Giraffe Centre Tour / Giraffe Centre Nairobi

Although it tends to be promoted as a children’s outing, the Giraffe Centre has serious aims. Run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), it has successfully boosted the population of the rare Rothschild’s giraffe from an original nucleus of animals that came from a wild herd near Soy in western Kenya. The centre’s other main mission is to educate children about conservation.

The Giraffe Centre is the public side of Giraffe Manor, so if you are staying at the latter, you will have an even closer engagement with the giraffes from your table in the breakfast room or even through your bedroom window. If you’re not able to stay at Giraffe Manor, the AFEW Giraffe Centre is a rewarding alternative.

You’ll get some great mug shots from the giraffe-level observation tower (note the viewing platform faces west, so be prepared for the lighting), where the elegant, slow-motion giraffes push their huge heads through to be fed the pellets you’re given to offer them. There are various other animals around, including several tame warthogs, and a wooded 95-acre (40-hectare) nature sanctuary across the road, which is a good area for bird watching.

History of Giraffe Centre

The Africa Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W.) Kenya was founded in 1979 by the late Jock Leslie-Melville, a Kenyan citizen of British descent, and his American-born wife, Betty Leslie-Melville. They began the Giraffe Centre after discovering the sad plight of the Rothschild Giraffe. A subspecies of the giraffe found only in the grasslands of East Africa. The Giraffe Centre has also become world-famous as a Nature Education Centre, educating thousands of Kenyan school children every year. At the time, the animals had lost their habitat in Western Kenya, with only 130 of them left on the 18,000-acre Soy Ranch that was being subdivided to resettle squatters. Their first effort to save the subspecies was to bring two young giraffes, Daisy and Marlon, to their home in the Lang’ata suburb, southwest of Nairobi. Here they raised the calves and started a programme of breeding giraffes in captivity. This is where the centre remains to date. Situated in Karen, merely 16 kilometers from Nairobi’s Central Business District, you will find an animal lover’s paradise: the Giraffe Centre. The project was created in 1979 to protect the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe subspecies and to promote its conservation through education. This place turned out to be one of our favorite attractions in Nairobi, not just because we got the opportunity of getting as close as possible to some giraffes, but also because we kissed many of them, seriously! The center’s facilities are very well maintained and consist of a raised feeding platform (a tall one for tall giraffes!), where visitors can come face to face with the giraffes; a small auditorium, where talks about the efforts of conservation are held; a gift shop, and a simple café. Don’t forget to visit the nature sanctuary located right across from the road, which is included with the Giraffe Centre entrance fee.

Safari Highlights:

• You willbe  provided with pellets that you can feed the giraffes by hand
• Take photos while feeding the animals with your mouth
  Included in the Safari Cost
• Arrival & Departure airport transfers are complimentary to all our clients.
• Transportation as per the itinerary.
• Accommodation per itinerary or similar with a request to all our clients.
• Meals as per itinerary: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
• Game Drives
• Services of a literate English driver/guide.
• National park & game reserve entrance fees as per itinerary.
• Excursions & activities as per the itinerary, with a request
• Recommended Mineral Water while on safari.
  
  Excluded from the Safari Cost
• Visas and related costs.
• Personal Taxes.
• Drinks, tips, laundry, telephone calls, and other items of a personal nature.
• International flights.