GIRAFFE CENTER
Giraffe Center
The Giraffe Centre is a wildlife conservation and education facility located in Lang’ata, Nairobi, Kenya. It is best known for its successful breeding program for the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe and for offering close-up, interactive experiences that promote conservation awareness among visitors and school groups.
Key facts
- Location: Lang’ata, Nairobi, Kenya
- Founded: 1979
- Founder: Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville
- Operated by: African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) Kenya
- Focus species: Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)
History and Mission
The center was established by conservationists Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville after they adopted a baby Rothschild’s giraffe. Their initiative evolved into the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, aiming to protect this subspecies, once on the brink of extinction. Since then, the center has bred and reintroduced dozens of giraffes into Kenyan national parks and reserves.
Conservation and Education
The Giraffe Centre combines conservation with environmental education. It hosts thousands of Kenyan schoolchildren annually, teaching about wildlife protection and ecological balance. Funds generated from visitor activities and donations support local conservation programs and rural development initiatives.
Visitor Experience
Visitors can observe, feed, and photograph giraffes from an elevated platform designed to bring them eye-level with the animals. The site also features nature trails and a small museum highlighting Kenya’s biodiversity and conservation history. The adjacent Giraffe Manor, a boutique hotel, offers a similar immersive experience with resident giraffes.
Importance
The Giraffe Centre is both a conservation success story and a leading eco-tourism attraction in Kenya. Its efforts have helped stabilize Rothschild’s giraffe populations and inspired similar conservation projects across East Africa. It remains a model for combining wildlife preservation with public engagement.