Kenya's Solio Lodge and Giraffe Manor Included in Forbes 2025 Edge List

Solio Lodge and Giraffe Manor in Kenya have been named to the 2025 Forbes Travel Guide Edge List, recognising them among the world’s top properties for innovation and immersive travel experiences.

The annual Edge List, announced on Thursday, 11 September, highlights destinations that are reshaping global tourism through four key pillars: innovation, authenticity, immersion, and impact. This year, Kenya is one of only 15 countries featured, and one of just two from Africa.

Solio Lodge, located within the 45,000-acre Solio Game Reserve between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare ranges, was recognised in the ‘Animal Encounters’ category. The lodge offers guests rare access to more than 200 black and white rhinos, one of the largest populations in Africa. 

Visitors can observe the animals through guided game drives, horseback rides, cycling tours, and private helicopter excursions. Forbes describes the experience as one of East Africa’s most remarkable wildlife encounters, noting the lodge’s contribution to conservation tourism.

Giraffe Manor, a historic property in Nairobi, was recognised for its unique combination of heritage, luxury, and wildlife interaction. Built in the 1930s, the manor now operates as a boutique hotel and giraffe sanctuary, where guests frequently share meals with endangered Rothschild’s giraffes that roam freely on the grounds. 

The animals are known to interact closely with visitors, often reaching through windows during breakfast. According to Forbes, the experience offers a distinctive wildlife connection within an urban setting.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has welcomed the recognition, describing it as confirmation of Kenya’s position as a destination offering transformative travel experiences. She highlights the importance of continued investment in both conservation and high-quality hospitality services.