Giraffe Centre, Nairobi in Kenya

Giraffe Centre, Nairobi in Kenya

When planning a Kenya safari or anything to do in Nairobi before heading to the Maasai Mara safari or the Amboseli safari, it is very advisable to visit the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The centre is one of the most popular tourist attraction sites in Nairobi, where one has the chance to closely engage with the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes as one continues to promote giraffe conservation and education in Kenya.

The Giraffe centre is a non governmental organization that was started in 1979 by Jock and Betty Leslie- Melville, in the main aim of conserving the endangered Rothschild giraffe, which was once under threat of extinction, owing to loss of habitat as well as encroachment by humans. The centre has today made itself an educational and conservation point, where the giraffe roams freely in the sanctuary and visitors are treated in the sanctuary to feed these giants by hand and gain an up-close experience with the creature in a safe and ethical tourist attraction.

The Experience of Giraffe Centre

The Giraffe Centre, Nairobi, Kenya, is situated approximately 20 kilometres outside the city, which takes a visitor less than half a day to tour and experience an enriching nature adventure, as well as experience the city scenery along the way. The centre is located at the border of the Giraffe Manor estate, where the giraffes may pop their heads through the windows of your room, and you would end up taking the best shots to hit the Instagram listing of Nairobi.

When you arrive, the presentation of the large giraffes majestically walking through the sanctuary greets visitors. Visiting the Giraffe Centre will be incomplete without the experience in the feeding platform where one will be able to have a taste of the giraffes as they seem to eat out of your hand using their very long, blue tongues and on specially prepared pellets. The proximity provides a good photography session and as such, this is popular among families, individual travellers and wildlife photographers that visit Nairobi.

There is also a nature trail, which starts within the centre and stretches into the surrounding Gogo River Sanctuary, where one can have an opportunity to walk through the native forest and observe birds and get to know the local ecosystem. This nature walk balances matters with the feeding of the giraffes, making it a perfect Nairobi wildlife visit for nature enthusiasts.

Efforts through Conservation and Education

The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, is of great relevance in the conservation of wild animals and environmental education in Kenya. The centre has been able to reintroduce Rothschild’s giraffes in different Kenyan national parks and reserves through breeding programmes that have enabled it to increase the number of Rothschild’s giraffes in the nation. The tourists get to understand the need to protect giraffes in Africa, the dangers bedevilling giraffes, together with the efforts that are being undertaken to conserve the wildlife in Kenya.

The centre also undertakes outreach programmes to Kenyan school children where the younger generation is taught how to conserve the environment, protect the wildlife, and live within the environment. The visit to the Giraffe Centre allows you to make a meaningful contribution towards the conservation efforts in Kenya since you will be contributing directly to these educational projects.

The most suitable time to visit the Giraffe Centre is.

The Giraffe Centre, Nairobi, Kenya, is accessible all year round, but the morning hours at the centre are the best visiting hours because the giraffes are more active and the weather is also cooler in Nairobi at this time. When you visit early, you will feel more intimate with the giraffes as you will not be mixing with a group of people.

This is because June to October time of the year is the dry season in Kenya and therefore the best time to visit the attractions of Nairobi, such as the Giraffe Centre, Nairobi National Park, as well as the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. During the rainy season, however, the centre is still open and therefore offers an excellent activity for all Nairobi families, all year round.

It takes hardly much to combine a visit to Giraffe Centre with other renowned places to visit in Nairobi, amongst travellers with limited time in Nairobi. Nearby is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which is known to rescue and rear baby elephants at its elephant orphanage and also to conserve giraffes. A visit to these conservation centres will give the visitor an insight into what the wildlife is doing to save the animals in one day.

Also, just a short drive away, there is Nairobi National Park, which means that half-day game drives can be done in search of lions, rhinos, zebras and buffalo against the beautiful skyline of Nairobi. Other close attractions also include the Karen Blixen Museum and the Nairobi Safari walk, all of which supplement a visit to the Giraffe centre, as far as travellers who want to have an all-rounded Nairobi wildlife and cultural experience are concerned.

Tips on a Visit There

It is also recommended that when visiting the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, you bring either a camera or a smartphone to take your photographs. Wear comfortable clothes that fit the climate of Nairobi and comfortable footwear in case you intend to experience the nature trail.

The modest entrance fee is charged, and all the proceeds are invested in conservation and educational work, so your visit is not in vain. It is also open Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm, and one of the best possible times to visit it is during one of these hours to get the best experience of this place.

Why the Giraffe Centre Warrants a Place on your Nairobi Agenda

It is not only an encounter with wildlife; it gives more attachment to the Kenyan conservation, which enables one to learn and take part in conserving the endangered giraffes. Be it your visit to Kenya to participate in a safari or when you unavoidably have to pass through Kenya on a conduction duty, the centre will give you a calm atmosphere to have a taste of wildlife while you are there and also contribute to the conservation of wildlife.

To wildlife photographers, the Giraffe Centre provides close-up photography experiences of the giraffes in natural light and to those families, it is an educational, interactive experience, hence the perfect Nairobi family-friendly attraction. It is also a mild way of introduction to the wilds in Kenya prior to visiting key safari parks like the Maasai Mara, Tsavo National Park or the Amboseli.

Conclusion

Giraffe Centre, Nairobi, Kenya has ensured that it ranks among the greatest Nairobi attractions, where it is exposed to conservation, learning and having memorable experiences with wild animals. After visiting this centre, you will appreciate more about the efforts being carried out in Kenya to conserve their nature, and at the same time, you will have a moment to have some personal time with the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.