Timeless Elegance And History Of Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens And Cottages

Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens And Cottages: A Journey Through Time

Have you ever been to Karen Blixen Coffee Garden & Cottages and relished the serene atmosphere and scenic beauty? Have you ever delved into the rich history that enshrouds this historic site?

The main building, which now houses the offices and reception at the Karen Blixen Coffee Garden & Cottages, Ltd., is the historic Swedo House. This house was originally built between 1906 and 1908 and served as a hunting lodge and farmhouse. It is located just half a mile from the Karen Blixen Museum, also known as Bogani House, was featured in the film ‘Out of Africa’.

Surrounded by indigenous forest when it was first built, most of the land was cleared for agriculture, particularly coffee, in the early 20th century. The Swedo African Coffee Company was formed by Aake Sorgren, the Swedish Consul in British East Africa, and Sir Northrup MacMillan from this house. Later, Bror Blixen, Karen Blixen’s husband, bought the Coffee Company in 1913 for his wife Karen. The Swedo House played a central role in the Coffee Company and served as the farm manager’s house.

As the first generation of colonial residential architecture, the Swedo House is an example of a wooden structure on raised stilts. With corrugated iron walls lined with wood inside, it has railed verandas with arched roof supports. Karen Blixen, known by her pen name Isak Dinesen, spent a lot of time at the Swedo House, and her brother, Thomas Dinesen, resided there for several years.

While some renovations have been done to the Swedo House, the management ensures that the structure of the building is maintained. In 2001, the Luxury Hotel Cottages were built to connect visitors to Karen Blixen’s rich history. They have since been renovated to ensure that guests have a comfortable stay. The rooms have portrait pictures of Karen Blixen, bringing the history of the place to life.

The restaurant and the cottages also incorporate ways to bring out the history of the place. The Hattons Lounge, named after Finch Hattons, Karen Blixen’s lover who died in a plane crash in Voi, is one example. The cottages have beautiful paintings of Karen Blixen, each representing her life when she lived there.

Come visit Karen Blixen Coffee Garden & Cottages to experience the rich history of this beautiful place.