Breakfast with a Giraffe

Q: I recently heard about a guesthouse in Nairobi that used to be a castle and has giraffe roaming the gardens. Could you find out about this place and how to book, as we would love to stay there during our next visit to Kenya? - Colleen Shanklin

A: The property you are looking for is the Giraffe Manor, which is located in a forested area just outside of Nairobi. As the name suggests, it has a resident herd of giraffe that have made this small hotel world-famous. The giraffe have free reign of the property and have been known to stick their heads through windows and investigate the breakfast table or await visitors at the front door for a morning stroll. The hotel was built in 1932, modelled on a Scottish hunting lodge. In 1974, two highly endangered Rothschild giraffe were moved onto the estate where their future generations have thrived and live today. The property was only opened as a hotel in 1984 and is now one of Nairobi's most exclusive resorts. Full board rates, which include all meals and beverages, laundry and sightseeeing, are 254 US dollars single and 360 US dollars double. You can check out the lodge on www.giraffemanor.com or telephone +254 (0)20 891 078.