Kenya - Giraffe Centre & Karen Blixen Museum

Moving on from the Elephant Orphanage we stopped for a coffee break. Or rather in my case a 'Tusker' Beer. I actually favoured the Tusker Malt (5%) rather than the one I had in the picture.

Our next stop was the nearby African Fund for Endangered Wildlife(AFEW) Giraffe Centre.

Situated in Lang'ata, approximately 20 kilometres from the centre of Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in order to protect the endangered giraffe, that is found only in the grasslands of East Africa. It has successfully boosted the population of the rare Rothschild's Giraffe.

It's other main mission is to educate children about the need for conservation.

Giraffe Manor

The Giraffe Centre was established in 1979  by Jock Leslie Melville, the Kenyan grandson of a Scottish Earl. Since then the programme has had huge success, resulting in the introduction of several breeding pairs of Rothschild Giraffe into Kenyan national parks.

They say that staying at Giraffe Manor is an amazing experience. You are able to interact with the Giraffes over breakfast and Tea. Set in a 1930s manor house with 12 acres of gardens and 140 acres of indigenous forest it really is picture perfect. I hear that the stay is one not to be missed with excellent food and service.  

It is a remarkable experience and the Giraffes are extremely sociable. The elevated feeding post is ideal for giving them a well received snack.

It is one of the most endangered distinct populations of Giraffe with 1669 individuals estimated in the wild in 2016.
The Rothschild's giraffe is easily distinguishable from other subspecies. The most obvious sign is in the coloring of the coat.

Rothschild's giraffe displays no markings on the lower leg, giving it the impression of wearing white socks.  

Males are larger than females and their two largest 'ossicones' are usually bald from sparring. They usually tend to be darker in colour than the females.

Some of the Warthogs who live with the Giraffes

Our busy day continued as far as the Karen Blixen Museum. This is located in the house where much of the author's classic memoir 'Out of Africa took place. First published 1937.

Karen Blixen House

Eating out of our hands

Give us a kiss !

I remembered the film , starring  Robert Redford and Meryl Streep but had never actually seen it.
The house itself is the epitome of colonial Africa with its lawns and lush gardens.



We had a guide who gave us the full tour of the house with it's wood panelled rooms and lion skin rugs. The house was built in 1912 and is a bungalow lying at the foot of the Ngong Hills".

It is generally believed that the suburb of 'Karen' in Nairobi is named after Karen Blixen.