The Safari Collection- Two most beautiful lodges you need to check out when booking a trip to Kenya.

The Safari Collection, as the name indicates, is a selection of incredible lodges located in different parts of Kenya. Let's take a closer look at their most beautiful properties, namely The Giraffe Manor and Sasaab!

1. The Giraffe Manor

Giraffe Manor is one of the luxury lodges managed by The Safari Collection. The estate is situated across 12 acres of land within 140 acres of indigenous forest in the Langata suburb of Nairobi. Giraffe Manor’s original and iconic building dates back to the 1930s.

Probably the most unique thing about the Giraffe Manor is the herd of resident Rothschild’s giraffes wandering around the hotel. It’s the giraffes and the interaction with them that attracts people from all around the world.

Giraffe Manor is located approximately 45 minute drive from the Nairobi Airport. Once you arrive at the property you are immediately astonished by the picturesque area and you feel like you just walked into the ‘Out of Africa’ movie. In fact, one of the rooms is named after Caren Blixen!

The atmosphere of staying here is just as unique as the entire property . The old buildings, surrounding gardens and all the decor… simply wow! Everything in the Manor is stylistically coherent and beautiful. 

FOOD 

The food served in the Giraffe Manor is as extraordinary as the entire property. Top chefs, top recipes and locally sourced ingredients- dining in this hotel is a 5-star experience. What is also great is that everyone gets to dine at the same time which lets guests interact and get to know each other.

INTERIOR

Every decor detail within the Giraffe Manor blends perfectly with its unique ambiance. Everything is perfectly designed to maintain the 1930’s spirit of an old Kenyan residence. The rooms are elegant yet cosy, incorporating beautiful art, vintage furniture and high-end decorative touches. 

The property surroundings are beautifully designed too. There are gardens, swings, outdoor lounge area and the greenhouse- all for you to enjoy.

BREKFAST WITH THE GIRAFFES

Now, about the famous breakfast. The giraffes start coming to the main manor around 5:30 in the morning. You need to wake up really early so you don’t miss the moment. 

Is there any other property in the world where you get to share your snacks with the giraffe? There is not. This is why this place is so unique. This is why it attracts crowds. If you love unique experiences, the Giraffe Manor is the right place for you to visit. 

It is incredible how the Safari Collection contributes to the preservation of the Rothschild’s giraffes. Did you know you can even adopt one of the animals and contribute to its maintenance?

2. SASAAB LODGE, SAMBURU

Sasaab is a luxury lodge located close to Buffalo Springs and Samburu National Reserves, in Kenya’s Northern Frontier District. The property belongs to The Safari Collection, which owns other luxury hotels such as Solio, Sala’s Camp and the famous Giraffe Manor.

Sasaab opened its door to guests in 2007. The main concept of opening the lodge was to create a community tourism project to help protect and preserve this remote wilderness territory. The Carr-Hartley’s (owners of The Safari Collection) built Sasaab high above the Ewaso Nyiro River to protect it from the seasonal flooding as well as to take advantage of the spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

BOOKING AND RATES

To book a stay in this very unique property you need to go directly to The Safari Collection website or arrange with the travel agents. Sasaab cannot be booked via any other websites. 

Sasaab is best booked at least 6 months prior to your trip. This will guarantee that your dates and preferred rooms will be still available.

The price provided on the website is per person, as in all TSC lodges. Do not be confused when the final bill for two people is doubled!

One night rate per person currently starts at 850USD and includes all meals, game drives and activities. This doesn’t include the plane transfer from Nairobi, however the team would be more than happy to organise them for you. The domestic flight to Samburu costs about 250USD/per person.

ROOMS AND DESIGN

The rooms are beautifully designed and blend the Moroccan and Swahili decor. It looks like the entire place has been planned with the great attention to details, which I really appreciated. The entire property is very open and offers panoramic views of the river and the astonishing landscape. The rooms are open tents and each one has a private plunge pool. There is a mosquito net within each room protecting guests from insects and scorpios.

FOOD

The food in all properties of The Safari Collection is exceptional. Having dinner here and stargazing was an incredible experience! Our lunch was very fresh and light, and the ingredients were sourced locally which gave us the perfect opportunity to try some local cuisine. We decided to have our breakfast while on a game drive, so Jacob- our friendly driver, prepared us food while we watched the herd of elephants cross the river.

STAFF

The staff in Sasaab are beyond friendly and caring. they always go an extra mile to meet your expectations- even the most demanding ones. When booking your stay in Sasaab, you feel like the weight of planning your trip is being taken off your shoulders, as the Team is taking care of everything. 

In properties like Sasaab, you are being taken good care of. Everyone approaches you individually and you connect with the staff on a different level than you do in a busy hotel. We had so many interesting chats with the hotel managers, who would be incredibly informative and dedicated. Seeing people so passionate about the work they do for the local community and nature makes you feel like you’re a part of it too!

IDEAL STAY

I think that 4 nights, as recommended by The Safari Collection, would be the perfect stay. The property offers a lot of activities and it would be great to try them all. You can even arrange camping out in the wild or having a heli ride. It is all down to your budget and preferences. Although there is a lot to see and do in Samburu, the price of the stay in Sasaab may limit the length of your stay. If you’re dreaming of staying here at least for the night, you will still have a great opportunity to experience an amazing game drive, see the most beautiful animals and have the real taste of Samburu. However- your 1-night stay will be rather busy than relaxing!

OVERALL EXPERIENCE

Considering the property itself, the adventures and game drives- an easy 10 out of 10. Sasaab is my absolute favourite hotel stay to date and it is going to be a very hard one to beat! If I were in Kenya and I were to choose between famous Giraffe Manor and Sasaab, I would definitely hop on a plane to Samburu!

If you are considering a safari, Sasaab is a place you want to experience.