Angama Amboseli

Originally built in the 1930s, Giraffe Manor is ideally located in south west Nairobi, just 20 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Situated in one of Nairobi’s most beautiful suburbs, this beautiful Manor House is located on 140 acres of pristine sanctuary land. Perfect for a quick stopover in the capital city, with an extra quirkiness to add to the convenience. What’s more, each guest’s stay directly benefits projects in some of the city’s poorest areas. This lovely Manor is home to endangered Rothschild giraffes that make daily visits to the house and politely ask guests for snacks. This up-close experience is remarkably enchanting and a great way to begin or finish your safari in Kenya. The opportunity to visit a handful of local attractions such as the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and the Karen Blixen museum (among others) are also available and a great way to explore Nairobi in more detail. The style of this boutique hotel is modelled on a Scottish lodge with a contemporary feel to it’s decor.  The main manor house has just six en-suite luxury bedrooms, each with its own character and tastefully decorated. Four additional luxury bedrooms are situated within the garden manor, surrounded by the manicured gardens. Each room is comfortable, with subtle warm colours that give a homely feel. Grand, four-poster beds and large windows give an airy quality that allows you to simply relax and enjoy your time in Nairobi without the hustle and bustle of city life. Giraffe Manor is well known for the excellent cuisine offered, with meals taken in the wood panelled dining room overlooking the gardens. Breakfast is the most important part of your experience here, as this is when the Giraffe are their most inquisitive.

Styled in a very natural way, Segera is an unusual and elegant safari retreat founded by philanthropist Jochen Zeitz as part of the Zeitz Foundation to support creative and innovative sustainable projects and solutions that balance conservation, community development, culture, and commerce. Surrounded by lovely sculpted gardens complete with expansive lawns, the property is set in a 50,000 acre ranch right in the heart of Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau, with stunning views of Mount Kenya. Segera offers six spacious timber thatched villas. There is one large Segera villa that has a bedroom, terrace, day bed with its own pool, and both an indoor and outdoor lounge, and Segera House with two bedrooms, central lounge, roof terraces and its own private pool area, a good option for families. A new addition and one of the most unique rooms in Africa, spend a night in the NAY PALAD Bird Nest. Built and designed from raw materials, including actual tree branches which have been woven into a nest by local community members, the interior suite features a fully-equipped bathroom with running solar heated water and a literal 360 degree bird’s eye views over the river and plains below from the top deck. There is also a spa, gym, art gallery and a simply wonderful old Wine Tower which you can dine in. This is also a first class area for viewing game; while on your daily drives it is common to see elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, buffalo, antelopes, gazelles, along with the very rare Grevy’s zebras and Patas monkeys. Another star attraction is Gipsy Moth biplane that starred in Out of Africa from which you can enjoy an unforgettable aerial safari.

Glorious isolation is the name of the game here, as Little Governors’ Camp sits a short boat ride across the river and then a guided walk away from the nearest road in the Masai Mara National Reserve. You won’t find total solitude, though, as you’re likely to see resident wildlife wandering across the plains or even through the camp itself – close encounters with elephants are not unusual. 

Perched majestically overlooking a serene lake, Borana Lodge offers a front-row seat to nature’s grand spectacle. Here, elephants and buffalos gather in abundance, drawn to the shimmering waters, while Mount Kenya stands sentinel in the distance. Across the plains of the Borana Conservancy, large packs of wild dogs roam freely, along with the stealthy presence of leopards, lions and cheetahs. Owned by the Dyer family for three generations, Borana Lodge pulsates with a palpable passion for conservation. Every corner of this retreat whispers tales of their dedication to preserving the wilderness they call home. Eight rustic cottages, each a haven of tranquility, offer unparalleled views of the Laikipia wilderness and the tranquil dam below. As dusk descends and the chill of the African night sets in, gather around a crackling fire, serenaded by the symphony of the bush, and let the magic of the wild weave its spell. In the heart of the lodge, an infinity pool beckons, inviting guests to surrender to the rhythm of the savannah.