Eye to eye with the giraffes

About this experience

Some days you want one thing done well. This tour takes you from your hotel to the Giraffe Centre, run by AFEW Kenya on Nyumbi Road off Duma Road in Lang'ata, about 15 km and roughly 40 minutes from the city centre, per the centre. The giraffes here are the Rothschild's giraffe, now usually classified as the Nubian giraffe, rated Critically Endangered, with about 1,281 left in Kenya by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation's 2025 estimate. The centre cares for 10 of them.

Your guide walks you onto the raised feeding platform, where the giraffes come to eye level for their pellets, and explains how the centre has bred and released them since its founding in 1979. Guests single out the photos the guides take. With time left, you follow the 1.5 km nature trail, included in the ticket, down to the Gogo River and a view point towards the Ngong Hills. Groups go up to 30, per the listing, and the whole trip takes about 3 hours.

The price covers the pickup and drop-off, the guide and the guided visit. The centre's entry fee is paid on the day, per the listing: KSh 1,500 per non-resident adult (about US$11 to 12 at the Central Bank of Kenya rate of October 2026). Food and drinks are extra; the centre's Tea House is on site. The Giraffe Centre takes M-Pesa, Visa and Mastercard, per its own FAQ, so a card covers the giraffes. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, and you can reserve now and pay later.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off with a professional guide
• Feeding the giraffes at eye level from the raised platform
• The story of the centre's breeding and release work since 1979
• The 1.5 km nature trail to the Gogo River, free with the ticket
• A guide who takes your photos at the platform

How the day runs

1. PickupFrom your hotel

   Your guide collects you in Nairobi and heads south-west to Lang'ata.

2. At the centreTickets and the talk

   You pay the entry at the booth and the guide introduces the giraffes and the conservation work behind them.

3. On the platformFeeding time

   An educator hands out the pellets and you feed the giraffes from the raised platform, with your guide taking photos.

4. AfterwardsThe nature trail

   If time allows, the 1.5 km trail through the sanctuary to the Gogo River and a view point towards the Ngong Hills.

5. About 3 hours in allBack to your hotel

   A stop at the Tea House or the gift shop first, if you like, then the drive back.

What's included

Who it suits

What guests say

Tips before you book

• Go early or mid-afternoon on a weekday. The centre says it is busiest from 11am to 1pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and on public holidays.
• At the Giraffe Centre an educator hands out pellets of corn, wheat, grass and molasses, and the feeding recommendations are on the notice board by the payment booth. Follow the educators and you will be fine.
• The Giraffe Centre takes M-Pesa, Visa and Mastercard, per its own FAQ, so a card covers the giraffes. Children aged 3 to 12 pay KSh 750 and under-3s go free.
• Wear comfortable shoes for the trail and bring sunscreen and a camera, as the listing suggests.
• The centre's guides are Environmental Studies students who volunteer as educators. A small tip is welcome, per the centre.

Read next:

• Giraffe Centre tickets
• Giraffe Manor

Frequently asked questions

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