The Giraffe Centre was established to breed and protect the endangered Rothschild's giraffe, a subspecies once reduced to just a few hundred individuals in the wild. Today the centre's small resident herd roams a forested sanctuary in Nairobi's Langata suburb, and a raised wooden platform lets visitors feed them pellets at eye level — an experience that's as much about genuine conservation education as it is a photo opportunity.
The centre runs an active breeding and release programme, having reintroduced giraffes to several protected areas around Kenya over the decades, and guides on site are well versed in explaining both giraffe behaviour and the broader conservation challenges facing the subspecies.
Visiting tips
- Feeding pellets are provided on site; getting a giraffe to take one directly from your lips is the centre's signature (optional) party trick.
- The attached nature trail through indigenous forest is worth the extra time if you have it.
- The centre sits close to the Karen Blixen Museum, making the two an easy paired half-day itinerary.
- Visit early or late in the day for calmer crowds and better light.
It's one of the most accessible wildlife encounters in Nairobi, requiring no safari vehicle or park fees beyond the centre's own modest entry charge — a genuinely good option for families or anyone with just a couple of hours in the city.
