One of the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experiences we offer when you travel Contiki, located just outside of Nairobi, is The Giraffe Centre where you’ll have the chance to visit and feed one of its resident Rothschild Giraffes. A visit to the Centre will afford you the opportunity to get up close to the tallest species on earth, whilst also learning about the incredible conservation efforts carried out by the passionate Giraffe Centre team.
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Founded in 1979 by British American couple Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville, the Centre originally began with just two young giraffe calves, Daisy and Marlon. Rothschild Giraffes had been slowly loosing their habitat in Western Kenya and as a consequence their numbers were rapidly diminishing, so Jock and Betty rescued the young calves and transported them back to their home (the same site where the Centre is located today). The pair were bred, further funding was secured, and in the years since more than 40 giraffes have been bred through the breeding programme and subsequently released back into the wild. As it currently stands, numbers of Rothschild Giraffes roaming free in Kenyan national parks amounts to around 300, over double the amount counted back in 1979.
The Centre doesn’t just stop at breeding giraffes for release, they’re also on a mission to educate the children and youth of Kenya about the positive impact of conservation, and how this benefits both humans and animals. To date over 50,000 school children from all over Kenya have visited the park free of charge, with experts sharing information about the animals and the importance of conservation.
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So all in all, you could say the Giraffe Centre is a pretty awesome place to visit, right? Well we certainly thought as much, which is why we are proud to include it as a part of our Contiki Cares program, on our East Africa Safari and Kenyan Highlights trips. As well as learning about the giraffes and having the chance to feed them, you’ll also be treated to a delightful 1.5 kilometre stroll around the sanctuary, affording you the chance to spot various bird species, dikdiks and warthogs.
Giraffe kisses AND warthogs? It’s like a live action Lion King you can play a starring role in…
