Giraffe Centre, Nairobi
AFEW Giraffe Centre
A Rothschild giraffe conservation center in Karen, Nairobi, where you can feed giraffes by hand from a raised platform and even get a giraffe "kiss." It's a classic opening stop on a Kenya trip.
The Giraffe Centre is in the Karen area, southwest of central Nairobi. The area is named after Karen Blixen, author of "Out of Africa." The centre is about 20 km from the city center, a 40–60 minute drive. It was founded in 1979 by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) to save the endangered Rothschild giraffe. More than ten giraffes now live semi-wild on its 60-hectare reserve. Visitors stand on a wooden platform level with the giraffes' heads and feed them pellets provided by staff. The giraffes extend their 45 cm blue-black tongues to curl up the food. Holding a pellet between your lips allows you to perform the "giraffe kiss," the most popular photo op. The centre also has short conservation talks, a 1.5 km trail for warthogs and birds, and a gift shop. Admission for foreign adults is KES 1,500 (about USD 12), and children pay KES 750. Hours are 9:00 to 17:00, and a visit takes about an hour. Next door, Giraffe Manor is a famous hotel where giraffes poke their heads into the dining room. It is open only to guests and must be booked a year in advance. The centre is often combined with the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, the Karen Blixen Museum, and the Kazuri Bead Factory in Karen for a one-day tour of Nairobi, and it works well for arrival or departure days. Pellets are limited, so don't feed the giraffes anything else. Giraffes sometimes bump people with their heads, so keep an eye on children.
Opening hours
09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage
- Oloolua Nature Trail
- Karen Blixen Museum
- Bomas of Kenya
- Kazuri Beads
- Nairobi Safari Walk & Animal Orphanage
- Carnivore Restaurant
- Uhuru Gardens National Monument & Museum