Traveling Thursday Guest Blogger: A Life More Fabulous
Hello there! It’s Sharalee from A Life More Fabulous, very excited to be visiting here while Alek is busy with her big move. When Alek announced she’d be away for a while, I knew one of the posts I’d miss the most were her Travelling Thursdays trips around the world, so I thought it’d be fun to share one of my favourite destinations.
The Giraffe Manor is a magical place – an old Scottish style manor set on the Kenyan savannah, where giraffes gracefully stroll on the front lawn and peak in your windows, little warthogs trot around and off in the distance the majestic Mt Kilamanjaro rises ahead. Built in the 1930s by the MacIntosh family (of MacIntaosh toffee fame), it was later bought by the Leslie-Melvilles. Around the time of their purchase, they learned of the endangerment of the Rothschild Giraffe and decided to turn the property into a sanctuary for them. Today it is a small, privately hosted hotel where guests can get to know the giraffes intimately – feeding them breakfast as they sit at the dining room table, or peak into your bedroom window.
The decor in the manor has largely kept within traditional British colonial style – rich wood paneling, huge stone fireplaces, officious looking portraiture and plush upholstery with touches of African art throughout the spaces.
In case you had a moment to forget your your surroundings, no doubt a giraffe poking its head through the window will quickly remind you! It’s interesting to see the giraffes set in context of a house rather than out in the savannah – you really get a sense of scale and quickly realise how big they really are.
What a wonderful way to experience these beautiful, graceful creatures, and perhaps the most delightful way to start your morning – a great big kiss from a giraffe! (PS – If you don’t know already, they have long black tongues!)
Thanks for taking the time to read this post, hope you’re having a wonderful week. Best of luck to Alek on her big move down South!
{All photos taken from giraffemanor.com and the GiraffeManor facebook page}
This place is positively magical. Fairytale-like even. Wow! I would love to take my children there someday. This one is going to the top of the list. Thanks for sharing!
.-= nkp´s last post ..You're invited! =-.
absolutely fantastic place!!
I am dreaming of Kenya!!! Giraffe Manor is on one of my to-do / to-go-to list!
.-= Jen Laceda´s last post ..My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets =-.
How cool to stay in a place where giraffes peak into your window and you can feed them too. I'd like to travel here someday.
.-= Melissa A.´s last post ..Thursdays Creative Thrift =-.
This has just moved into Number 1 on my Dream Vacation List! I probably won't get there until my children are grown up though – which is a pity…
.-= Sophie @ Century Finds´s last post ..Black and Gold =-.
This is beyond my wildest dreams!
If ever, I make it to Africa…i'm gonna try to get on that list!
Thanks for the inspiration:)
THIS is cool! What a place!
Sharelee has amazing finds, and this is no exception. I would love to visit one day
.-= Sarah Klassen/Haute Design´s last post ..Little Surprises =-.
Thank you Sheralee, this was a terrific post.How fun to see these photos & how even better to stay there amongst those gorgeous giraffes? What a thrill it would be!
All the best to you for a great weekend.
.-= Deborah Milne´s last post ..Blog Ball 2009 – Part III =-.
Thanks Deborah and Sarah for such sweet comments. I hope this had added a little incentive to get people to go to what I believe is the most magical place in the world – Africa.
Thanks so much for hosting me, it's been so much fun!
.-= A Life More Fabulous´s last post ..Out and about Toronto: Pavilion =-.
would like to be there right now.It's so windy in Paris nowadays. Looks great.
Christian
.-= le banc moussu´s last post ..Mais qu'ont en commun des gourdes, Madeleine Vionnet et Mata Hari? =-.
This is one of my top-10 dream destinations! I can't ever read enough about it. Giraffes have been my favorite "wild" animal since I was a small child, and I got to feed one in a Safari Park/wildlife preserve in Texas a few years ago. Their little mouths are so soft, and the gently nuzzle your hand as they eat. And those eyelashes, oh my, they are so long and gorgeous!
.-= Marsi @ The Cottage Cheese´s last post ..Eames Chair Madness =-.
oooh, I actually have been here and it is just as fabulous in real life. They have 2 floor tree houses where you can feed the giraffes out of your hand. They have the longest tongues and the very prettiest eyelashes:-)
.-= Maryam in Marrakech´s last post ..Marrakech: a tale of life and a recipe for pure extract =-.