Giraffe Centre

In the leafy Lang’ata suburb of Nairobi, the Giraffe Centre offers a rare, intimate encounter with one of the world's most endangered subspecies, the Rothschild’s giraffe, allowing visitors to come eye-to-eye with these gentle giants from a raised wooden platform.

What to expect

The heart of the experience is the elevated feeding platform. Here, you are provided with a handful of nutritious, compressed pellets. As a towering giraffe approaches, you will feel the rough, sandpaper-like texture of its prehensile blue-black tongue as it delicately snatches food from your palm. It is an immersive, sensory experience—the smell of wet earth, the soft "huff" of their breath, and the striking patterns of their honey-gold coats.

Once you have had your fill of feeding, descend to the ground level and cross the road to the Gogo River Bird Sanctuary. This 1.5-kilometer nature trail offers a quiet contrast to the activity at the platform. The path winds through indigenous dry highland forest, where you can spot sunbirds, kingfishers, and occasionally warthogs or dik-diks rustling in the undergrowth.

History & significance

The centre was established in 1979 by Betty and Jock Leslie-Melville to save the Rothschild’s giraffe, which at the time had dwindled to just over 100 individuals in Kenya due to habitat loss. What began as a rescue mission has evolved into a vital education and breeding program. The centre serves as a flagship for the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), ensuring that these giraffes are protected and reintroduced into protected areas across the country.

Practical tips

Operating Hours: The centre is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, including public holidays.
Best Time to Visit: Arrive right at 9:00 AM. By midday, the platform can become crowded with school groups and safari tour vans, making it harder to secure a prime feeding spot.
Tickets: Payments are strictly cashless. Ensure your M-Pesa is topped up or have a valid international credit/debit card ready at the gate.
Etiquette: Do not attempt to feed the giraffes your own snacks. Use only the provided pellets, as the animals are on a controlled diet.

Getting there

The Giraffe Centre is located on Duma Road in the Lang’ata neighbourhood, roughly 20 kilometers from Nairobi’s city center. The most reliable way to reach it is via a ride-hailing app like Uber or Bolt. If you are driving yourself, parking is available on-site, though it fills up quickly on weekends. Traffic in Nairobi can be unpredictable; allow at least 60–90 minutes of travel time if coming from the CBD or Westlands.

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