Who: Micki Fitzgerald of Chicago, Kaki Zeeb, Karen Cravens and Judith Hill of Arvada
Where: Giraffe Manor, located on 120 acres of forested land, just 8 miles from Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi.
Out and about: Giraffe Manor is a 1930s stone building constructed in the style of an English country house. It is a beautiful home and wonderful place to stay, but what makes it unique are the rare Rothschild giraffes that live on the Manor grounds. The most famous of the giraffes, Daisy and Lynn, visit at the sunroom windows and at the front door. They arrive in time for before-breakfast treats and enjoy before-and-after dinner treats as well. The staff at the Manor provides lots of information about the resident giraffes as well as an unending supply of giraffe kibbles. Lynn, the giraffe shown in the photograph, was very patient with ear-scratching, horn-petting, and neck-hugging. What she really was interested in was kibbles and more kibbles! She would gently take a treat from your lips or stretch out her 17- inch tongue to take them from your hand. It was an unforgettable thrill to be so close to such an amazing animal.
Travel tip: Make your reservations at Giraffe Manor well in advance. Plan to stay long enough to enjoy other attractions. These include the nature trails on the grounds of the Manor that afford views of warthogs, dik-dik and approximately 180 species of birds; the Giraffe Center; an educational facility adjacent to the Manor; the Karen Blixen Museum; and the Center for Orphaned Elephants.
