Giraffe Manor

Who needs the zoo? At this Kenyan retreat, guests can get up close and personal with a local herd of Rothschild’s giraffes that roam the grounds—140 acres of indigenous forest—and even pop their heads into the main dining room during meals. The estate has served as a sanctuary for the endangered subspecies since the mid-1970s, when it was purchased by conservationist Betty Leslie-Melville, who established a breeding program that continues today. Since then, its 12 stately bedrooms—one of which is furnished with the belongings of Out of Africa author Karen Blixen—have hosted thousands of visitors, including Mick Jagger, Brooke Shields and Ellen DeGeneres, whose stay (and accompanying Instagram posts) made headlines earlier this year. Rates start at $565 per person per night, including food and transport to local excursions, such as the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where guests can help care for orphaned baby elephants. —Megan McCluskey