I spent over $1,100 staying at Giraffe Manor, where animals come right to your window and reservations are made years in advance

Giraffe Manor is a truly unique and luxurious travel experience.

Jen Ruiz

• I spent my most recent birthday at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya.
• I made my reservation two years in advance and it cost over $1,100 per person.
• Giraffes came right up to my window and I got to feed them and pet them. It was amazing.

I like to travel to celebrate my birthdays.

In the past, I've visited the Parthenon in Athens and attended a traditional dance in Bali. This year, I outdid myself with a night at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya.

The room was $2,336 for two people, and I think it was worth it.

There are only six rooms in Giraffe Manor.

Giraffe Manor doesn't have a lot of rooms available.

Jen Ruiz

Giraffe Manor has only six rooms, and the original property was built in 1932.

Each room is named after a person, a giraffe, or both.

Pricing varies and is only available in individualized quotes.

Giraffe Manor will likely cost you over $1,000 a person.

Jen Ruiz

There are no prices on the website, and you need to send an email for a quote. The quotes vary based on the room, number of occupants, season, and other factors.

I was quoted $1,168 per person, per night for the Betty room for a Thursday in January.

I ended up going by myself and notified the staff of this change several months beforehand. I was given a $500 credit to use on the property as a courtesy.

Rooms sell out months, if not years, in advance.

I booked my stay at Giraffe Manor two years in advance.

Jen Ruiz

I booked my one-night stay for January 2024 in August 2022.

I waited almost two years for my reservation, but people who want to visit can also send an email asking to be put on the waitlist in case someone doesn't pay their rate on time or a cancellation occurs.

I reserved my room with a deposit.

I had to put down a few hundred dollars to reserve my spot.

Jen Ruiz

To reserve my room, I paid a 30% deposit, which is refundable up to 120 days before the visit, minus 5% of the booking value and additional fees.

Meals and drinks are included in the price of the stay.

Meals are included at Giraffe Manor.

Jen Ruiz

Although the price tag may seem steep, a stay at Giraffe Manor comes with all meals and beverages, including alcoholic drinks (minus a few select premium spirits).

This includes a three-course lunch upon arrival, tea time with snacks and pastries, a three-course dinner, and à la carte breakfast menu served with assorted fruit and baked goods for each night's stay.

Also included is transportation to and from the Manor, WiFi, dry-cleaning services, and other perks.

The Manor is also a breeding center and conservancy.

Giraffe Manor has been a breeding center for endangered Rothschild's giraffes for years,

Jen Ruiz

Giraffe Manor is not just a hotel — the space is also a center working to repopulate the endangered Rothschild giraffes.

In coordination with the Giraffe Centre on-site, Giraffe Manor educates the public about giraffes, maintains the health and safety of the giraffes on the property, and helps birth and release giraffes into the wild.

At the time of my visit, all three adult females were pregnant.

There are several opportunities to interact with the giraffes on the property.

I got to pet and feed giraffes during my stay.

Jen Ruiz

Guests first feed the giraffes during tea time at 5 p.m. each day. At that time, the Giraffe Centre closes so the giraffes come to the Manor for more snacks.

The giraffes retire for the evening before returning in the morning, sometimes as early as 5 a.m. Guests can wake up to feed the giraffes from their balconies or the windows of their rooms.

Giraffes also interact with guests at breakfast through the dining-room windows.

A private butler also took photos and ensured I made the most of my stay.

You can get pictures as a solo traveler.

Jen Ruiz

When I arrived at the Manor, I was assigned a private butler who took my order at meal times, helped me make any reservations I wanted, and accompanied me at the feedings.

Mine gave me expert tips on interacting with giraffes and took phenomenal photos and videos. I was glad that, even as a solo traveler, I could get pictures.

The Manor had so many special details that made it feel intimate and cozy.

The outdoor fire pit was beautiful.

Jen Ruiz

I loved the Manor's special details and pretty touches — my room had a fireplace and an art-deco bathtub.

Each day, complimentary filtered water was also provided for drinking and brushing my teeth. I even received special chocolates and a giraffe-patterned cake for my birthday.

The property also has special amenities, including a gin bar, a private greenhouse where you can reserve candlelight dinners, and an outdoor fire pit custom-forged to resemble the Manor.

I learned a lot about giraffes during my stay.

I was given fun facts about giraffe before bed.

Jen Ruiz

During the evening turndown service, I got a card sharing a giraffe fact on my bed.

I learned from my card that giraffes sleep the least of any mammals, with adults averaging just a half hour daily in five-minute segments.

It was impossible to leave without a giraffe souvenir.

So many of the souvenirs were shaped like giraffes.

Jen Ruiz

The Manor had so many giraffe-themed items around the hotel and for sale, from doorsteps to coat hooks.

It was hard not to feel inspired to decorate my own home with them. I used part of my credit to buy a silver giraffe carafe, giraffe napkin rings, and a decorative beaded giraffe. No regrets!

In my opinion, one night is enough to do everything.

I was able to do so much in just one day at Giraffe Manor.

Jen Ruiz

Check-in is at noon and checkout is at 10 a.m. In between are lunch, tea time, dinner, and breakfast.

I felt one night was enough to see and do everything on-site, although I didn't get much sleep from the excitement.

The stay is worth it for the giraffes.

Interacting with giraffes felt magical.

Jen Ruiz

The property is beautiful and has character. I appreciated seeing photos and news stories framed on the wall, telling the Manor's story.

However, the highlight of the trip was interacting with giraffes so closely. It was absolutely magical to feed giraffes from my balcony in the morning or pet them after mealtime.

It felt like a real-life fairy tale and was the perfect place to celebrate my 36th birthday.

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Contributer : Business Insider https://ift.tt/RnzOaw9

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