Giraffe Manor

The main communal areas at Giraffe Manor are in the original manor house. There's a comfortable lounge furnished with cosy armchairs, sofas, occasional tables and artwork, and the breakfast room, where the resident giraffes are in attendance. The wood-panelled dining room is more formal, and this is where dinner is served for guests who want to eat with the manager-hosts. There's a bar, a curio shop, the terrace and lovely gardens to explore and watch the comical warthog that graze on the lawns.

Accommodation is in 12 top-drawer rooms. There are six in the Historic Manor (which has the single suite named for Karen Blixen) with art deco features, romantic four-poster beds and grand bathrooms; and the Garden Manor has six rooms. Each is decorated in its own style and named for a character in its history, but the sense of 1930s grandeur is everywhere. All have wi-fi and a private balcony or patio to enjoy the lush garden views.

Giraffes are clearly the stars of the show, but other activities are on offer. The Giraffe Centre is a must, then arrange visits to the endearing occupants of the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, the Karen Blixen Museum, various art and craft studios, the Maasai market (perfect for mementos), Nairobi National Park and the Bomas of Kenya, where guests can enjoy traditional dances, makeshift villages, and handicrafts.