Karen Blixen Museum - Nairobi - Kenya

The Karen Blixen Museum, nestled at the base of the Ngong Hills, once served as the main building of a large farm owned by Danish author Karen Blixen and her Swedish husband, Baron Bror von Blixen Fincke. Situated 10 kilometers from Nairobi’s city center, this museum transports visitors to an earlier era in Kenyan history. The property became famous globally following the release of “Out of Africa,” an Oscar-winning film adapted from Karen’s autobiographical book of the same name.

Open daily from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, including weekends and public holidays, the museum encourages visitors to arrive by 5:30 pm to explore its rich history through continuous guided tours. A museum shop offers various souvenirs including handicrafts, posters, postcards, copies of the movie “Out of Africa,” books, and other Kenyan memorabilia. Additionally, the venue is available for hire for weddings, corporate events, and other occasions.

Constructed in 1912 by Swedish engineer Åke Sjögren, Karen and her husband acquired the house in 1917, transforming it into the hub for their 4,500-acre farm, which dedicated 600 acres to coffee cultivation. After their marriage dissolved in 1921, Karen managed the farm until she returned to Denmark in 1931. The property was subsequently parceled out for development by its new owner, Remy Marin, which led to the creation of the Karen suburb. The house changed hands several times before being bought by the Danish government in 1964 and gifted to Kenya upon its independence.

Initially, the Kenyan government utilized the building as a residence for the principal of a college of nutrition. The site’s transformation into a museum began with the 1985 filming of “Out of Africa,” and it officially opened as the Karen Blixen Museum in 1986 after acquisition by the National Museums of Kenya.