Home to the once-endangered Rothschild giraffe, Giraffe Centre in Kenya’s capital Nairobi is a leading destination for all lovers of animals and nature.
The centre is run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W), a Kenyan non-profit organization whose mission is a world living in harmony with nature.
A.F.E.W works in close collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in these conservation efforts with a particular interest in the breeding of the Rothschild giraffe and their re-introduction back to the wild where they belong.
KWS assists them in identifying conservancies and parks that the giraffes can call eventually home. Notably, in the past few years, over 300 giraffes have been relocated to Lake Elementaita, Lake Nakuru and even as far north as Mount Elgon and West Pokot where they are safe and free from any harm.
The centre was started in 1979 after the founders (Jock and Betty Leslie) discovered the sad plight of the Rothschild giraffe, a subspecies of the giraffe only found in the grasslands of East Africa, whose numbers were dwindling.
Giraffe Centre has now become famous worldwide as a nature-education centre and imparts conservation knowledge to thousands of Kenyan school children every year.
How to Access Giraffe Centre
Giraffe center is located only 16 Kms from Nairobi CBD. The quickest way to get to the center is to use a taxi which will cost you between Kes. 400 and Kes. 500 one way.
The cheapest way, however, is by public transport. Catch bus no. 24 from Kencom stage plying Lang’ata road for Kes. 100 and alight at Hardy Shopping Centre, then take a slow walk to Giraffe Centre only 1,100 meters away.
Entry Rates and Registration
The centre is very organized, and the registration process and security checks take less than 7mins per person. The payment methods accepted are M-Pesa, Visa, and Mastercard only, cash is not accepted so you may want to plan your trip accordingly.
More than 90 % of all proceeds collected at the centre go towards conservation efforts, education of students and teachers, and maintenance of the facility. The centre operates between 9 am and 5 pm daily including weekends and public holidays. Below are the rates:
Citizens and residents:
Adults Kes. 400 Children Kes. 200
Non-residents:
Adults Kes. 1,500 Children Kes. 750
What to do at Giraffe Centre
Feeding The Giraffe
This is the most thrilling experience for anyone visiting the centre. After the registration process, the friendly guards and staff will show you to the handwashing stations, after which you will then be given some animal treats; pellets, and foliage served in coconut husks.
Feed the giraffes one pellet at a time using your fingers, to their tongue, do not place them on your palm. Have fun while at it.
Point of note though, while the giraffes are very friendly, they are still animals of the wild, please do not tease them as they could headbutt you.
Photography
The whole ambiance, serene nature, and the beautiful giraffes with their long necks and even longer legs is simply breathtaking and absolutely photogenic. Giraffe centre is an excellent destination for personal as well as nature photography, and (get this) you do not incur any extra cost for filming.
School Trips
In line with the centre’s values in dedication to education and conservation of the environment, Giraffe Centre offers free school tours to students and their teachers upon prior booking.
This should be done one week before the expected date of arrival for planning and logistics purposes. The students not only get to feed the giraffes but they also learn about sustainable development, forest conservation, wetlands protection and waste management.
A visit to the Tea House
Do not worry if you end up feeling hungry after your exciting day at the centre, the giraffe centre’s tea house comes in very handy. It has enough capacity for visitors and serves amazing Kenyan tea and coffee, soft drinks, delicious snacks such as samosas and sausages, and even Kenyan fries at affordable prices.
Buy a Gift
Show your friends and family how much you care by purchasing a souvenir at the gift centre within this beautiful establishment.
There is an array of gift items that say you have been to Kenya without uttering a word. They include beaded jewelry, branded shirts, scarves, mugs, glasses and so much more, you really have to come travel Kenya to experience this.
Accommodation
For visitors who may fancy a much longer stay, adjacent to the giraffe centre is the world-famous Giraffe Manor where you can spend a night or a weekend and get to enjoy a delicious breakfast with the giraffes at your breakfast table or your even at your bedroom window. Your visit to this magical part of Kenya will be worth it.