If you loved Out of Africa, then you might find this museum in the farmhouse where the Danish author lived between 1914 and 1931 pretty neat. It was an enchanting tour of the home of Baroness Karen Blixen, coffee plantation owner and author of the book Out of Africa. Immaculate grounds... and the tour guide shared many intriguing facts of Karen, her life and struggles of living in Kenya. On the front porch, resident artist, Joseph Muchina Mwnangi paints colorful works of art of Maasai villagers, and native wildlife. The museum in about 10 miles outside of Nairobi and we spent about 2 hours at the museum. Every guest gets a private tour all around the house and grounds included with the admission, but a heads up, the guides look forward to a small tip. Karen Blixen left after a series of personal tragedies, but the lovely colonial house has been preserved as this lovely museum set in these expansive gardens, a coffee mill and the back grounds house where there are giraffes!
I'm not sure or recall what these critters were called in what was where Karen Blixen milled coffee, but they were seen all over the mill, now out of operation of course. Maybe they were coffee addicts? But they were cute, skittering all around.
Definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in Kenya. I could love here.
"cute, skittering all around" ??? I beg to differ. Look like well-fed rats. If I ever find myself in Africa, I'll stay away from the mil.
ReplyDeleteThey were definitely cuter that rats. On a side note....i think you'll get a kick out of this...a co- worker asked "Why did you go to Africa...your not black?"
DeleteThe ignorance is mind blowing some days.There were so many retorts I could have taken....but held my tongue. For once.
If some people only had a brain.
DeleteFabulous house and property .... I could live there and have giraffes come for a snuggle!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous setting, sweetpea. xoxo Not gonna lie, but I can't think of Karen Blixen without thinking of Meryl Streep and Robert Redford!
ReplyDeleteWhat dream place.
ReplyDeleteThe museum is interesting and looks worth a visit. Love the design of the house. It's like an oasis with history. And being a fan of the book and the movies, this would be a must see for me. Thank you for sharing Mistress. I bet this trip will go down in the memory back for years to come.
ReplyDeleteLovely location, and interesting if you are a fan of Karen Blixen and/or the movie Out of Africa. Even if you don’t know the story of Karen Blixen this is a fascinating spot of serenity. I'm so jealous of this trip. It's been inspiring.
ReplyDeleteLove these post from your trip. Brings back memories of our own. I had a few free hours in Nairobi years ago and decided to visit the Karen Blixen Museum—a decision I’m so glad I made. The museum is a delightful experience. Welcome back and look forward to more posts from your trip.
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience and what a fascinating life she led. I wonder what those animals are in the old mill. It looks like some kind of hyrax.
ReplyDeleteThey told us... But cant recall. I could most definitely retire there. Maybe Ill become the next Karen Blixen....only a gay one. Go there and write my sordid memoir.
DeleteYou know, I still have not seen the movie "Out of Africa" or even read the book. Someday! But it's a beautiful house and grounds. My favourite thing would be the up close and personal giraffe!
ReplyDeleteAmazing experience. Of course, I have been near giraffe's up close and personal at the Elmwood Park Zoo several times, which wasn't far from Bucks Country where I used to live.
DeleteWhen I was there, I had not read the book nor seen the movie but I loved the house, so interesting. I remember the blueish tongues on the giraffes. Did you go to the Carnivore restaurant, not the best food but a very fun experience if you are with a group. Gigi
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine a deck, with giraffes coming to have their nose scratched? I can think of one blogger who would bliss out.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long time since I read Out of Africa. Oh, to browse through those books!
ReplyDeleteThat would be interesting to see. Personal tragedies is kind of an understatement, though.
ReplyDeleteI suspect you'd love this museum.
DeleteTrès magnifique.
ReplyDeleteLa maison de Blixen près de Nairobi est comme la casita d ‘Hemingway près de la Havane. Il est bon que le Kenya conserve sa résidence comme mémorial et que le moulin à café soit restauré et remis en service. :)
-Beau Mec à Deauville
Eh bien, je ne sais pas à quel point le Hyrax s’occupe de la mouture du café.....
DeleteI love it when they preserve these houses and settings.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a privilege to be able to peek at the way people lived back then! And they have done an excellent job with the restoriation.
Love it.
XOXO
For the size of the house...the inside is rather modest.
DeleteThat's a wonderful looking place, but when I saw those critters in the coffee mill I immediately thought they could eat the infamous New York Pizza Rat.
ReplyDeleteOh, that porch! What a lovely, simple life. I can't imagine the solitude and quiet. It would be heaven. And the warmth. Sigh. Thanks for sharing this. You are our tour guide to the world.
ReplyDeleteYou come visit and and we can lay around naked getting tans and feeding giraffes!
DeleteWhat an experience! She was a remarkable woman. Jx
ReplyDeletePS Those are indeed hyraxes, not rodents - bizarrely, they are related to elephants!
Not only a Gardner Identifier but wildlife too!!!! That is what they were now that I see the word.
DeleteOut of Africa is on my list of favourite movies, but I had no idea Baroness Blixen's house was preserved as a museum! Is that the giraffe you kissed? I hope it didn't slip you the tongue or vice-versa, LOL!
ReplyDeleteIt's been some time since I saw the movie, never read the book....so the place footed the bill for a course in Karen Blixen.And I had no idea their tongues were blackish, lmao!!!!!!
DeleteLoved the book, so this would have been awesome to see. Almost seems surreal.
ReplyDeleteYou KNOW I’m obligated to hate you just a little bit for taking this trip without me and getting to see the elephants and giraffes up close and personal. Yeah, just a little bit…
ReplyDelete