Nairobi Giraffe Centre: Guide to Visiting Kenya's Giraffe Sanctuary

The Nairobi Giraffe Centre is a breeding sanctuary for the Rothschild giraffe — one of Africa’s most endangered giraffe subspecies — set in 140 acres of indigenous forest in the Karen suburb of Nairobi. It is operated by AFEW Kenya (African Fund for Endangered Wildlife) and has been running since 1979.

The main attraction is simple: a raised wooden platform at giraffe neck height, where visitors can feed the resident Rothschild giraffes face-to-face, hand-to-mouth.

The Rothschild Giraffe

The Rothschild giraffe (also called the Baringo or Nubian giraffe depending on taxonomy) is Kenya’s most endangered giraffe subspecies. In the 1970s, fewer than 130 remained in the wild.

The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife began captive breeding in Nairobi in 1979 and has since reintroduced animals to Ruma National Park and Lake Nakuru. The wild population has recovered to approximately 800 individuals — still endangered, but no longer critically so.

How to distinguish Rothschild giraffes: Five ossicones (horn-like protuberances) on the head rather than the usual two, and cream-white lower legs (no pattern below the knees).

The Visit

Feeding: A raised circular platform brings visitors to giraffe eye level. The giraffes are habituated to visitors and approach willingly for the provided pellets. You place a pellet between your lips and the giraffe’s 45cm tongue retrieves it — the most popular photograph of anyone’s Nairobi trip.

The tongue is sticky and substantial — a genuine surprise for first-timers.

Duration: 45–60 minutes is adequate for most visitors. The feeding station is the main feature; there are also information boards and a small educational display.

Forest walk: The 140-acre forest behind the centre has resident warthogs, monkeys, and birds — worth a 20-minute walk if you have time.

Giraffe Manor: The famous Giraffe Manor hotel (where resident giraffes visit the dining room through the windows at breakfast) shares the grounds and ownership lineage with the Giraffe Centre. Hotel guests have private giraffe access; day visitors go to the separate Giraffe Centre entrance. The Manor is one of the world’s most photographed hotels — book 6+ months ahead, from approximately USD 600/person/night.

Location and Getting There

Address: Giraffe Centre Road, Karen, Nairobi. Approximately 10km southwest of Nairobi CBD.

By taxi/Uber: Approximately KES 600–1,200 from Westlands or the city centre (15–25 minutes, traffic dependent).

By car: Take Ngong Road south through Karen, turn right onto Giraffe Centre Road at the signpost. Parking available.

Entry and Opening Hours

• Opening hours: Daily 9am–5pm (last entry 4:30pm)
• Entry fee: Approximately USD 15 per adult non-resident as of 2026; KES 200 for Kenyan residents
• Children (under 3): Free
• Booking: Walk-in available. No advance booking required for individuals, but groups should contact AFEW in advance.

Combining with Other Nairobi Activities

Full Nairobi wildlife day:

1. Nairobi National Park morning drive (6am–10am) — USD 52 entry, self-drive or hire a guide
2. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (11am–noon) — elephant orphanage, 5km from Giraffe Centre, USD 10, booking required
3. Giraffe Centre (noon–1:30pm) — USD 15
4. Karen Blixen Museum (optional, 2km away) — the house from Out of Africa, approximately USD 10

All four activities in a single day is manageable with early starts.

Location: All three (Sheldrick, Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum) are within 5km of each other in the Karen suburb — easy to combine in one afternoon with a taxi or hire car.

The Conservation Mission

AFEW Kenya (African Fund for Endangered Wildlife) operates as a not-for-profit conservation organisation. Entry fees fund the captive breeding and reintroduction programme, anti-poaching support in the parks where animals have been reintroduced, and educational programmes for Kenyan schools.

Education programme: Over 30,000 Kenyan school children visit the Giraffe Centre annually — one of the organisation’s most significant contributions. Many Kenyan children from outside Nairobi have never seen a giraffe in the wild; the centre makes the connection between urban Kenyans and their wildlife heritage.

Adoption programme: You can sponsor a specific Rothschild giraffe at the centre (from approximately USD 35/year) and receive updates, photos, and the giraffe’s individual history.

Giraffe Manor

The famous Giraffe Manor hotel shares ownership lineage with the Giraffe Centre. The Manor’s resident giraffes (a separate sub-group from the Centre’s) visit the breakfast room through open windows and the garden throughout the day — famously photographed and genuinely extraordinary. Hotel guests have exclusive access to the Manor’s giraffes; day visitors use the separate Giraffe Centre entrance.

The Manor books out far in advance: rates from approximately USD 650 per person per night (full board, all transfers). If a stay is not feasible, the Giraffe Centre visit gives the essential giraffe experience at a fraction of the cost.

Practical Notes for Visiting

Photography: The raised platform puts visitors at perfect giraffe eye level — approximately 5m above ground. Wide-angle lenses work well for the face-to-face feeding shots. Telephoto is better for the forest walk. Light is good from 9am–2pm.

Children: The Giraffe Centre is excellent for children — the giraffes are habituated and gentle despite their size. The feeding experience is child-appropriate (older children can participate directly in the pellet feeding). Under-3s may be overwhelmed by the size of the animals — parental judgment applies.

Time needed: 45–60 minutes is adequate. Allow 90 minutes if you plan to walk the forest section and read the educational displays in detail.