The reception at the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and Cottages, Ltd. is the Historic Swedo House which was the original hunting lodge/farmhouse, built between 1906 and 1908. It is located approximately half a mile from the Karen Blixen Museum (Bogani House from the film “Out of Africa”) and is a 30-minute drive from downtown Nairobi.

The luxury hotel cottages were built in 2001, and are adjacent to the Karen Golf and Country Club where guests can enjoy a host of leisure activities, including golf, tennis, and squash. A host of other amenities such as shops, restaurants, and financial services can all be found nearby, within the Karen suburb.

The Coffee Garden sits on 5 acres of land with large hundred-year-old trees, beautiful gardens and a pool, and hundreds of different varieties of blooming flowers, and a large population of birds. The historic Grogan/MacMillan Manor House is an additional historic feature that was moved brick by brick from downtown Nairobi to the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden in 2008 to save it from demolition. It is now used for special occasions and dining.