Many others here on VirtualTourist have written about this museum. I am not going to add any more to what they have said. While I will do is provide a list of links here for those who would like to read further about what others have said about this museum.
Karen Blixen was a settler here in the Nairobi area, and is best known for the book "Out of Africa". A much more interesting, and perhaps realistic view, of white society in that era is presented in the book "White Mischief" by James Fox. The fact that Karen Blixen died from a sexually transmitted disease speaks volumes on the state of white society in Nairobi in that era.
Nevertheless, "Out of Africa" is a famous book, and there is a museum dedicated to its author here in Nairobi.
You will NOT be able to see the following links if you are looking at this tip using the travel guides. You will have to cut and paste the following URL into your web browser:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/1d438b/
Here are a few other VT Members and their description of the Museum:
+ niamey00's Karen Blixen Museum tip
+ thelittlevoice's Karen Blixen Museum tip
+ SirRichard's Karen Blixen Museum tip
+ luddinra's Karen Blixen Museum tip
Some others have a not so positive opinion:
+ Tallchick80's Karen Blixen Museum Tourist Trap Tip
+ enjoytravelling says that Karen Blixen Museum is Not Worthwhile
The museum itself is quite small, but the grounds are fairly nice and there are some old farm equipment and other odd items that may be of interest scattered around the grounds. Free of charge, you can wander around the parking lot, but if you go past the chain at the end of the walkway going to the house, or otherwise leave the parking lot, you must pay the entrance fee.
Updated Sep 26, 2008
Website: http://www.museums.or.ke/content/blogcategory/13/19/
Entrance fee is 800 kenyan schillings, but there is not much to see. A big and very relaxing garden and you can also visit the house inside, but I was a little bit disappointed because somehow I expected something else..If you have little time in Nairobi, I think that it is a place that can be skipped and you'd better go to Giraffe Centre, which you shall for sure enjoy!
Written Aug 15, 2007
Karen Blixen, otherwise known as Isac Dineson was famous for her novel "Out of Africa" which was a tale of her adventures in her beloved Kenya. She led a tumultuous life, but one that made for a very good story. Fortune brought her to Kenya, but her love for Kenya is what made her stay and call it home for as long as she did.
The story of "Out of Africa" was well known after it was made into a film that went on to win 7 Academy Awards in 1985. It was the autobiography of the life and times of Karen Blixen, an unwitting foreign transplant brought in to Kenya by her husband to help him run a coffee plantation.
Karen Blixen was eventually left on her own and abandoned by her husband to manage the plantation and during her time in Kenya she managed to win the affections and respect of the people, she also managed to have a timeless love affair with an adventurer.
The farm itself is unremarkable, it's a simple house where a simple woman lived, and if you haven't read the book before visiting, the visit to the farm lacks the excitement one should have when they get to see the places where the stories took place. You can walk through her home and look at the old furnishings, but it just seems to mean more when you can imagine the old Kikuyu tribesmen walking into her formal dining room out of the darkness of a wild African night. The house is still furnished, but many of the pieces have been restored and photography is forbidden inside of the house, so you need to take pictures with your mind.
Overall, it's a great place to visit if you've read the book, but if you haven't read the book and still want to see the house, I recommend it, you'll at least have a good idea of what she's writing about when you do eventually read the book.
Updated Apr 5, 2007
Address: Karen, Nairobi
Website: http://www.karenblixen.com/
Right outside Nairobi is the Karen Blixen Museum, the author of Out of Africa. This was her home and she donated it to the city. The film used the exterior or her home but the enterior was too small. The authentic clothes she and her boyfriend wore in real life , and were also worn by Streep and Redford in the movie, are there. You can not take pictures of the inside of the house.
Updated Oct 19, 2005
This museum is the farmhouse where the writer(Out Of Africa) Karen Blixen lived between 1914 and 1931. It was presented to the Kenyan government at independence by the Danish government, along with the adjacent agricultural college. It's set in lovely gardens on Karen Rd. and is quite an interesting place to wander around.
The admission is KSh 200.
Written Dec 15, 2004
I was a little bit disappointed by the visit to the Karen Blixen Ranch, which is one of Nairobi's main tourist attractions. The "ranch" is actually only a one-storey bungalow, and the tour through the 5 or 6 rooms is over in about 15 mins.
Most of the interior is the original furniture from when Karen Blixen lived there, and some clothes that were worn by Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in "Out of Africa" are on display.
The gardens are very nice and are looking towards the Ngong Hills where Denis Finch-Hatton is buried. When you go into the gardens from the kitchen you might catch a glimpse of some rock hyraxes which populate the roofed pathway.
Updated Apr 14, 2004
Phone: +254 2 882779
Get into that "Out of Africa" mood by a visit to the house of the woman who started it all. The museum is located on a portion of the former grounds of the Blixen estate; the farmhouse, where Karen lived between 1914 and 1931, is open to the public.
Not exactly in Nairobi, it is located in the suburb of Karen (named after Blixen), anout 12 miles from Nairobi.
Written Jan 15, 2004
1 - 7 of 7
Sponsored Links
The Sarova Stanley Nairobi
9 Reviews and 211 Opinions Another hotel in which I never stayed over night. Probably because of the price, my Kenyan friends...
Nairobi Serena Hotel Nairobi
5 Reviews and 208 Opinions Our partners in SA were having a business conference in Nairobi and needed a hotel with good...
Fairview Hotel Nairobi
2 Reviews and 423 Opinions - very spacious but slightly outdated - also appartments available
Karen Blixen Museum tips and photos posted by real travelers and Nairobi locals.
Write a Review
Get into that "Out of Africa" mood by a visit to the house of the woman who started it all. The museum is located on a portion of the former grounds of the...
216 members live in Nairobi
Q: Stupid question but I'll be traveling to Tanzania via Kenya in July. I arrive in the middle of the night (3am) and will be...
A: Your connection for the bus to Tanz. sounds tight! You'll have to collect baggage, clear immigration, and get to the city for the bus, all in under 2 hours! Sure it's...
Read 3 Replies
1

1st July 2010 We reach Nairobi Airport at 19.05 sharp. We are anxious to see if our suitcases have arrived safely. The funny thing is that from the same place where we are supposed to get our...
2

It's funny how many rubbish we can find on internet regarding place we intend to visit, especially if that place is situated in Africa. I did my homework before departing to Kenya, researching all...
3
Make this your gateway to East Africa!

Nairobi is the biggest city between Cairo and Johannesburg, and, as a result, experiences the myriad social challenges that go with being a huge and rapidly expanding urban area in the developing...
4

Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, situated at an elevation of about 5450 ft in the highlands of the southern part of the country. Nairobi is the largest city between Cairo and Johannesburg with a...
5
Cool Water...pretty cool city.

Just like with most other African cities, Nairobi isn't looked at as a tourist destination. Most people will make a quick stop before hopping off to a safari, if even that much. Realistically, there...
Build your own Nairobi page
Sponsored Links