| The giraffe Manor-Nairobi and the Giraffe center | | | | room feels old-fashioned and lived in. Through an |
| Staying at the exclusive Giraffe Manor House is | | | | archway is a long sun-room bright with big arched |
| unique and special experience. This mellow old | | | | windows looking towards the Ngong Hills. |
| stone house has an appealing history which is kept | | | | Decorated with ferns and floral fabrics, this room |
| alive today. It was home to Daisy, the famous | | | | is cheerfully elegant. It is here that breakfast and |
| Rothschild giraffe. To day her grandchildren eat | | | | lunch are served. The main dining room is formally |
| the flowers in the Manors' extensive gardens. It's | | | | paneled in wood with a huge table and chairs |
| hard to believe Nairobi is inly minutes away. | | | | covered in rich fabrics. |
| The manor house was built in 1932 in Langata, | | | | At giraffe Manor, a great deal of emphasis is |
| part of the Karen suburban area of Nairobi. It | | | | placed on elegant gourmet dining. In fact, when |
| became the home of Jock Leslie-Melville and his | | | | there are no guests staying at the manor, it is |
| wife Betty in 1974. They founded the African | | | | possible to arrange for a group of 10-20 to be |
| Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) and moved | | | | served sumptuous meals in this grand set5ting. |
| five babies of endangered Rothschild giraffe to his | | | | For larger groups a marque can be set up in the |
| property. There were successful at raising these | | | | grounds-a perfect place for a special event. |
| Giraffe, who have since grown and had their | | | | You are paying for exclusivity when you stay at |
| offspring. Now, your hosts at the Giraffe Manor | | | | Giraffe Manor. There are seldom more than eight |
| are betty's son, Rick Anderson, and his wife | | | | guests at a time, and they are usually all from |
| Bryony-an energetic and charming couple who | | | | one party. However, there are expansion plans to |
| bring a great deal of professionalism to this role. | | | | accommodate a few more guests without |
| Rick is active in continuing and expanding AFEW. | | | | sacrificing the manor's personal or exclusive |
| Thanks to him and AFEW, there are still giraffe | | | | atmosphere. |
| on the grounds of the manor today. You are | | | | This is meant to be a home, not a hotel. The |
| quiet likely to have a giraffe peer in at you | | | | bedrooms vary considerably in size and grandeur. |
| through the front door or amble up to be | | | | Four bedrooms have bathrooms ensuite. A |
| hand-fed. | | | | smaller room off the master bedroom has a |
| Giraffe Manor is only a short drive from | | | | shower and would be suitable for children traveling |
| downtown Nairobi. However, when you turn into | | | | with their parents. The master bedroom has a |
| the gates and bump along the dirt road winding | | | | fire place and a huge bed. The walls are covered |
| through bush and riverine forest, you feel that | | | | in bright striped fabrics. In the black and white tiled |
| you are far away from civilization. Warthogs run | | | | bathrooms, water spots into the the bath from a |
| by, and there are giraffe among the trees. Your | | | | lion's head. Another room has some of Karen |
| first, full frontal view of the manor is particularly | | | | Blixen's original furniture. The smaller rooms are |
| impressive. | | | | rather ordinary. The upstairs is not as impressive |
| It is an imposing double-story stone building with | | | | as the lower floor. |
| gables, tall chimneys, and red tiled roof. The house | | | | As Rick says, the "whole point of this place is to |
| is set on large open grounds with mature trees | | | | relax." Guests are free to wander in the |
| and gardens reduced to those flowers which the | | | | extensive grounds, feed and photograph the |
| giraffe will not eat. Off to one side you can see | | | | giraffe and warthogs, go on a nature walk in the |
| the distinctive knuckle-shaped peaks of the Ngong | | | | adjoining forest. There are more than 170 species |
| Hills. | | | | of birds, and you might also see bushbuck or dik |
| Safari journal comments: | | | | dik. You are encouraged to make yourself |
| "BLAST! None of us remembered a camera and | | | | completely at home in the manor-settle down and |
| this scene should be recorded. Framed in | | | | read a book, admire the view, help yourself to a |
| silhouette against the bright light outdoors was an | | | | drink. |
| enormous giraffe, her legs splayed and her long | | | | Right next door, and in view of the manor is the |
| neck peering in through the high arch of the front | | | | popular and successful AFEW giraffe centre. Here |
| door. Joan giggled as the gooey, long blue tongue | | | | visitors can come to feed the giraffe, take the |
| circled around the food pellets she held out in her | | | | nature Walk, and learn more about wildlife and |
| hand." | | | | conservation. |
| The high-arched front door leads to a grand | | | | The manor has been visited by a host of famous |
| entrance hall with a fireplace and a wide stairway. | | | | people-Margaret Mead, Bobby Kennedy, Brooke |
| There is a generous living room arranged with | | | | Shields, Hal Prince, Mick Jagger and Johnny Carson, |
| chairs and sofas. With its old rugs, bowls of | | | | just to name afew. |
| flowers, books, family photos, and piano, the | | | | |