ANYONE lucky enough to be going on a safari holiday anywhere in east Africa would very likely fly into Nairobi, Kenya. From there you might have another flight or a long road trip to reach your first safari destination. Before heading off on your African adventure, why not spend a night in Nairobi’s vibrant city centre and stay at the iconic and charming Fairmont, The Norfolk.
Fairmont, The Norfolk
The year 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of the epic film Out of Africa, the adaptation of the eponymous Karen Blixen’s memoir, in which the hotel featured. Indeed two of the suites at the hotel are named after Blixen and her lover Denis Finch-Hatton.
Karen Blixen’s house
The cast even stayed at the hotel during the filming of this African epic, which starred Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. From the Fairmont Norfolk you can take a half-hour taxi ride to Blixen’s house, where many original pieces of furniture along with several props and costumes worn in the 1985 film are on display.
The pool at the Fairmont Norfolk
A total of 170 luxury rooms and suites are set around the most tranquil, magnificent manicured tropical grounds, which have often been used as a backdrop for local photoshoots and promotional videos. Impressive recreational facilities at the hotel include a heated outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, a sauna and steam room, and a spa with treatment rooms.
The magnificent grounds of the Fairmont Norfolk
The Fairmont Norfolk hotel has been a much-loved Kenyan landmark for 111 years. While the genuine colonial feel remains true to its history with its walls and corridors lined with historic photographs and paintings, the hotel exudes a modern luxurious ambiance following a recent refurbishment programme.
Doxis Bekris – the Group Executive Chef for the Kenyan Fairmont hotels
The well-known restaurants at the hotel include the highly acclaimed Tatu, serving locally sourced Kenyan style food with a modern twist, and the less formal Lord Delamere’s Terrace, which is also popular with the locals and famed for its Sunday brunch. The renowned Group Executive Chef for the Kenyan Fairmont hotels, Doxis Bekris, was recently awarded the acclaimed Kenyan title of Taste Chef of the Year 2015.
The interior of a guest suite
Although you wouldn’t necessarily think of Nairobi as a shopping destination, you can a take a leisurely stroll from the hotel to the heart of the commercial district, where you will find many places selling African fine art. I think I might have found what can only be described as an African Aladdin’s cave – a large shop called The Collector’s Den, which sells a huge range of top quality carvings, paintings, prints and jewellery from its expansive premises. A visit to this very much loved establishment is definitely worthwhile if you plan to take any souvenirs home to remind you of this magnificent country and the amazing African continent.
by Amanda Bernstein
Fairmont, The Norfolk PO Box 58581 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel:+ 254 (0) 20 2265555