BETTY’S ROOM

Betty-the-giraffe was born in 2000 and came to Giraffe Manor in 2002. She is one of the smallest and prettiest giraffes here, but she is also the shyest. Betty is named after Betty Leslie-Melville, otherwise known as ‘The Giraffe Lady’. Betty Leslie-Melville and her husband Jock bought the manor in the 1970s; she often remarked that purchasing the stately home in a leafy suburb of Nairobi changed her life. The same week that the couple moved into the manor, they learned about the plight of the Rothschild’s giraffe and decided to do whatever they could to conserve them. Today, the breeding and conservation programme that continues within the grounds of the manor remains Betty’s legacy.

In the room named after Betty, you will find her portrait hanging on the wall above the fireplace. It is a lovely 32 square-metre south-facing room in the original manor house which was built in 1932. It has a king-sized bed, fireplace and adjoining balcony from which the giraffes can be fed. The en-suite bathroom remains to this day in its original, quirky Art Deco style with a bathtub and shower. We have opted not to modernise it as we prefer to embrace the period feel and protect the heritage of the building, especially since so few tributes to Kenya’s past architecture remain.

This room cannot be made into a twin and is therefore ideal for couples.