Tour Highlights

Karen Blixen, author of “Out of Africa,” arrived in Nairobi from her homeland of Denmark in 1914 and settled in what is now the suburb of Karen. She purchased 6000 acres of forested land, using only 600 acres for her coffee farm and preserving most of the native habitat. Karen left Kenya in 1931, and her famous novel was published in 1937. The residents that lived nearby maintained her home until Kenya’s independence when the Danish government donated the home and surrounding lands, and later restored the house that was used for the film “Out of Africa”. In 1986, the Karen Blixen Museum opened the historic house to the public. The home is situated 10 miles from the Nairobi city center at the foot of the Ngong Hills. Although the property is historically breathtaking, the most memorable part of visiting the museum is the house. Built in 1910, the bungalow-style home features a red tile roof, wood paneling and the original furniture and kitchen. Efforts are currently underway to restore the coffee factory and remaining machinery, which will complete the experience of living as a settler in Kenya in the early 1900s. The museum is open every day for guided tours and special events may be held at the site. Visit the gift shop to find many of Karen’s works, as well as souvenirs, and then you can enjoy a delightful cup of coffee or tea at Tamambo before your leisurely walk through the property’s tranquil gardens and bird sanctuary