History
If you’re headed to Nairobi and have a passion for African wildlife, you’ll want to make time for a visit to the capital’s famous Giraffe Centre. Founded and run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), the center is undoubtedly one of Nairobi’s best-loved attractions. Originally set up as a breeding program for the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, the center offers visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures.
The Giraffe Centre started life in 1979, when it was founded as a breeding program for Rothschild’s giraffes by Jock Leslie-Melville, the Kenyan grandson of a Scottish Earl and his wife, Betty. The Leslie-Melvilles decided to remedy the decline of the subspecies, which had been driven to the brink of extinction by habitat loss in western Kenya. In 1979, it was estimated that there were only 130 Rothschild’s giraffes remaining in the wild there.
The Leslie-Melvilles started the breeding programme with two captured baby giraffes, which they hand-reared at their home in Lang’ata, the site of the current center. Consequently, the center has successfully reintroduced breeding pairs of Rothschild’s giraffes to several Kenyan national parks, including Ruma National Park and Lake Nakuru National Park. Through efforts like this, the population of wild Rothschild’s giraffes has now risen to around 1,500 individuals.
In 1983, the Leslie-Melvilles completed work on an environmental education and visitor’s center, which was opened to the general public for the first time later that same year. By doing so, the center’s founders aimed to spread awareness of the subspecies’ plight to a much wider audience.
Mission & Vision
Today, the Giraffe Centre is a non-profit organization dedicated to both breeding giraffes and promoting conservation education. In particular, the center’s educational initiatives focus on Kenyan schoolchildren, aiming to instill in the next generation the knowledge and respect required for humans and wildlife to coexist in harmony. To encourage local people to take interest in the project, the center offers greatly discounted admission fees for native Kenyans.
The center also runs art workshops for local schoolchildren, with the results displayed and sold to tourists at the center gift shop. The proceeds from the gift shop, Tea House, and ticket sales contribute to funding free environmental outings for underprivileged Nairobi children. Thus, visiting the Giraffe Centre isn’t merely a fun day out – it’s a step towards securing the future of conservation in Kenya.
Things to Do
The highlight of a trip to the Giraffe Centre is undoubtedly meeting the giraffes themselves. A raised observation deck over the animals’ natural enclosure affords a unique elevated perspective – and the chance to stroke and hand-feed any giraffes that are feeling friendly. There’s also an auditorium onsite, where guests can attend talks about giraffe conservation and the initiatives the center is currently involved with.
Furthermore, exploring the center’s Nature Trail, which extends for 1.5 kilometers/1 mile through the adjacent 95-acre wildlife sanctuary, is well worth the time. Here, visitors can spot warthogs, antelope, monkeys, and a profusion of indigenous birdlife. The gift shop is an excellent place to stock up on locally made arts and crafts; while the Tea House offers light refreshments overlooking the giraffe enclosure.
Practical Information
The Giraffe Centre is located 5 kilometers/3 miles from Nairobi city center. If you’re traveling independently, you can use public transport to get there; alternatively, a taxi from the center should cost around 4,000 KSh. The center is open every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, including weekends and public holidays. For current ticket prices, visit their website or email them at: info@giraffecenter.org.
