Karen Blixen Restaurant and Cottages

Office facilities include a reception area and small business center. The Swedo house is available as a lounge for cottage guests, but can also be used as a small business conference center that can facilitate meetings of up to 17 people.

The Kifaru Gift Shop has art from local artists as well as a wide range of local artifacts. The Glass Gallery features the best in Glass Art by Philippa Simpson. Artists can be viewed carving glass and Federal Express shipment is available. A full-service beauty shop is also open next to the gift shop.

Renovation of the property has included rainwater capture systems, water filtration systems, renovated sewage systems, a large backup generator and a soundproof generator house, resurfacing and landscaping of the and a substantial perimeter wall with hundreds of bougainvillea and bamboo plants for extra seclusion and security.

Cottage” facilities have now been completed to house as many as 30 guests. The cottages have also been designed after the historic Swedo House. All elegantly appointed cottages have hi-beam ceilings with fireplaces, wood and mazeras stone floors. Over 200 Species of Blooming Flower VarietiesEach bedroom has a large bathroom with its own shower and bath and also contain robes, slippers and hairdryers. Satellite televison, internet connections and telephones are available in all rooms.

All cottages have a verandah for relaxing while enjoying the birds, butterflies and flowers of the garden. Four of the cottages have two bedrooms with a common sitting room and a large fireplace and dining table. Four cottages have two private suites with a separate dressing room. A large “honeymoon” cottage with two fireplaces and a sitting room are available for special events.

A swimming pool and private garden bar is available for a relaxing afternoon or small group get-togethers.

Location of Karen Blixen Coffee Garden.

The Karen Blixen Coffee Garden is located in Karen, a beautiful, peaceful suburb approximately 20 miles from downtown Nairobi. Its numerous advantages as a commercial tourist property include the following:

• The Coffee Garden is about a half mile of the famous Karen Blixen Museum, which is one of principal tourist attractions in Kenya. The museum property does not have facilities for meals or lodging and the Coffee Gardens have historically been major draw for the tourists visiting the museum.
• The restaurant and cottages are near the Wilson airport, which is used for all local safari flights in Kenya.
• The Karen Blixen Coffee Garden is located outside of Nairobi so guests coming on safari do not have to deal with the traffic and other problems of large city life.
• The cottages and restaurant are within a few minutes drive to the Nairobi National Wildlife Park. In route to the Coffee Gardens guests can be taken from the international airport and within 10 minutes be on their first safari game drive through Nairobi National Park. They will exit on the Langata side of the park to arrive at the Coffee Gardens and Cottages within 10 minutes.
• The cottages and restaurant is located within 15 minutes of the Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters and zoo and within 10 minutes of the Sheldrick elephant and rhino orphanage.
• The Karen Blixen Coffee Garden is five minutes from the small town of Karen and the new Karen Connection shopping centre that have banks, pharmacies, local restaurants, medical facilities, etc.
• The cottages are about a half mile from the Karen Country and Golf Club. Arrangements can be made for guests staying at the cottages to use the country club facilities which include, golf, tennis and pool facilities.

A Wide Variety Of Butterflies

The cottages are only two miles from the sanctuary managed by the National Museums of Kenya. Guided nature walks for clients on those grounds and horse riding trips can also be arranged through this wildlife reserve.