Giraffe Centre Nairobi: Feed a Giraffe & Support Conservation

The year was 2009. And 11-year-old, wide-eyed Eva could barely contain her excitement. She was finally, at long last, visiting the Giraffe Center, a place she’d only ever seen in her textbooks and daydreams. 

That visit lit something inside her. A curiosity and wonder that would grow into a lifelong love for wildlife and travel. 

But this isn’t a story about me (Hi I’m Eva). This is about the Giraffe Centre Nairobi, a peaceful haven nestled in Lang’ata, just 20 km from central Nairobi. This sanctuary was founded in 1979 by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) to protect the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.

Why the Giraffe Centre Matters

Somewhere down the line (in one of my very many visits) I learned of the Rothschild giraffe plight. Like did you know that their population once reduced to fewer than 670 individuals in the wild? Devastating, right? 

Thanks to the center’s breeding program and reintroduction initiatives, this subspecies is now recovering. 

The center is also a vital educational hub for the next generation of Kenyan conservationalists.  

On my latest visit, i saw a local school totally engaged in an environmental workshop. Like me, 16 years ago, their eyes were wide with curiosity, as they learned about habitat protection and wildlife stewardship. I couldn’t help but smile watching them eagerly ask questions. It struck me how much of an impact hands-on learning can have. 

Activities & Experiences: What to Do

So, what is there to do at the Giraffe Center? A lot, actually. Here’s a breakdown

• The Star of the Show: Handfeeding the Giraffes. This is what we all come for, right? So, they give you this little coconut shell full of dried pellets and ask you to feed the giraffes. And there you are, little timid self probably only 5’6, craning your neck, and stretching out your arm towards this 14-feet tall creature. At first it feels a little intimidating but before you know you’re laughing and chatting with the giraffe like an old friend. 
• A Giraffe Kiss. This one is a close favorite. It is hilarious and definite a highlight of my day at the center. So, you hold a pellet between your lips and a giraffe leans in and… slurp! A bit slobbery, yes, but it makes for an amazing photo.
• Nature trail walk. After the excitement of feeding, take a 1.5km nature walk on the trail across the road. It is so quiet and serene and you get to encounter wildlife like warthogs and birds. 
• Browse the souvenir shop Giraffe Centre for locally crafted artwork supporting community conservation.
• Relax at the on-site café Giraffe Centre, savoring refreshments with panoramic views of the sanctuary.