The Karen Blixen House Museum is located in the wealthy, leafy suburb of Karen, only 15 minutes from central Nairobi, yet the quiet, tree-lined, spacious streets seem a million miles from the hustle and bustle of the capital.

Baroness von Blixen emigrated to Kenya from Denmark to marry her cousin, and ran a coffee farm on this site from 1914-31. Her charming wood-panelled colonial house is now open as a museum, and can be looked around on an interesting guided tour, which includes the bedrooms, library, living room, dining room, and outside kitchen. The furniture is from the period and was either Blixen’s or purchased for the movie adapted from her autobiography ‘Out Of Africa’, which she wrote under the name Isak Dinesen. Unfortunately, to preserve the rights of the movie, no photographs can be taken inside the house.

The luscious gardens can also be explored and stretch away towards the captivating view of the Ngong Hills in the distance, and a few pieces of old farm machinery dot the grounds.

In the front of the house, a small room has been turned into a souvenir shop, with a very good selection of carvings, jewellery and art works from all over Kenya. Unfortunately, it lacks any memorabilia to do with Blixen herself. Nearby are more excellent craft centres including Kazuri Beads, with unique jewellery and pottery, and The Glass Gallery.

Entry is Kshs 200 / $2.

Opening hours – 9:30am - 6pm

Meryl Streep gave her a face in the movie, but it was Karen Blixen's own words in her books 'Letters from Africa,' 'Shadows in the Grass,' and 'Out of Africa' that made her famous. Her house is now a museum in the suburb of Karen in Nairobi.

Baroness Karen Blixen moved to Africa in 1914. At the foot of Ngong hills, she established herself as a farmer. After her departure in 1931, the suburbs retained the commemorative home of Karen.

At independence, the Danish government donated the house and the surrounding land to Kenya. The house was restored by the Danish government and was used during the filming of 'Out of Africa'. The museum was opened to the public in 1986.

The house built in 1910 has a red tile roof and mellow wood paneling in the rooms. When Baroness Karen Blixen bought the property in 1917, it had 6,000 acres of land. Only 600 acres were developed for growing coffee; the rest was retained under natural forest.

Much of the original furniture is on display in the house. The aim here is to take an individual back in time and provide a visual impression of settler life in Kenya.