Giraffe Centre Nairobi Entrance Fee and Best Time to Visit

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The Giraffe Centre Nairobi is a popular tourist attraction in Nairobi, Kenya offering visitors the chance to interact with these majestic animals. This conservancy cares for the Rothschild’s giraffe, an endangered subspecies of the giraffe only found in a few locations in Kenya and Uganda. If you are planning to visit the center, you must be wondering what is Giraffe Centre Nairobi entrance fee?

Keep reading to learn where is giraffe centre located, how much is entry fee to Giraffe Centre Nairobi and best time to visit giraffe centre.

Where is Giraffe Centre Located in Nairobi?

The Giraffe Centre is on Nyumbi Road, off Duma Road, in Lang’ata, and about 20 kilometers away from the heart of Nairobi, Kenya.

The centre protects the endangered giraffe species found in East Africa grasslands.

The Giraffe Centre Nairobi was established in 1979 as a nature sanctuary to educate urban school children on conservation while offering visitors the chance to see wildlife.

The founders, Jock Leslie Melville, a Kenyan descendant of a Scottish Earl, and his wife Betty, captured two baby giraffes to begin a giraffe breeding program on their Lang’ata property.

The program proved successful and resulted in the introduction of several breeding pairs of Rothschild’s Giraffe into Kenyan national parks.

How to Get to Giraffe Centre with Public Means

Not everyone goes to the giraffe centre driving their cars. Several matatus ply the route from the CBD.

To get there from the CBD using a matatu, take matatu number 24 heading to Karen and alight at the Hardy Shopping Centre Stage.

From the stage, you can walk or take a Boda Boda. It’s about 1km from there. If you are going as a group, walk as you bond.

What is the Best Time to Visit Giraffe Centre

The Giraffe Centre is open to visitors and tourists all year-round and daily, including weekends and public holidays, from 9 am-5 pm.

I have taken my kids to the Giraffe centre on several occasions and at different times of the day.

However, the morning session is the best time to visit the giraffe centre. From 9 am to 12 noon, when the sun is not too hot, the kids are not hungry and tired.

The peak hours are between 11 am to 1 pm on weekdays; the weekends and public holidays are usually busy throughout the day as more people have free time to visit.

Giraffe Centre Nairobi Entrance Fee

The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi charges different entrance fees for residents and non-resident visitors. They include;

Residents

Adults: Kes 400
Children: Kes 200

Non-Residents

Adults: Kes 750 ($7.50)
Children: Kes 1500 ($15)

NB: Children under 3 years are not charged. Whether they are residents or non-residents.

The Giraffe Centre Nairobi entrance fee does not apply to schools as its FREE for them.

However, you must book your visit at Giraffe Centre a week in advance. Check the website’s contact page to make a booking.

Visitors can arrive during the open hours (between 9 am -5 pm) any day, including weekends and public holidays. You do not have to book in advance to visit the Giraffe Centre.

The Giraffe Centre only accepts Credit cards, Debit cards, or MPESA Payments.

Giraffe Centre Activities

For a fulfilling experience at the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, visitors should plan for a 1.5 to 2-hour visit. Some activities at the Giraffe Centre include:

Giraffe Feeding

Picture yourself holding a handful of molasses pellets, nervously dropping them one by one onto the outstretched grey tongue of an eager giraffe.

The experience at the Giraffe Centre will let you get up close to the tallest mammal for an unforgettable experience.

And your visit will also contribute directly to the conservation efforts of the endangered Rothschild’s Giraffe species.

Attend Informative Lectures

At the conservancy, you will also have the opportunity to attend informative lectures and learn more about giraffes and other wildlife.

Here, you will also learn about the conservation efforts to protect these animals.

Leisure Walk in the Conservancy

In addition, visitors can take a leisurely walk in the serene Nature Conservancy, which offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors also get to take beautiful pictures free of charge.

Snack at the Tea House

To top off their visit, visitors can enjoy a snack at the Tea House, which serves a variety of refreshments.

With all these activities, visitors have a memorable experience at the Giraffe Centre.

Nearby Attractions

Besides exploring the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, there are nearby attractions tourists can visit to experience nature in a city. These include the following:

The Giraffe Manor

The Giraffe Manor, located within the Giraffe Centre sanctuary, offers a magical stay for tourists willing to explore the wild in the comfort of a boutique hotel.

At the Giraffe Manor, a charming herd of Rothschild’s giraffes peek into the large windows and greet guests during breakfast or afternoon tea.

The hotel offers first-class luxury and the feeling of staying in an elegant family home.

And the Retreat features a stunning pool and wellness facilities for guests. A stay at Giraffe Manor is a magical experience that local and international tourists should explore.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a wildlife conservation organization that rescues orphaned elephants and rehabilitates wildlife, providing them a haven.

While you have a few hours to spare, you can visit the sanctuary only a short drive from the Giraffe Centre.

A guide will accompany you to the elephant orphanage, where you can witness the conservation efforts.

You can also photograph adorable baby elephants as they feed and play in sand and mud baths to cool off.

Additionally, you can adopt or sponsor an orphaned baby elephant during your visit. Your visit is a chance to support a worthy cause while making great memories.

Kazuri Beads Factory

After enjoying your visit to the Giraffe Centre, explore Kazuri Beads Factory, which is just a 12-minute drive.

The factory is the ideal stop for the excursion, where you can learn how the local communities make jewelry and pottery from clay.

The factory is renowned for producing some of the most beautiful beads; here, you will learn all the production stages from start to finish.

It’s a factory that seeks to improve the livelihoods of the surrounding community and employs single mothers.

Get some of their beautiful works of art as souvenirs to take home for family and friends.

Supporting the Giraffe Centre Initiatives

The Giraffe Centre Nairobi focuses on conserving the Rothschild’s Giraffe through breeding initiatives.

It provides financial support to organizations with the same conservation agenda. The Giraffe Centre also trains and funds schools for their environmental projects.

If you would like to support the initiative, the centre encourages visitors to tip their tour guides as they are volunteer Environmental Studies students.

You can also donate through the Giraffe Centre Nairobi’s website to contribute towards a school trip or even purchase a gift card.

Conclusion

If you are in Nairobi and want a quick city tour to see giraffes, we highly recommend The Giraffe Centre.

Clearly, the Giraffe Centre Nairobi entrance fee is budget friendly. You’ll have a fun experience getting close to the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes, feeding them, and learning more about the sanctuary.

It’s a must-visit destination for animal lovers in Nairobi that’s both engaging and memorable. You’ll love it; we promise that!