Things We Learnt In:

Kenya is an incredible country- beautifully diverse landscapes, breathtaking wildlife and fantastic people. With so much to cram in to your time in the country it can be hard to know where to start. To take the stress out of planning, here is a suggested 8 day itinerary to make sure the time poor can be the experience rich! Day 1 - arrive in Nairobi You've probably had a long and exhausting flight to reach Kenya, so when you arrive you might be keen to relax and take a nap. No time I'm afraid, because the first 24 hours of this suggested itinerary take you to Giraffe Manor. Enjoy being fully immersed in the conservation of the endangered Rothschild giraffes that make Giraffe Manor their home, and be ready to be enchanted when you see these long legged beasts galloping around the grounds. I could wax lyrical about Giraffe Manor all day, but to save you the time you can read the full review here . Day 2 - Lake Nakuru National Park An early start will see you leavi...

Giraffe Manor is a dream location. The luxurious 1930's manor house is a short drive outside of Nairobi in the Langata suburb. Surrounded by 140 acres of woodland and with 12 acres of privately owned land, the Manor comprises of 12 individual, beautifully designed rooms and shared access to relaxing lounges and terraces. Of course, the likeilhood is that you are not considering Giraffe Manor for the superb accommodation and incredible staff. The real gem is the herd of Rothchilds giraffes that spend their day pottering around, joining the guests for breakfast. Conservation at Giraffe Manor Giraffe Manor is a luxury hotel wrapped in a conservation blanket. The overriding aim is to preserve and conserve the endangered Rothschild giraffe and to educate visitors about the giraffe's plight - in 2016 it was estimated that there were 1671 wild Rothschild's giraffes left in the wild. In order to try and conserve the species, Giraffe Manor has a Giraffe Conservation...

We were lucky enough to visit Kenya last year and go on an INSANE safari. It got us thinking- safari is so different to other types of holiday, what do you need to know before you go? 1. LUGGAGE You, your companions and all of your luggage are going to be crammed into your chosen safari vehicle for hours at a time, along bumpy roads (where your head will occasionally hit the vehicle roof!). Pack light. Pack compact. Pack in a rucksack. 2. CLOTHING Most lodges will have laundry facilities so pack light and leave plenty of room for souvenirs. Don’t forget your sunglasses, sun cream, long sleeved shirt, fleece/ jacket (early morning safari can be bitterly cold) and sturdy shoes. Our vehicle got wedged in a ditch and we had to evacuate- it was not a situation for flip flops, although some valiantly ploughed on. Be discreet. Wild animals are going to notice you wearing lime green cat suit. So is everybody else. You do not need to be dressed head to toe in green...

Things we learnt in Kenya: 1. Safari roads. Your kidneys will never forgive you. All I can do is profusely apologise to all of my internal organs. My bladder will never get over it. 2. You think a safari vehicle is indestructible because of the way they smash their way across country. Then it gets wedged in a ditch, promptly trapping the rescue vehicle with it, and you have to abandon it after dark in a game reserve. 3. Wildlife is all over the place. Sometimes it stops you getting into your hotel room, sometimes it's banging on the door of your hotel room and sometimes it joins you in the room itself. 4. I will travel for twenty hours to kiss a giraffe on the nose. 5. "Have you been in a tuk tuk? They don't obey the laws of the road" says our taxi driver as he overtakes a bus, on a blind corner, in the middle of the night, doing three times the speed limit. 6. Warthogs are hilarious little clowns that will do any manner of undignified...