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Forbes
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Discover The Hidden Gems Of Nairobi's Exclusive Giraffe Manor
We're wild about Giraffe Manor for a number or reasons. Giraffe Manor The thing about social media is that you don't really know what to believe. With apps and filters and AI software, you can make anything into a perfect post nowadays. Maybe that's what you've been thinking about the Safari Collection's Giraffe Manor, a beloved animal sanctuary and nearly-impossible-to-reserve resort in Nairobi, Kenya. Every Instagram post you've ever seen of the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star getaway looks like a page from a Rudyard Kipling novel that's come to life. Giraffes duck into windows at the precise moment a camera shutter goes off. Animals strut by the second a swimmer lifts her head out the infinity pool. Nothing about this seems real. The stretched-neck stars of the show. DeMarco Williams The instant you step onto the 12-acre property you realize that the hotel wasn't embellishing on its Instagram feed. The place is pure magic. Between the lush greenery streaming along the walls or the hand-carved furnishings filling the rooms, the resort has an authentic aura. And after just a few minutes walking around, you also will discover that there's so much more than giraffe feedings and effortless IG posts. In fact, here are three aspects of Giraffe Manor that will most pleasantly surprise you during your visit. Relax and unwind in one of the Retreat's day rooms. DeMarco Williams It's well-documented how challenging it is to get an overnight stay at the boutique hotel. With only 12 rooms spread across two buildings, the Historic Manor and the recently refreshed Garden Manor, it makes sense that the property's waiting list would be longer than a giraffe's neck. But those who are lucky enough to score a reservation (or find themselves with a Nairobi layover while visiting other Safari Collection outposts) receive access to The Retreat at Giraffe Manor. Just a stroll from the manors, the Retreat is like a day club with a full-service spa, gym and a restaurant (more delicious details on it in a bit) open to guests with a day pass. The tranquil space is great for catching glimpses of the tall, hoofed residents or simply unwinding. The Retreat's snazziest amenities are the day rooms, which are essentially lavish suites (a living area, full bath, plenty of fresh juices and water) meant for visitors exploring at least one other Safari Collection property to rent for a few hours of relaxing, napping and snacking. While you can't stay overnight in these rooms — the giraffes don't come this far for their window feedings, either — the plush beds are brilliant detours on a busy travel day. Daisy's Café is a delicious highlight of the visit. DeMarco Williams The Food In just about every social post you've seen of Giraffe Manor, the photo subject has been at a table, feeding pellets to a giraffe. But have you ever paid attention to the human food on the plate? No. And that's a shame, too, because the cuisine here is wildly delicious. All-day restaurant Daisy's Café mixes global flavors with Kenyan flair, and the results are tremendous. From breakfast to burgers to tapas bowls, every dish comes out beautifully plated — not that you'd expect anything less from one of the most photogenic properties in the world — and wonderfully seasoned. The pappardelle chicken piccata is one of the kitchen's standout items. This symphony of lemon, capers, tomatoes and juicy chicken harmonizes with the smooth Pumba's Pombe (bourbon, maple syrup, soda water and orange zest) from the bar — oh yes, Giraffe Manor has a full bar, too. Warthogs wonder about the property like their taller roommates. DeMarco Williams The Other Animals A herd of Nubian and Rothschild giraffes visits the grounds, mostly for its famous feedings early in the morning. If you miss these 6:30 a.m. calls, make the short walk next door to the neighboring Giraffe Centre, where you can feed the outstretched mammals some pellets from your hand while also learning about conservation efforts to protect them. Back at Giraffe Manor, you'll notice that the most prevalent animal isn't spotty and 16 feet tall but rather has tusks and stands just 30 inches off the ground. Playful warthogs freely roam the property, photobombing and generally keeping up mischief wherever they can find it. When you're having lunch on the Daisy's Café patio, there's a great chance that a few of the wild pigs will harmlessly graze around a landing beneath your table. The resulting photo won't be an image you're used to seeing at Giraffe Manor, but it'll still be an impressive nature shot that'll wow your Instagram followers. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes 27 Hotels With Luxury Car Collaborations By Melinda Sheckells Forbes Forbes Travel Guide's Best Hotel Bars For 2025 By Jennifer Kester Forbes 18 Undiscovered Beach Getaways By Forbes Travel Guide Forbes From Anguilla To Australia, Forbes Travel Guide's 2025 Star Award Winners By Jennifer Kester
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Coastal Norway Cruise You'll Never Forget
Rotterdam is Holland America Line's newest ship. Holland America Line Holland America Line started 2025 with several headlines, announcing everything from a partnership with The History Channel to create themed shore excursions to declaring the company was making a $70 million, multi-year investment to enhance guest experiences in Alaska, a destination the brand has been cruising since 1947, before it even became a state. Falling under Carnival Corporation's mid-size category, Holland America Line understands that innovation floats right alongside amenities and service as factors for success in the competitive cruise waters. To get a better understanding of how the liner is navigating these ever-changing waters, Forbes Travel Guide hopped aboard its newest vessel, Rotterdam. Though the 2021-debuting ship offers robust itineraries to the Caribbean and Panama, our seven-day Norse Legends cruise started and ended in the Netherlands, making memorable stops to photogenic hamlets on Norway's coastline along