Giraffe – Deano's World

Our final night in Kenya brings us to the whimsical world of Giraffe Manor. Here, Rothschild’s giraffes bend their elegant necks through windows to join us for breakfast, their gentle eyes and long lashes creating moments that seem almost too magical to be real.

Buffy and I had been here before. We spent Christmas in this wonderful hotel on our honeymoon in 2014 when, sadly, I had been laid low by a 24hr bug. This time, we arrived on December 30th with Stu and Sophie, having said goodbye to Rob and Katie when we landed at Wilson airport from Naboisho.

The drive through Nairobi was a sensory jolt after days in the wilderness—honking horns, colorful markets, and the bustling energy of city life highlighting just how dramatically our environment had changed. All our senses were on high alert as we navigated through the capital’s vibrant chaos.

We were greeted at the manor with afternoon tea on the veranda, complete with champagne—the perfect welcome as we watched Rothschild giraffes roam the grounds alongside warthogs who seemed oblivious to our presence. The manor’s colonial grandeur provides a fitting finale to our journey—a place where wild Africa meets graceful civilization.

We stayed in the original manor house in Betty’s room, with its art deco bath featuring a lion’s mouth for the tap—a detail that delighted Buffy, who immediately indulged in a luxurious soak. Stu and Sophie were just down the hall in Jock’s room. The historic elegance of these spaces transported us to another era.

The ladies couldn’t resist photos on the manor’s famous swing, with Buffy and Sophie taking turns posing as the afternoon light turned golden. We all ventured outside to feed the giraffes, capturing those intimate moments of connection with these gentle giants. More champagne flowed as the sun began to set.

Dinner was served outside under the stars—the food was incredible, a gourmet farewell to Kenyan cuisine. We couldn’t help but notice a group of Russian women meticulously documenting every moment for Instagram. Each to their own, but not quite our approach to experiencing such a special place. I, of course, made friends with the resident cat just as I had during our previous stay. Some things will never change..

Morning brought the iconic Giraffe Manor experience—breakfast inside the dining room as giraffes peered through windows, their long tongues delicately taking treats from our hands across the tables. We also fed them from our balcony, marveling at how their heads reached up to the second floor with such graceful ease.

As this perfect Kenyan finale came to a close, we spent our last day at The Retreat, chilling in the pool, indulging in massages, and savoring a few last sundowners before heading to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Our next destination: Dubai for New Year’s Eve.

This last breakfast, with giraffes peering in through the windows, served as a gentle transition back to the world we’d soon rejoin, carrying with us memories of a Kenya both wild and welcoming—from the rugged landscapes of Tsavo and Amboseli to the untamed beauty of Naboisho, and finally, to this enchanting manor where wilderness and refinement exist in perfect harmony.

To describe the experience of staying at Giraffe Manor as a privilege is an understatement to say the very least. Before you even mention the fact that you interacting with wild giraffes you are immediately struck by the sumptious decor of the building itself and incredible service from their wonderful staff. To spend Christmas Eve there, well that is really quite something! The highlight of any stay is the opportunity to interact with the giraffes. They often visit the manor in the morning and evening, poking their long necks through windows and doors in search of treats. Guests can feed them from their hands or even from their breakfast table.

The giraffe saying hello to guests on Christmas Eve 2014

It was a lovely evening: first we were serenaded with Christmas Carols in the library by a local choir which really set the tone before sitting down for a fantastic supper in the main drawing room with the other guests. This was probably the largest group of people we’d seen on the trip but everyone got along famously; all buying into the Christmas spirit. The only issue was that I wasn’t feeling well – a 24 hour bug picked up prior to arrival that resulted in shivers and shakes as well as a fervent desire to remain within running distance of a bathroom. Oh well, I guess I will have to return at some point just to check that the experience wasn’t just some sort of delireum brought on by a lack of gin and tonic.

The manor itself is a stately building built by the Rowntree family in the 1930s. It is deceptively big with 12 guest bedrooms, all of which are uniquely decorated in an elegant, colonial style that feels very natural and avoids the trap of coming across as being ostentacious or pretentious. The rooms are spacious (another understatement: the bed was so big my wife was sleeping in the next postcode) and comfortable, with en-suite bathrooms and often dual aspect views of the surrounding gardens and their resident Rothschild Giraffe and cheeky warthogs.

Breakfast on Christmas morning was simply breathtaking. We had a early morning visit through our room window by a giraffe enquiring whether we had any kibble to spare and then, after making our way down to the breakfast room, we were joined by several other giraffe who appreared through the numerous windows on the ground floor to dine with us.

25th December 2014: Buffy getting up close with one of our breakfast companions at Giraffe Manor

The cherry on the cake is of course the fact that a stay at Giraffe Manor supports the conservation of the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. The property is part of a breeding program aimed at increasing the population of these giraffes in the wild.