Hotel
Giraffe Manor
A 1932 manor house in Lang'ata with just 12 rooms, famous for the Rothschild's giraffes that put their heads through the windows at breakfast.
Fairmont The Norfolk
Nairobi's historic grand hotel, opened on Christmas Day 1904, with 125 rooms and suites set around tropical gardens on Harry Thuku Road.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic luxury hotel
- Area
- Central Business District, Nairobi, Kenya
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Official site
- fairmont.com
Good to know
- 125 rooms and suites
- Fairmont Gold
- Swimming pool
- Spa
- Tropical gardens
- Free parking
- Lord Delamere Terrace
Why we recommend it
Fairmont The Norfolk opened on Christmas Day 1904, when Nairobi was little more than a railway town, and it has been part of the city's story ever since. Founded by Major C.G.R. Ringer and R. Aylmer Winearls, it was advertised as the only stone-built, tile-roofed hotel in East Africa. Early guests included Theodore Roosevelt, Baden-Powell and Bror von Blixen-Finecke, and the East African Professional Hunters' Association was founded at a meeting here in 1934. The hotel also features in the 1985 film Out of Africa.
The Norfolk's history includes a dark chapter: on New Year's Eve 1980 a bomb planted by a guest destroyed the western wing and killed many people, after which the building was remodelled. Fairmont took over management in 2004, and the hotel was sold to the Nepalese investment group Chaudhary in 2020.
Today there are 125 rooms and suites, some of them in a 1937 building, and a Fairmont Gold level with additional services. The hotel occupies about four acres, and the rooms are arranged around lush tropical gardens that include exotic birds and a display of vintage transport, including a Ford Model A Roadster that has been on the property since 1973. Facilities include a swimming pool and a spa, and parking is free, with around 200 outdoor spaces.
The hotel's best-known restaurant is the Lord Delamere Terrace, which has served guests since 1904 and is open to non-residents with a reservation. It is a good place for breakfast, afternoon tea or a family-style dinner even if you are staying elsewhere.
The Norfolk suits travellers who want history and a central, secure base, as well as business visitors and couples starting or ending a safari. It is priced at the top end of the Nairobi market. The hotel is on Harry Thuku Road on the northern edge of the central business district, close to the University of Nairobi and the Kenya National Theatre and a short drive from the Nairobi National Museum on Museum Hill. Allow time for city traffic when heading to the airports, especially at rush hour, and use the hotel to arrange transfers for early flights.
Fairmont The Norfolk FAQs
When did the Norfolk open?
On 25 December 1904.
How many rooms are there?
125 guest rooms and suites, including Fairmont Gold rooms.
Does the hotel have a pool and spa?
Yes. There is a swimming pool and a spa.
Is parking available?
Yes. Parking is included, with around 200 outdoor spaces.
Can non-residents eat at the hotel?
Yes. The Lord Delamere Terrace accepts reservations from non-residents.
What is in the gardens?
Tropical gardens with exotic birds and a vintage transport display, including a Ford Model A Roadster.
Where is it?
On Harry Thuku Road, on the northern edge of the city centre near the University of Nairobi.
How can I book?
Through the Fairmont website, by phone or by emailing the reservations team.