the way. The sophisticated Main Dining Room. DeMarco Williams Because of its 150-year heritage, Holland America Line has a reputation for wooing older travelers. While spotless Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art fitness equipment assure the company has a grip on the future, Rotterdam does have an undeniable sophistication. Tihany Design and Yran & Storbraaten created the interiors to evoke motion and the architecture of music. Each curvature means something. Furniture shapes are purposeful. And if a dining hall happens to remind you of the inside of a cello, it's not by coincidence. The Signature Suite exudes a contemporary cool. Holland America Line The 1,340 rooms, which go from standard units to the more spacious Neptune Suite, may not make obvious musical nods, but they still harmonize with the rest of the ship. Our light wood-adorned Verandah stateroom was thoughtfully packed with elevated touches. Marble bathrooms feature massage showerheads and Elemis toiletries. The Mariner's Dream bed with a Euro-top mattress is beyond plush. Aqua Panna waters and fresh fruit are always within arm's reach. Even the terrace has enough room for two people to snap pictures without ever bumping into each other. Speaking of photos, the entire ship feels like a floating gallery. In fact, more than $4 million was invested in the art, which ranges from oil paintings of vintage vessels to a piano keyboard made from wood and a hanging rhino piece constructed from old flip-flops. With Murano glass baubles dangling in the restaurants and beautiful bouquets orchestrated by the full-time florist in the passageways, every corner of the ship seems frame-worthy. A fresh sampling from Morimoto By Sea. Holland America Line With more than 10 dining and drinking options on Rotterdam, if you want to sample something different at nearly every meal, you can. (Fun fact: the ship's culinary team, which prepares 500 pounds of chicken and 300 pounds of rice per day, is made up of more than 140 members.) On the other hand, if you feel like partaking in Lido Market's lavish buffet a few times, we understand. While every ship has its salads, sirloins and sweets, this impressive spread is unlike any buffet we've had on the high seas. The stir-fry is fresher. The bread selection is more bountiful. The seafood has more flavor. After all, 'Iron Chef' Masaharu Morimoto is Holland America Line's Global Fresh Fish Ambassador, meaning he ensures daily catches go from port to plate in less than 48 hours. When you want something else for lunch, you have options. NY Pizza & Deli has solid pepperoni slices and pretzels. Grand Dutch Café offers traditional baked goods and brews. And not to call out any guests, but we couldn't help but notice former Auburn head football coach Gene Chizik on our cruise grabbing a delicious burger at Dive-In on a few occasions. There's a standout gelato station right across from the grill that proves the perfect spot to stop for an afternoon treat. Come evening, Rotterdam can snazzy up a bit, so make sure the appropriate attire is packed. No matter if you've craving Asian (Tamarind and the new Morimoto by Sea sushi bar), Mediterranean (Rudi's Sel De Mer), Italian (Canaletto) or a traditional steakhouse (Pinnacle Grill), there's a place that pleases. The Dining Room, an elevated all-day dining establishment, does incredible things with cilantro pesto-topped seam bream and green peppercorn-speckled strip loins. And of the numerous bars and lounges, we repeatedly found our way back to Billboard Onboard for the refreshing Whiskey Smash. The state-of-the-art World Stage. Holland America Line Rotterdam has its quiet corners (the Crow's Nest is great for a puzzle or solving the day's Wordle) and its loud sections (we saw a woman win $1,000 at a casino slot machine), but where the ship shines is with its delightful live shows. Performances like 'Song & Dance' take you on a rollicking trip through famous Hollywood and Broadway tunes that fills the 714-seat World Stage theater with energy. Still, the venue's most fun may be with 'A City at Sea,' a fast-paced look at the intricacies of ship life — workers, who come from 45 countries, range from hull painters to an onboard tailor — that is both entertaining and informative. Of course, going from shows to pickleball classes to after-hours jam sessions at B.B. King's Blues Club can be tiring. When your muscles need relief, find some relaxation at the Greenhouse Spa, where you'll discover treatment rooms, a steam and aromatic room, a sauna, a hydro pool and much more. Bamboo massages, acupuncture sessions and other treatments are performed by skilled therapists. The incredible view from Skjolden. DeMarco Williams Norway's coastline is amazing from the ship, but it's otherworldly up close. Rotterdam's excursions get you even closer to the fjords and fishing villages through guided walks, kayaking adventures and glacier tours. Reserve the Voss Gondola and Waffles trek in Eidfjord and you'll see majestic waterfalls and ride a gondola up more than 2,500 feet to the Hangur summit, where a tasty waffle and jaw-dropping panoramic mountain views await you. Skjolden is another essential stop for exploring. If a watercolor of a Norwegian landscape were brought to life, the homes, docks and cideries would look like they do here. You won't go wrong setting up an official walking tour, but by merely frolicking around the town's bridges and ducking into some of its shops at your own pace also gives you a sense of the place. Rotterdam floats to its next adventure. Holland America Line One of the cruise's final stops is Kristiansand. While you may be a bit weathered from the week's worth of excitement, we still suggest disembarking to see all that Norway's fifth-largest city has to offer. Be astounded by Kilden Performing Arts Centre's architecture, do some window shopping along Markens Gate and take a walk around the photogenic Kristiansand Cathedral. As you make your way back to the ship, you'll pass through Fiskebrygga, a fish market-turned-tourist destination dotted with restaurants, cute shops and rows of red- and orange-painted buildings. It's a dreamy Norwegian scene you'll thank Rotterdam for allowing to come true for you.
