KAREN MUSEUM, 2025 GUIDE

Karen Museum is named after Karen Blixen who was a Danish author. 

She published her books in English and Danish ,she also published her books under different names like Tania Blixen in German countries and Isak Dinesen in English countries. 

She is also known well due to her second book Out Of Africa here in Kenya that was published in the year 1937. It is an autobiographical of accounts that took place in Kenya from the year 1914 -1931 when she left Kenya. 

Location:

The museum is  located 10KM from the outskirts of Nairobi city center, at the foot of Ngong Hills in the suburbs of Karen.

Background 

The museum was the former home of a Danish author Karen Blixen known from her famous book out of Africa published in 1937.The house was built in 1912 by a Swedish engineer by the name Ake Sjogren. It was sold to the Blixen's in 1917. They were doing coffee farming but her husband lost interest in doing coffee farming because it took long before it was harvested. He spent most of his time in his hunting safaris and their marriage was breaking up. In 1921 they got separated. She spent her time taking care of her workers, treating the sick and helping solving disputes. She faced many calamities with the coffee farming like floods, drought, invasion of locusts and frost.

The museum was opened in 1985 and up to date it operates as a museum. The museum belongs to a different period of time in the history of Kenya. The farm house has gained international fame with the release of the movie “Out Of Africa” an Oscar winning award film based on Karen’s autobiography by the same title.

Opening Hours 

The museum is open to the public every day (8:30am to 5.30pm) including weekends and public holidays. 

Entrance Fees

Citizen – Kenya Charges

Adult Ksh 200

Below 16 years Ksh 100

Residents – East Africa Charges

Adult Ksh 600

Below 16 years Ksh 400

Non-Residents Charges

Adult Ksh 1200

Below 16 years Ksh 600

Coffee machine 

Tour Guide 

Guided tours are offered continuously. When I was there I was given a tour guide who showed me around the place, explaining to me the whole history.

There is a gift shop which offers handicrafts, posters and postcards, the movie “Out Of Africa”, books and other Kenyans souvenirs. The beautiful grounds are rented for wedding reception, corporate functions and other events.

I highly recommend the place,come & learn the history.

Thank you for getting to this point, I hope you have learnt & enjoyed.

See you on my next one. Bye!😊