If you’ve been dreaming of the perfect safari experience, Giraffe Manor is a must-do! Located on 100 acres, this 12-room boutique hotel offers luxurious accommodations in a beautifully restored colonial mansion, and an unparalleled giraffe encounter experience.

There are few things more relaxing than waking up to giraffes grazing outside your window! You are welcome to feed the majestic animals directly, or even just watch them swing their long necks around with curiosity as they explore their surroundings. At night, you can relax on one of three observation decks to take in an incredible array of stars overhead while listening to the songs of local musicians below.

I visited this epic manor with my husband, in which we were welcomed with a champagne reception (my favorite). Lunch was served shortly after, and I have to say, the food was fantastic! Kudos to the chefs of Giraffe Manor! Each guest gets two opportunities to spend time with the giraffes: afternoon tea and breakfast. Tea with the giraffes was a whirlwind, the excitement of interacting with the giraffes so closely was exhilarating. Also given the private setting of the manor, we absolutely felt like we got enough time with the giraffes and did not need to wait for other guests to enjoy their experience, plenty of space and time for everyone!

One tip here – dress to impress! Since Giraffe Manor is one of the most instagrammable destinations in the world, it’s very popular to dress to the nines and let the staff snap pics of you feeding and playing with the giraffes. I had 3 wardrobe changes myself! Also the staff is very well trained in taking photos of guests, just pass them your camera or phone and they will take care of the rest!

We enjoyed the evening with a beautiful coursed meal and chatted with other guests around the fireplace. Going to sleep that night was difficult with anticipation of the fun to come the next morning! Be ready for an early morning, as we were up around 5:15 to get dressed and ready for the giraffes at 6am! Pictures first, breakfast second. One aspect of breakfast that I loved is that you get to interact with the giraffes in different areas and settings from the afternoon tea. We fed them, pet them, hugged them, and I even gave one of them (Ed) a kiss! Yes, to kiss the giraffe you must put a pellet in your moth for the giraffe to lick up.

Before our departure, we also had a chance to tour the newly opened Retreat, which sits adjacent to the manor and includes a pool, restaurant/bar and several day rooms available for guests either waiting to check-in or who have late flights out after their stay. We did not book one of these rooms, but definitely will for our next stay!

This is truly a place you won’t want to leave! The end-to-end experience is everything you could hope for, and I highly recommend adding on at least 1 night at the manor in addition to your other safari plans. Until next time Giraffe Manor!