Back in May 2012, we wrote about a unique hotel experience just outside of Nairobi, Kenya called Giraffe Manor. Located on 12 acres of private land and 140 acres of indigenous forest, Giraffe Manor is home to a herd of endangered Rothschild giraffes, many of which vie for your attention, curiously peaking their heads through the windows and proudly inviting themselves in through the front door.
While we haven’t yet been to Kenya to experience this ourselves (yet!), Scottish-born, DC-based photographer and biologist Robin Moore has. He first went in July 2010 and then made two trips back since then, spending about 10 days in total there, trying to capture the true spirit of the place.
“It is surreal,” Moore tells us. “The Manor is inspired by a Scottish hunting lodge, and so it reminded me of home, with a cozy fireplace in the living room. The giraffes sticking their heads through the window to scoff my breakfast made me feel a million miles from home. It was the closest I had come to wild giraffes, and it gave me a whole new perspective on their beauty and majesty. Their faces – with their huge eyes and long eyelashes – were so expressive.”
When asked what he learned about the majestic creatures, he said, “One of the surprises was being chased around a tree by one of the cranky giraffes. I came to learn that they each have very different personalities, and while some are mellow and friendly, others can be prickly. They can kick by bending their knees forwards, but because they are so tall the best way to escape a hostile encounter is to find a tall tree and ensure you are always on the opposite side of it from the giraffe.”
Despite their temperamental nature, Moore can’t recommend the unique destination highly enough. “I have been to the Manor a few times now and am itching to return,” he says, “it is one of my favorite places on the planet.”
