Giraffe Manor — the luxury lodge in Nairobi, Kenya, known for its giraffes that wander the property and even poke their heads through open windows — is about to become even more popular with giraffe enthusiasts.
The Safari Collection, which owns Giraffe Manor and three other luxury lodges in Kenya, has opened The Retreat at Giraffe Manor. The Retreat, just a short walk from the Main Manor, has two spa rooms, a sauna, steam room, hot tub, gym, and café. What’s most noteworthy, however, is its nearly 70-foot-long infinity pool, seen below:
Guests are able to swim in the pool, lounge on the sundeck, and look out at the giraffe sanctuary. At the same time, the “herd of endangered Rothschild’s giraffes have access to the end of the pool — so you might have a long-legged spectator or two if you’re lucky,” explain The Safari Collection owners Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartley.
The Retreat
It must be pointed out that The Retreat is not open to the public and it does not allow overnight stays. Guests at Giraffe Manor have access to The Retreat during their stay. The other way to visit The Retreat is if you are enroute to, or from, other The Safari Collection properties.
Here’s how that works: If you are arriving in Nairobi on an early flight and want to relax after a long flight, there is what’s known as “The Retreat Early Bird Package,” which lasts from 6 a.m. to noon. For $250 per person, the package includes a continental breakfast as well as access to the pool and wellness area and complimentary water.
For those who want to spend the day, there’s a The Retreat Pass, valid from 10 a.m. to 10p.m. This package includes complimentary water, luggage storage, and use of the pool, gym, steam room, sauna, and hot tub.
Finally, for those who have a whole day to spend and may expect to suffer from jet lag, The Retreat offers day rooms that include beds for napping. Rates for day rooms at The Retreat start at $800 per room — based on double occupancy — and include complimentary water, a selection of soft drinks, a homemade snack, and use of The Retreat’s pool, gym, steam room, sauna, and hot tub.
Giraffe Manor
Built in 1932 and modeled on a Scottish hunting lodge, Giraffe Manor is “an exclusive boutique hotel” set in 12 acres of private land within 140 acres of indigenous forest in the Nairobi suburb of Lang’ata. As you may already know, the hotel has a resident herd of Rothschild’s giraffes.
In addition to watching the giraffes stroll around the grounds, there are two special events each day. The first is breakfast with the giraffes.
“Waking up to breakfast with a giraffe must be one of the most incredible and unique experiences anyone can have,” The Safari Collection explains. “Watching them lope across the manor lawns and seeing them peer in through the large windows with their elegant necks gives a real appreciation of just how beautiful and soulful these creatures are.”
The second event is afternoon tea with giraffes. Giraffe Manor guests are invited to enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace — accompanied by a few long-legged friends.
About Those Giraffes
In the 1970’s, the Rothschild’s species of giraffe was in danger of becoming extinct. At one point, it was estimated that there were less than 100 of the giraffes remaining in Kenya.
At that time, Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville owned the manor as a private residence. Their concern for the giraffes led them to create the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife and start a breeding program on the manor grounds to help the endangered animals.
“Their efforts proved successful and, to this day, the manor grounds remain a vital breeding sanctuary which has helped the population of Rothschild’s giraffes grow from roughly 80 to 1,000 in 50 years,” Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartley explain. “Many of the giraffes that are born here are returned to the wild to repopulate areas where the species has already gone extinct.”
For more on Giraffe Manor, be sure to read Take A Peek Inside Giraffe Manor, The Kenyan Retreat Where You Can Stay With Endangered Giraffes. Be sure to also check out all of our Kenya and wildlife coverage.
