere.

The room has a large corner terrace, which turned out to be one of the best places to feed the giraffes during the early morning visits. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and the bathroom, although in its original style, added to the authentic charm of the manor.

From every window, you have stunning views of the gardens and, of course, the giraffes wandering outside.

The Other Rooms We Visited

In order to make our review of Giraffe Manor as comprehensive as possible, we had the chance to tour most of the rooms in both the Historical Manor and Garden Manor, as well as the suites at The Retreat.

Every room has its own identity, but all share the same authentic and romantic feel. They are spacious, comfortable, and full of character, decorated with vintage furniture and beautiful fabrics.

Our personal favorite remains Betty, which we believe offers the best location and terrace for close interactions with the giraffes. Still, every room has something special: whether it’s the views, the design, or the unique access to the garden.

The Experience: Better Than You Could Dream Of

The highlight of this review of Giraffe Manor is, without question, the experience itself.

Our first encounter with the giraffes happened right after afternoon tea. They came to the front of the manor, and we got to feed them while taking in the stunning scenery.

Later, we spent time at the famous swing, feeding the giraffes while swinging: one of the most Instagram-worthy moments we’ve ever had.

The next morning, we woke up at 5:30 a.m. to feed the giraffes from our terrace. Having them walk up to our windows was pure magic. It’s really an experience that you won’t find anywhere else and that truly sets Giraffe Manor apart.

Then came breakfast, the most iconic moment of all. As you sit inside the restaurant, the giraffes pop their heads through the windows, looking for treats. It’s equal parts exciting, hilarious, and a little bit nerve-racking to have a giraffe’s face just centimeters away from your face, but it’s an experience you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Overall, the experience was a 100 out of 10. It exceeded every expectation we had.

The Service: Professional & Friendly

The service at Giraffe Manor was absolutely excellent and definitely something we had to cover during this review.

From the moment we arrived, every staff member was warm, professional, and attentive. Most people called us by our first names and made us feel instantly at home.

From the reception team to the restaurant staff, the spa therapists or the team taking care of the giraffes, everyone went above and beyond to make our stay perfect. It’s this kind of attention that elevates Giraffe Manor from a great hotel to a world-class experience.

Food & Beverages

The food at Giraffe Manor is very good overall. We had two lunches and one dinner, and every meal was fresh, well-presented, and full of flavor.

Breakfast surrounded by giraffes was a moment to remember, even though the food itself wasn’t exceptional. The avocado toast, for instance, was quite basic. Still, the quality of the ingredients and the atmosphere more than made up for it.

Lunch and dinner, on the other hand, were excellent: flavorful, refined, and beautifully served. While it’s not Michelin-star dining, it’s definitely high-end and pretty consistent.

The Main Pool

The main pool is located at The Retreat, the area designed for day-use guests.

It’s a beautiful, tranquil space surrounded by greenery and elegant sunbeds. The pool is heated, though it can still feel a little cool on cloudy days. From the pool, you can sometimes see giraffes walking nearby. What’s more cool than having giraffes coming to greet you while you’re having a swim in the pool?

The Spa & Gym

At The Retreat, you’ll also find a small spa with two treatment rooms, perfect for a relaxing massage after a long safari trip. We did not get to do a massage at Giraffe Manor, but 2 of our friends did, and said it was one of the best massages they’ve had in a long time. There’s also a jacuzzi and a quiet relaxation area.

The gym is compact and equipped with a few modern machines, but unfortunately, there’s no air conditioning, which makes it quite hot during workouts. This was one of the only minor disappointments in our review of Giraffe Manor.

How to Book the Giraffe Manor?

We often get asked: “How do you book Giraffe Manor?” and the truth is, it’s not easy!

Due to its huge popularity, Giraffe Manor is often booked out more than a year in advance. While the Garden Manor can be booked directly, guests wishing to stay in the Historic Manor are required to have booked a minimum two-night stay at another Safari Collection property - Solio Lodge, Sasaab, or Sala’s Camp - as part of their itinerary.

If you’d like to secure a booking, we can assist you directly and provide the most competitive rates, often with up to 15% discount.

How Much Does Giraffe Manor Cost?

An other frequent question that we receive is “what is the price of Giraffe Manor?”.

Rates for Giraffe Manor for 2026 start at USD 1,413 per adult per night, for both the Historical and Garden Manors.

For The Retreat, the day-room price is USD 970 for two adults, which allows you to use the facilities (pool, spa, restaurant, etc.) until your late-night flight. Overnight stays are not available at The Retreat.

Keep in mind that these prices of Giraffe Manor are all-inclusive, including of all meals and alcoholic beverages. So while it may seem expensive with a cost close to 2800 USD for 2 adults per night, it won’t cost you a penny more unless you venture to the boutique.

Through The Resorts Collection, we can secure between 10 and 15 % off these prices thanks to our close relationships depending on the dates and package. Contact us to learn more about our exclusive offers.

The Overall Value for Money

Giraffe Manor is undeniably expensive but also one of the most unique and exclusive hotels in the world.

Is it worth it? Absolutely, at least once in your life. It’s not a place you go for value. It’s a place you go for the experience. Feeding giraffes from your window, terrace, or breakfast table is something you simply can’t do anywhere else on Earth. And as you may certainly know, what’s unique is always expensive. The notion of “value for money” is therefore very hard to apply here.

Yet, if we had to judge, we would say that the value for money is average when looking strictly at accommodation and food, but excellent when you consider the emotional and photographic memories you’ll take away.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Once-in-a-lifetime experience with the giraffes

• Unique and beautifully preserved historical property

• Excellent service and friendly staff

• Beautiful rooms, especially Betty

• Great food (especially lunch and dinner)

• Perfect for pre- or post-safari stays

Cons

• Very hard to book (often sold out a year ahead)

• Quite expensive for a short stay

• No AC in the gym

• Breakfast food could be better

Conclusion: A Place to Visit at Least Once in Your Life!

Our review of Giraffe Manor can only end with one conclusion: it’s one of the most incredible hotels on Earth. As luxury honeymoon travel agents, we can very highly recommend it to our clients looking for a truly unique and memorable experience.

It’s not about luxury in the traditional sense. It’s about magic. The interaction with the giraffes, the authenticity of the manor, and the feeling of being part of something so special make this experience unforgettable.

Yes, it’s expensive, and yes, it’s hard to book, but once you’re there, none of that matters. Giraffe Manor is a place you’ll talk about forever, a true bucket-list experience that everyone should live at least once in their lifetime.

Contact us for more information or to book your stay at the Giraffe Manor with up to 15% discount.