Giraffe
Center Nairobi Day Tour
Nairobi
Excursion - Kenya
 Up
Close & Personal at the Giraffe Centre
Karen Nairobi
|
Feeding a
Giraffe at the Giraffe Centre Nairobi
|
A kiss from
a giraffe at the Giraffe Centre, Nairobi
|
About
Giraffe
Center
The
Giraffe Centre, AFEW (African Fund for Endangered
Wildlife) is located in Langata, just outside Nairobi.
The centre has been ostensibly set up as a breeding
centre for the endangered Rothschild giraffe, but
now operates conservation/education programs for Kenyan
school children.
There
is good information on giraffes available here, and
an elevated feeding platform where visitors meet the
resident giraffes face to face. Hand feeding giraffes
is an education in itself. You will see, close at
hand, how they use their long, prehensile tongues
to remove leaves from prickly acacia branches.
The
AFEW centre is also home to Giraffe Manor, a beautifully
maintained colonial home, now an exclusive guesthouse.
The centre's giraffe population wanders freely through
the lush gardens, and pays an occasional visit to
the house itself, often pushing their heads through
the French Windows to inspect the breakfast table.
Price
Per Person
Dates
From |
Dates
To |
Price Per Person |
1st
January 2010 |
14th December
2010 |
75 US Dollars |
Trip
Description (Tour
Duration: 2
Hours)
The
Giraffe Centre is located at Langata, approximately
5 kilometers from the centre of Nairobi, Kenya. The
Giraffe Center is a wonderful and refreshing experience
undertaken during African Spice Safaris excursion
in Nairobi. The tour gives a completely up close and
personal interaction where guests have the opportunity
to view giraffes as well as feed them.
Giraffe
Centre Nairobi
Tour Price Includes
*
Price per person
*
All Park Entry Fees, Service Charge and Taxes
*
Pickup from your hotel in Nairobi and drop-off to
your hotel
* Visit Giraffe Centre in Langata, Karen District
Nairobi, Kenya
*
Professional English speaking African Spice Safaris
Driver Guide
Giraffe
Centre
Nairobi
Tour Price Excludes
*
Travelers Insurance
*
Personal expenses such as drinks
*
Gratuity
to your Safari Driver Guide
*
Optional activities the stipulated itinerary
*
Meals, sightseeing not included in the package
*
Communication charges, visas, international airfares
and airport taxes
*
Transfers
to/from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost
applies for tours starting from the airport)
Giraffe
Centre Nature Trail,
Nairobi
Kenya
|
Giraffe
Centre Bird Walks
Nairobi,
Kenya
|
Giraffe
Manor luxury Hotel next to the Giraffe Centre |
Giraffe
Centre Information
The
African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Kenya (A.F.E.W
Kenya Ltd) also known as the Giraffe Centre is a non-profit
making organization, which was founded by the late
Betty and Jock Lesilie Melville in 1979. The late
Betty, Jock's American born wife, had earlier discovered
the sad plight of the Rothschild giraffe and there
were only 120 left on an 18,000 acre ranch in Western
Kenya that was scheduled for sub-division and settlement.
The first effort to save this sub-species was to bring
two young giraffes to their property in Langata and
later Betty founded AFEW USA.
Funds
were raised to move five groups to different safe
areas in Kenya namely; Lake Nakuru National Park,
Mwea National Game Reserve, Ruma National Park and
Nasalot Game Reserve. Funds raised via AFEW USA also
built the Giraffe Centre and have bought 60 acres,
and is in the process of buying 40 more acres for
the Sanctuary.
Giraffe
Pedigrees
Giraffes
are found in the semi-arid regions of Africa, where
trees and bushes are plentiful. Today there are 8
distinct sub-species of Giraffes in Africa. In Kenya
we have the Rothschild Giraffe which is the rarest,
the Masai Giraffe of Southern Kenya which is the most
commonly seen, and the Reticulated Giraffe of Northern
Kenya. They live to be twenty to thirty years old.
Their main enemy is man. Killed for their meat and
hide. Their main difference is their keen eyesight,
running speed (up to 55km/per hour) and their powerful
kicks.
More
Attractions at the Giraffe Centre
Giraffe
Centre Birds Sanctuary
The indigenous forest
is a remnant of the natural forest that once surrounded
Nairobi. It comprises of over 100 acres of dry upland
forest that is the larger ecosystem that originally
comprised of the current Ngong forest and Ololua forest
hence similar vegetation. In this sanctuary, we have
preserved the original forest for our giraffe, and
have also kept intact the habitat for many other animals
that sometimes are encountered during a walk don the
trail.
The
Nature Trail
The
trail stretches about 1.5 kilometers meandering through
thick bushes and forests. This leisurely stroll begins
directly in front of the parking lot at the Giraffe
Centre. This is a large tract of dry upland forest
that existed in the area known today as Nairobi. There
are variety of animals that make this forest their
home including the giraffes, warthogs, hyenas and
times we get leopard. In this sanctuary e have preserved
the original forest for our giraffe, and have also
kept intact the habitat for many other animals that
are sometimes encountered as one takes a walk down
the trail.
Get
a copy of the Nature Trail Guide Book, which contains
a map for easy movement as well as information on
different species of flora and fauna that are easy
to sight as one takes a walk. The guide book is available
at the Giraffe Centre.
Activities
*
Bird walks
*
Nature walks
*
Nature interactive learning
*
Tree identification walks (Botanical walks)
