Giraffe Centre Nairobi: Feed Rothschild Giraffes in Nairobi, Kenya

The Giraffe Centre is a world-famous conservation and education center in the Lang'ata suburb of Nairobi, Kenya, that serves as a sanctuary for the endangered Rothschild's giraffe.

It is renowned for its unique elevated platform, which allows visitors an unforgettable, close-up experience of hand-feeding these magnificent animals.

The Famous Giraffe Feeding Platform

The main attraction at the Giraffe Centre is the large, raised wooden platform that brings visitors to eye-level with the resident giraffes. This unique structure is the heart of the experience, allowing for an incredibly close and personal interaction. Upon entry, visitors are given a small handful of food pellets made of corn, wheat, and molasses. You can then offer these pellets to the giraffes by hand.

The highlight for many is the memorable sensation of a giraffe's enormous, 18-inch-long, prehensile tongue gently taking the food from your palm. The giraffes are habituated and incredibly gentle, making this a safe and thrilling activity for all ages, including young children.

For the more adventurous, placing a pellet between your lips and waiting for a "giraffe kiss" has become a famous and highly sought-after photo opportunity.

A Legacy of Rothschild's Giraffe Conservation

While the feeding experience is the main draw, the Giraffe Centre is, first and foremost, a serious conservation organization. It is the public face of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), which was founded in 1979 by Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville. At that time, the Rothschild's giraffe subspecies was critically endangered, with only about 130 individuals remaining in the wild on a ranch in western Kenya.

The Leslie-Melvilles started a breeding program in their own backyard with two young giraffes, Daisy and Marlon. This initiative grew into the Giraffe Centre we see today. The center has had a highly successful breeding program, and numerous giraffe calves born here have been successfully re-introduced into protected areas like Lake Nakuru National Park and Ruma National Park, helping to boost the wild population. A visit directly supports this vital conservation work.

The Educational Experience

The Giraffe Centre places a strong emphasis on education. Its core mission is to inform visitors, particularly Kenyan school children, about the country's wildlife and the importance of conservation.

Next to the feeding platform is an information center where the staff deliver regular, short lectures about the giraffes. These talks cover fascinating aspects of giraffe biology, such as their unique circulatory system, their behavior in the wild, and the specific threats that have led to the Rothschild's subspecies becoming endangered.

Visitors can also see displays of giraffe skeletons and learn interesting facts about the entire herd. The center runs a prominent environmental education program, hosting thousands of school children every year, often for free.

This focus on educating the next generation is a fundamental part of their long-term conservation strategy, aiming to foster a sense of environmental stewardship in young Kenyans.

The Nature Sanctuary and Warthogs

A visit to the Giraffe Centre includes more than just the feeding platform. The ticket also grants access to a self-guided nature trail in the adjacent 95-acre indigenous forest.

This protected area is a remnant of the original forest that once covered the Nairobi area and serves as an important sanctuary for a variety of bird species, dik-diks, and other small mammals. The trail is a peaceful one-kilometer walk that offers a quiet escape and a chance to learn about the local flora.

Adding to the charm of the center are the resident families of warthogs. These comical animals are almost always present, scurrying around the base of the feeding platform. They wait patiently for any pellets that might be dropped by the giraffes or the visitors above. Their constant presence and amusing antics provide a delightful and entertaining sideshow to the main giraffe interaction.

Important Information for Your Visit

A trip to the Giraffe Centre is one of Nairobi's most popular activities, but it now requires advance planning. The centre has implemented a strict online booking system to manage visitor numbers and ensure a quality experience for both the guests and the giraffes.

Location and Getting There

The Giraffe Centre is located in the Lang'ata suburb of Nairobi, not far from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Nairobi National Park, making it easy to combine these attractions in a single day. The most convenient way to get there is by using a taxi or a ride-hailing service like Uber or Bolt from anywhere in the city.

Online Booking and Opening Hours

Walk-in tickets are no longer sold at the gate. All visitors must book their tickets online in advance through the Giraffe Centre's official website. The system requires you to select a specific date and a one-hour time slot for your visit. It is highly recommended to book several days or even weeks in advance, especially for peak times, as slots fill up quickly. The centre is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Entrance Fees and Onsite Shop

The entrance fee provides direct funding for the centre's conservation and education programs. Payments are made online during the booking process. After your visit, you can browse the Daisy Zoovenir Shop for a wide range of gifts and souvenirs. There is also a small cafe on site for refreshments.

The Connection to Giraffe Manor

It is very important for visitors to understand the relationship between the Giraffe Centre and the world-famous Giraffe Manor. They are two separate properties, though they are located right next to each other and are intrinsically linked. The Giraffe Centre is the public conservation and education facility that anyone can visit by booking a ticket.

Giraffe Manor, on the other hand, is an exclusive and luxurious boutique hotel. The famous experience of having breakfast while giraffes poke their heads through the windows is available only to guests who are staying at the hotel.

The two properties share the same herd of Rothschild's giraffes, who are free to roam between the Giraffe Centre's sanctuary and the private grounds of the Manor. Therefore, a ticket to the Giraffe Centre provides the wonderful experience of feeding the giraffes from the platform, but it does not grant access to the Giraffe Manor property or its iconic breakfast setting.