Upscale suburb home to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre, and Karen Blixen Museum.

About Karen / Giraffe Centre

Karen is one of Nairobi's most affluent and leafy suburbs, named after Danish author Karen Blixen who lived here in the early 20th century and wrote the celebrated memoir "Out of Africa." The area retains a semi-rural character with large properties, horse stables, and tree-lined avenues that feel worlds apart from Nairobi's congested center.

The star attraction is the Giraffe Centre (also known as the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife), where visitors can feed endangered Rothschild giraffes from an elevated platform — an unforgettable experience that puts you eye-to-eye with these gentle giants. The adjacent Giraffe Manor hotel is famous worldwide for giraffes poking their heads through dining room windows at breakfast.

The Karen Blixen Museum, set in her original farmhouse at the foot of the Ngong Hills, preserves the Danish author's legacy with original furnishings and personal effects. Nearby, the Kazuri Beads factory offers tours showing how local women hand-craft ceramic jewelry, and the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden provides a charming setting for lunch in the old farmstead grounds.

Nearby Landmarks

Giraffe Centre Karen Blixen Museum Kazuri Beads Ngong Hills Oloolua Nature Trail

Transport Options

Taxi

Cost KES 2000-3500 (~$15-27)
Time 35-50 minutes

Follow "Taxi" signs at arrivals. Queue at official taxi stand. Metered fares, no need to negotiate.

Rideshare (Grab/Uber)

Cost KES 1500-2500 (~$12-19)
Time 35-50 minutes

Terminal arrivals

Step-by-Step Directions

Take Uber/taxi directly. Combine Giraffe Centre and elephant orphanage in one trip.

Quick Comparison

Option Cost Time Best For
Taxi KES 2000-3500 (~$15-27) 35-50 minutes Convenience, groups, heavy luggage
Rideshare KES 1500-2500 (~$12-19) 35-50 minutes Budget-conscious, app users

Good to Know

Late Night Transport

Karen has limited nighttime transport options. Uber and Bolt operate in the area but response times are longer than in central Nairobi. Pre-book a taxi for evening returns to the airport. The Karen neighborhood itself is quiet after dark with few street lights on residential roads.

Luggage Tips

Karen attractions are spread out and best visited by car. Tour vehicles and taxis have ample boot space. The Giraffe Centre has a small luggage area near the entrance but it is not secured — keep valuables in your vehicle. If coming directly from the airport, a driver can wait while you visit.

Accessibility

The Giraffe Centre has a raised feeding platform accessed by stairs, which may be challenging for wheelchair users — staff can sometimes assist with ground-level feeding. The Karen Blixen Museum has some stepped areas but the gardens are accessible. Overall, Karen's attractions have basic accessibility.