Giraffe Centre
Run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, the Giraffe Centre lets visitors hand-feed endangered Rothschild's giraffes from a raised wooden platform — eye-to-eye with these gentle giants. A short forest boardwalk and an education centre explain the conservation work behind it, so children leave having learned as well as laughed. It's one of Nairobi's most photographed family experiences.
Good to know: Go earlier in the day when the giraffes are most active and the platform is quieter.
How a family visit works
- 1Drive into Langata and follow signs for the Giraffe Centre, not Giraffe Manor — different gate, different outing.
- 2Buy a handful of pellets at the shop before you climb. Feeding is the whole point; arriving on the platform empty-handed is a wasted trip.
- 3Feed from the raised wooden walkway, pellet held flat. They take the food, and smaller children often get a slobbery kiss they were not expecting.
- 4Once the platform crowd thickens, take the short forest boardwalk, then the education centre if anyone still has questions about Rothschild's giraffes.
What kids actually do here
- Hand-feed endangered Rothschild's giraffes at eye level from the wooden platform
- Get licked — bring a wipe; it is not optional once they lean in
- Walk the forest boardwalk when the platform gets busy
- Use the education centre to explain why these giraffes are here at all
- Photograph from the platform early, before the mid-morning tour vans
Before you go
Let your child save up for Giraffe Centre
Entry here is under KES 500 a child (our estimate). In Tija, kids earn coins for chores you set and put them toward a goal they pick, like this outing, then watch it fill up as the chores get done.
Free to download on Android. On a computer, Google Play can send it straight to your phone.
What to pack
- Wet wipes for giraffe slobber on faces, sleeves and phones
- A hat — the platform is open and Langata sun is sharp
- Small notes for pellets at the shop
- A camera with a strap; one-handed feeding is the usual pose
Parent questions
- Is this the same as staying at Giraffe Manor?
- No. The Centre is the public conservation site run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. The Manor is a hotel next door. You do not need a hotel booking to feed the giraffes here.
- When is the platform least chaotic?
- Earlier in the day, when the giraffes are more active and the walkway is quieter — that tip is the one to follow. Entry sits in the under-KES-500 band; confirm the day's rate and pellet price at the shop. Open daily, but check giraffecentre.org before you drive.
Hours, tickets and activity rules change. Confirm the current details on the official site or at the gate before you travel.
Next outing, let them chip in
Set a few chores in Tija, your kids earn coins, and the coins go into a savings goal for the next day out. Built for Kenyan families, priced in shillings.
More for families: Holiday outing planner · Savings Challenge · Parent guides · Tija for Schools
