Beyond the City: Discover Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre
Nairobi offers far more than a night between flights. A visit to the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi brings you face to face with one of Kenya’s most recognisable animals, the Rothschild’s giraffe, while introducing you to the importance of conservation and environmental education.
Quick Answer
The Giraffe Centre is a conservation and education centre in Lang’ata, southwest Nairobi, run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W. Kenya), founded in 1979. Visitors can see and feed endangered Rothschild’s giraffes from a raised platform and learn about conservation. It is easy to combine with other Nairobi excursions before or after a safari.
What Is the Giraffe Centre?
Located in the Lang’ata area of Nairobi, the Giraffe Centre is home to the Rothschild’s giraffe and an environmental conservation centre. It was established by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W. Kenya), founded in 1979 by Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville, whose work focuses on conservation education and giving local and international visitors the chance to come into close contact with giraffes.
Giraffe Centre at a glance
- Where: Lang’ata, southwest Nairobi, Kenya
- Run by: the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W. Kenya), founded in 1979
- Giraffes: Rothschild’s giraffe, a subspecies found only in East Africa
- Ideal for: families, couples and anyone with a free morning in Nairobi
A Visit with a Conservation Purpose
The Giraffe Centre is more than a place to see giraffes up close. Education is central to its purpose: it teaches Kenyan schoolchildren and young people about wildlife and the environment, and helps visitors understand why protecting habitats and threatened species matters. Its history is closely tied to saving the Rothschild’s giraffe: when its founders began their work, only around 130 remained in western Kenya, and today over 300 live and breed in Kenya’s national parks.
For visitors, it is a memorable change of pace from the city: a chance to observe the giraffes’ distinctive features and appreciate the conservation work behind the experience. It is especially meaningful for families and travellers who want their time in Nairobi to include learning as well as discovery.
Add the Giraffe Centre to Your Nairobi Itinerary
The Giraffe Centre fits naturally into a wider Nairobi excursion or a longer Kenya safari. It can be combined with the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Karen Blixen Museum on our half-day Nairobi tour, before you travel on to the Masai Mara, Tsavo or Amboseli. See all our Nairobi excursions and short trips, or request a Giraffe Centre visit.
At The Out of Africa Experience, we believe the journey begins before the first game drive. Nairobi has its own stories to share, and experiences like the Giraffe Centre help visitors understand the people and conservation efforts behind Kenya’s wildlife heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi?
In Lang’ata, southwest Nairobi, close to Karen and about 4 km from Karen Blixen Coffee Garden & Cottages.
Can you feed the giraffes at the Giraffe Centre?
Yes. Visitors can feed the Rothschild’s giraffes from a raised platform, which brings you face to face with them.
Who runs the Giraffe Centre?
The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W. Kenya), a Kenyan non-profit founded in 1979, which focuses on conservation education.
How long does a visit take?
Allow about an hour, or combine it with other Karen attractions on a half-day Nairobi tour.
Make Nairobi Part of Your Journey
Ask us to include the Giraffe Centre and other Nairobi experiences in your Kenya itinerary.
Source: Giraffe Centre – About Us.
