Giraffe Centre
Feed a Rothschild giraffe by hand at this beloved Nairobi conservation centre.
The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife's Giraffe Centre sits in the leafy Karen suburb of Nairobi and has been protecting the Rothschild giraffe — one of the most endangered giraffe subspecies on the planet — since 1979. Founded by American expatriates Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville, the centre began as a breeding programme to save a population that had dwindled to fewer than 130 individuals in the wild. Today it's both a working conservation success story and one of the most joyful wildlife encounters in East Africa, welcoming visitors while continuing to breed and release giraffes into protected reserves across Kenya.
The experience is disarmingly simple and completely unforgettable. A raised circular platform puts you at eye level with some of the world's tallest animals, and you can hand-feed them specially prepared pellets — their long, dark purple tongues wrapping around your hand with a grip that is both gentle and thoroughly gross in the best possible way. You'll learn about the Rothschild's distinctive features (no markings below the knee, giving the appearance of white stockings), and the resident warthogs that wander freely around the grounds add an unexpected bonus encounter. The centre also has a small nature trail, an education centre, and the excellent Giraffe Centre Restaurant if you want to linger.
Arrive early — the giraffes tend to be most active and interactive in the morning before the tour groups roll in around mid-morning. The centre is easily combined with a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum, which is just a short drive away in the same neighbourhood. Entry fees support the conservation work directly, so your admission actually matters here.