At the heart of Africa
100% natural hotels, no artificial ingredients. Excerpt from 'The Hotelbook. Great Escapes Africa'. Edited by Angelika Taschen, Texts by Shelley-Maree Cassidy
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Visits from giraffes - The Giraffe Manor, near Nairobi
This elegant house was here before the giraffes; but luckily, it was constructed as a two-storey building, so that now the statuesque creatures can be fed at a height that best suits them. There are some benefits in being so tall. Gazing through the upper windows as they stroll by is a usual bent for them, though it might be surprising for guests. The Giraffe Manor is home to several of these bizarre yet beautiful animals. The ones that live here in the acres of forest are rare Rothschild giraffes, descendants of what were once an endangered species. In the 1970s, the house owners set up the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife: a name that was soon and aptly shortened to AFEW. They transferred five baby giraffes to their property, with the result that they are on record as being the only people to have successfully brought up wild giraffes. Those are now grown-up with babies of their own. There is a human story here too. One of the bedrooms is furnished with pieces that Tania Blixen, author of "Out of Africa", gave to the owners when she left Kenya. And upstairs, in the hall, are the bookcases that the love of her life, Denys Finch-Hatton, made for her. The world's tallest animal does not have the sole advantage of height here; the snow capped peak of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, can be seen in the distance. "African legend insists that man arrived on earth by sliding down the giraffe's neck from Heaven"... Betty Leslie Melville, co-founder with Jock Leslie-Melville of AFEW.
Spiritual therapy - Mnemba Island Lodge, near Zanzibar
If you had spent a week creating heaven and earth, this would be the place to rest on the seventh day. You could reflect on your work, and pat yourself on the back for creating such an idyllic place. A few days at Mnemba Lodge, on a heart-shaped atoll off the coast of Zanzibar, is sure therapy for the spirit. This is one of the islands that are home to fragrant spices like nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Their stimulating scent, the sound of soft sea breezes rustling through the fronds of coconut palms and the lush plant life, all combine to make this an especially tempting place. Famed as being one of the most romantic spots in the world, Mnemba is a totally private island. Set in the turquoise Indian Ocean and surrounded by coral reefs, its pure white sand beaches are swathed around it like a halo. As suits an earthly paradise, it has a climate that is nearly perfect. Life is centred on the beach. Dinner is often served seated under the stars, at the edge of the water, with the guests' bare feet in the sea. So, when you are feeling stressed enough to try the patience of a saint, this is the place to retreat to. A cloud nine is at hand.
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Visits from giraffes - The Giraffe Manor, near Nairobi
This elegant house was here before the giraffes; but luckily, it was constructed as a two-storey building, so that now the statuesque creatures can be fed at a height that best suits them. There are some benefits in being so tall. Gazing through the upper windows as they stroll by is a usual bent for them, though it might be surprising for guests. The Giraffe Manor is home to several of these bizarre yet beautiful animals. The ones that live here in the acres of forest are rare Rothschild giraffes, descendants of what were once an endangered species. In the 1970s, the house owners set up the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife: a name that was soon and aptly shortened to AFEW. They transferred five baby giraffes to their property, with the result that they are on record as being the only people to have successfully brought up wild giraffes. Those are now grown-up with babies of their own. There is a human story here too. One of the bedrooms is furnished with pieces that Tania Blixen, author of "Out of Africa", gave to the owners when she left Kenya. And upstairs, in the hall, are the bookcases that the love of her life, Denys Finch-Hatton, made for her. The world's tallest animal does not have the sole advantage of height here; the snow capped peak of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, can be seen in the distance. "African legend insists that man arrived on earth by sliding down the giraffe's neck from Heaven"... Betty Leslie Melville, co-founder with Jock Leslie-Melville of AFEW.
Spiritual therapy - Mnemba Island Lodge, near Zanzibar
If you had spent a week creating heaven and earth, this would be the place to rest on the seventh day. You could reflect on your work, and pat yourself on the back for creating such an idyllic place. A few days at Mnemba Lodge, on a heart-shaped atoll off the coast of Zanzibar, is sure therapy for the spirit. This is one of the islands that are home to fragrant spices like nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Their stimulating scent, the sound of soft sea breezes rustling through the fronds of coconut palms and the lush plant life, all combine to make this an especially tempting place. Famed as being one of the most romantic spots in the world, Mnemba is a totally private island. Set in the turquoise Indian Ocean and surrounded by coral reefs, its pure white sand beaches are swathed around it like a halo. As suits an earthly paradise, it has a climate that is nearly perfect. Life is centred on the beach. Dinner is often served seated under the stars, at the edge of the water, with the guests' bare feet in the sea. So, when you are feeling stressed enough to try the patience of a saint, this is the place to retreat to. A cloud nine is at hand.
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The Hotel Book. Great Escapes Africa
Hardcover, 23.8 x 30.2 cm (9.4 x 11.9 in.), 400 pages
$ 39.99
$ 39.99
Organic luxury in the heart of Africa: 100% natural hotels, no artificial ingredients
The Giraffe Manor, Kenya
Mnemba Island Lodge, Tanzania