Photo © Brian Siambi
By Allie Murray
Giraffe Manor is more than just a name—located in Nairobi, Kenya, giraffes have freely roamed its lawns since the 1970s. The house, which was built in 1932 by Sir David Duncan of the Mackintosh family, famous for Mackintosh Toffee, was later reopened as a hotel in 1994 and has captivated the interest of travelers ever since.
Giraffe Manor is one of six lodges run by The Safari Collection, operated by husband and wife duo Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartley, who took over ownership of the hotel in 2009. As fourth-generation Kenyans, the pair have a passion for the area, not only wanting to show tourists the beauty the region has to offer but also to show how the precious lands and wildlife need to be protected.
Standing Up Tall for Giraffes
The giraffes that live at the hotel have long been classified as Rothschild’s giraffes, however a recent DNA analysis of all major populations of wild giraffes across Africa revealed that Rothchild’s giraffes are genetically identical to Nubian giraffes, a subspecies of the Northern Giraffe. The Nubian giraffe has been placed in the IUCN Red List as critically endangered, with just over 4,000 of the species estimated to remain in the wild.
The numbers are shocking: giraffe populations in Africa have dropped by 40 percent in the last 30 years, some of which have already become extinct in seven African countries. However, thanks in part to the breeding program at Giraffe Manor, giraffe populations have reached over 117,000 in the world, as many of the giraffes born at the manor are released back into the wild to help grow natural populations.
Striving to unite tourism and conservation, visitors can not only enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but also give back to the endangered species with their reservation. Giraffe Manor works closely with the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife to support conservation and breeding of giraffe populations, and for every guest that stays at the hotel, The Safari Collection donates $10 to the organization. The success of the program has seen wild Rothschild’s giraffes recover from the brink of extinction.
To encourage visitors to contribute to conservation, guests and giraffe enthusiasts worldwide can sponsor one of the giraffes that live on the grounds at the hotel, with 50 percent of each donation going to a local charity—The Giraffe Conservation Fund, who is the only NGO in the world that focuses solely on conservation of giraffes in Africa—to help support their efforts of repopulating species in danger. The remaining 50 percent of the donation goes to The Safari Collection Footprint, the hotel’s trust that supports several conservation projects across Kenya. Similarly, Giraffe Manor encourages visitors to share their giraffe selfies on social media with the hashtag #BehindTheSelfie, along with facts about giraffes to raise awareness about the endangered animal.
Make A Difference With Your Stay
In addition to their focus on conservation, Giraffe Manor also puts an emphasis on sustainable practices and supporting local communities. To put their green foot forward, The Safari Collection works towards lowering their plastic waste by providing every guest with a reusable metal water bottle. The switch has helped to reduce their plastic waste by 85 percent. Similarly, they strive to reuse and recycle water, utilize solar energy where possible, offset their carbon footprint by planting trees, preparing meals with locally grown produce, and composting and recycling what doesn’t get eaten.
To put further positive action back into the community, The Safari Collection has their “Menu of Giving,” which includes a list of projects to donate to where 100 percent of all donations are used for community and conservation projects. With a range of price points, the list includes things as simple as buying a textbook for a student to feeding an entire school for a month.
If you have additional space in your luggage, The Safari Collection is happy to receive items that can be donated back to the community. Things like general school supplies, children’s books, educational games and puzzles, sanitary pads, sports or outdoor activity equipment, and arts and crafts materials are always needed in local schools.
Related – A Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip in Kenya: Giraffe Manor
The Hotel Allure
At the hotel, guests can make their African safari dreams come true with a collection of excursions, helicopter tours, and tours offered by local guides. Guests can also go on a safari for an opportunity to get up close and personal with not only giraffes, but with many other animals native to Kenya, like wildebeest on the Migration Extravaganza tour, lions on the Lion King Adventure, or look for fossils on the unique Fossil Hunting tour.
Similarly, created exclusively for guests of Giraffe Manor, The Retreat offers a haven of wellness and relaxation against a backdrop of nature. There are a wide array of wellness packages to choose from, including a soak in the luxurious 21-metre infinity pool, which overlooks the giraffe sanctuary. Other offers include a spa, gym, and rooftop gardens.
After a day of wildlife viewing, lay your head in one of the manor’s six rooms—the Karen Blixen Suite, named after the Danish author; Betty Superior Room; Jock Superior Room; Lynn Superior Room; and Daisy Superior Room, named after giraffes who have once called the grounds of Giraffe Manor home; and finally Marlon Superior Room, which is the combination of what used to be two small children’s bedrooms when the house was originally built in 1932.
To meet demands of the popular hotel, the Garden Manor was built in 2011 as a replica of the original manor house. It also features six rooms—Helen Superior Room, Kelly Superior Room, Arlene Superior Room, Salma Superior Room, and Edd Superior Room, all named after giraffes, and Finch Hatton Suite, named after the late partner of author Karen Blixen.
With a vast collection of lodges to choose from, travelers can get the full Kenyan experience. At the Solio Lodge, visitors can get up close and personal with another endangered animal: Rhinos. The other lodges run by The Safari Collection—Sasaab, Sala’s Camp, The Retreat at Giraffe Manor, and Siruai Mobile Camp—provide a stunning backdrop for travelers to unwind and relax.
Learn more about how you can support giraffe conservation with your stay at thesafaricollection.com
