Attraction
Nairobi National Park
Kenya's first national park, created in 1946, where lions, black rhinos and giraffes roam open grassland within sight of the Nairobi skyline.
Giraffe Centre
Conservation centre in Lang'ata where visitors hand-feed endangered Rothschild's giraffes from a raised platform and learn about AFEW Kenya's breeding and education work.
At a glance
- Type
- Giraffe sanctuary and conservation centre
- Area
- Lang'ata, Nairobi, Kenya
- Opening
- Open daily · 09:00–17:00
- Official site
- giraffecentre.org
Good to know
- Raised feeding platform
- Educational talks
- Nature walk
- Tea House
- Gift shop
- Card and M-Pesa payments
Why we recommend it
The Giraffe Centre began in 1979, when Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville took in two young Rothschild's giraffes on their Lang'ata property and started a breeding programme to help a subspecies then in serious trouble. Breeding pairs were later released into Kenyan national parks, and the centre opened to visitors in the early 1980s. Today it is run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) Kenya, which uses visitor income to fund conservation education, including free visits for school groups.
The main draw is the raised feeding platform, which puts you at eye level with the giraffes. Keepers hand out pellets and the animals lean in for them with their long dark tongues, which makes for memorable photos and plenty of laughter from children. School visits are free when booked a week in advance. Volunteer guides, many of them environmental studies students, give short talks about giraffe biology and the threats they face, and tipping them is encouraged. Warthogs wander freely around the grounds.
Beyond the platform there is a walk through the centre's nature sanctuary, a Tea House for a drink and a snack, and a gift shop. The centre says most of the money from fees and sales goes back into its conservation and education work, so a visit directly supports the programme.
The centre is open every day from 09:00 to 17:00, including weekends and public holidays. Allow one and a half to two hours. Weekdays between 11:00 and 13:00 are the busiest time, and weekends and holidays are busy throughout, so arrive soon after opening for a calmer visit. Children between 3 and 12 pay a reduced rate and under-threes go free. Payment is by card or M-Pesa, so do not rely on cash.
It is in the south-western suburb of Lang'ata, around 15 to 20 km from the city centre depending on your route. Most people come by taxi, ride-hailing app or as part of a half-day tour, and it combines naturally with the Karen Blixen Museum and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery visit on the same morning or afternoon. Next door is the private Giraffe Manor hotel, whose giraffes belong to the same breeding programme.
Giraffe Centre FAQs
What are the opening hours?
Every day from 09:00 to 17:00, including weekends and public holidays.
How long should I allow?
About one and a half to two hours to feed the giraffes, hear a talk, walk the nature trail and stop at the Tea House.
When is it least crowded?
Early in the morning. Weekdays from 11:00 to 13:00 are busiest, and weekends are busy all day.
Can I pay in cash?
Plan to pay by card or M-Pesa, which are the payment methods the centre lists.
Is it good for children?
Yes. Children aged 3 to 12 pay a lower rate, under-threes are free, and the feeding platform is a favourite with families.
Which giraffes live here?
Rothschild's giraffes, a subspecies found only in East Africa that the centre has bred since 1979.
Who runs the centre?
The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) Kenya, which funds conservation education from visitor income.
What is nearby?
The Karen Blixen Museum and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery are both in the south-western suburbs and easy to combine.