Karen Blixen Museum
According to google.com, the distance from Hermosa Garden Hotel & Spa to Karen Blixen Museum is a distance of 2.1 KM (that is a 4 minutes drive).
According to the National Museums of Kenya website, Karen Blixen Museum not only provides the most comprehensive insight into the person of Karen Blixen, but also offers a fantastic space for personal reflection in our nature trail.
The establishment was built in 1912 by Swedish Engineer Ake Sjogren, Karen and her husband bought the house in 1917 and it became the farm house for their 6,000-acre farm, of which 600 acres was used for coffee farming.
History indicates that Karen lived at the house until her return to Denmark in 1931. The farm was bought by Remy Martin, who broke the land into 20 acre parcels for sale. Subsequent development created the present suburb of Karen. Records indicate that a Lt. Col. G. Lloyd, an officer of the British Army bought the house in 1935 and lived there until his death in 1954, when it passed to his daughters, Mrs. G. Roberts and Lavender Llyod. A transfer of title to Mrs. J.P Robson and Mrs. L.B. Hyde is in City Hall records of 1956. The house was sporadically occupied until purchased in 1964 by the Danish government and given to the Kenyan government as an independence gift.
Subsequently, the government set up a college of nutrition and the house was used as the principal’s house. In 1985 the shooting of the movie based on Karen’s autobiography began and the National Museums of Kenya expressed interest to acquire the house for the purpose of establishing a Museum. The Museum was opened in 1986.
The Museum house remains a serene environment that seems to belong to the past, surrounded by a tranquil garden and indigenous forest, with a splendid view of Karen’s beloved Ngong Hills. She honors the hills with the phrase ‘I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills’. Farm tools including a tractor from that period, wagons, ploughs and an original coffee processing factory equipment form part of this rich collection, as outdoors exhibits.
The Karen Blixen Museum shop offers a wide selection of souvenirs including handicrafts, posters and postcards, the Movie ‘Out of Africa’, books and other mementos. Children and school groups are not left out as the Museum offers curriculum centered education programs and tailored art activities.
The Karen Blixen Museum's nature trail offers sneak peeks at tree hyraxes and is a haven for birdwatchers, with plenty of birds living here. Our trees are labeled to help in identification and learning. The Karen Blixen Museum has received various awards for excellence of service and is rated highly by Trip Advisor. The Museum is easily accessible by both public and private transport.
