With their towering heights and signature long necks, giraffes are some of the most iconic creatures of Africa. These aren’t just tall animals; they are nature’s elegant architects, reaching for the highest leaves with necks that defy gravity.
The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an iconic mega herbivore boasting of many unique qualities, most famously that of being the world’s tallest land mammal. The giraffe has got several subspecies that differ in details of their blotchy pattern.
All giraffes share the same key features, namely, their height, long legs and the world’s longest neck, a tasseled tail and two or three bony horn-like ossicones on the top of the head.
Giraffes are the world’s tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks. A giraffe’s legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet. These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles an hour over longer distances.
Giraffes can be found in most major reserves across east Africa and their stature makes them easy to spot. You are highly unlikely to miss giraffes in any reserve as it’s a very popular animal sighting for most safari travelers Kenya. Here are some of the best places to spot these amazing species.
Feed the Rothschild giraffes at breakfast at the Giraffe Manor
Imagine waking up in your luxe accommodation and being greeted by a giraffe. It sounds like a fantasy, but at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, a uniquely picturesque and interactive experience awaits. This exclusive boutique hotel is famous for its resident herd of Rothschild’s giraffes that often poke their long necks into the windows of the dining room or greet guests at breakfast.
This enchanting interaction provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to capture close-up photos with these graceful animals in a beautifully preserved 1930s manor house set against lush gardens. The elegant architecture of the manor, combined with the chance to have breakfast with giraffes, allows for truly magical and whimsical photographs.
The breakfast is freshly prepared with local ingredients such as exotic fruit platters, freshly baked pastries, perfectly cooked eggs and other different variety of dishes that makes every bite feels like a celebration in the morning.
Visit The Giraffe Center to feed the Rothschild giraffes and maybe even give one a kiss
The Giraffe Centre is one of the top tourist attractions for visitors to Nairobi. Don’t miss the opportunity to spend time with these wild giraffes. As well as a chance to learn all about giraffes in Africa, you will get the chance to feed a giraffe by hand and if you are lucky, even kiss one.
The Giraffe Centre has evolved into one of Nairobi’s most popular tourist destinations. The Giraffe
Sanctuary is a huge protected site where giraffes are able to wander free and safe. Opposite the sanctuary is a 12-acre area of bush where the Giraffe Centre and famous Giraffe Manor are located. The giraffes are really amiable creatures and capturing some memorable shots with them should not be too hard.
This Centre offers visitors with the opportunity to interact with the giraffes and hand feed them from a raised viewing point, getting closer to the giraffes’ eyeball to eyeball, checking out the long flirtatious eyelashes.
Walk among the gentle giants of Crescent Island in Naivasha
Inside Kenya’s Great Rift Valley lies Crescent Island Game Sanctuary, Naivasha’s best kept secret. Here, wildlife lives in relative peace and tranquility, a heaven and haven for herbivores, as there are no carnivores chasing after them.
With a higher population of animals than many other parks in the country, Crescent is an ideal spot to walk among the gentle towering giants: the giraffes.
On Crescent Island, game viewing is pretty easy. You can spot a variety of animals from giraffes, elands, zebras, impalas, etc. There are also several avian species and aquatic habitat. The Lake is home to lots of hippos which can be spotted easily from the island. Some of the birdlife residents at the Crescent Island are the fish eagle, herons, ospreys, black crakes, and lily-trotters.
A good number of herbivores and mammals can be found grazing the surrounding areas of the lake. Some of the grazers include zebras, impala, buffalo, kongoni, giraffe and hippos at night. At Crescent island, you can see giraffes and other wildlife up close or simply set up a picnic and relax.
There are no predators to intimidate or prey on them so they live freely.
In addition to the walking safari experience, there are guided boat rides that let you see an assortment of birdlife from pelicans, cranes and smaller brightly colored birds on the banks.
Spotting the Endangered Rothschild Giraffe at the Pink Lake
Famous for its shimmering waters and abundant birdlife, Lake Nakuru National Park is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The lake itself is often filled with thousands of flamingos, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
The park is a crucial sanctuary for the endangered Rothschild giraffe. The giraffes in Lake Nakuru National Park are distinguished from other giraffes like the reticulated giraffe. Rothschild giraffe has 5 ossicones on the head and its coat coloring has pale orange-brown patches. They inhabit the savannah grasslands and feed on lush grass and tree stems. Lake Nakuru National Park offers excellent sightings of the Rothschild giraffe all year-round while on safari in Kenya.
Beyond the Special Five: Samburu’s Elegant Reticulated Giraffes
Samburu national reserve is renowned for its special five; Biesa Oryx, Somali ostrich, Reticulated giraffe, Generuk and Gravy’s zebra. The beautiful African giraffes “reticulated giraffe” coat consist of a large polygonal, liver-colored blocks outlined by a web of bright-white lines. These rare subspecies can be spotted in Samburu while on a Kenya safari doing game drives. Whereas Samburu has got beautiful landscape, savannahs for game drive activities considering the reserve as the best destination for sighting reticulated giraffes.
Exclusive Giraffe encounters at Soysambu Conservancy
Located near Lake Elementaita in the great rift valley, Soysambu conservancy is home to one of the largest populations of Nubian giraffes in Kenya and also a habitat for the endangered Rothschild giraffe. The conservancy currently hosts approximately 124 giraffes, both Rothschild and Nubian giraffe. The conservancy is around 48,000 acres, making it the best spot for sighting giraffes while doing game drives.
Beyond the Big Five: You’ll Never Miss a Neck at Masai Mara
Kenya’s flagship Masai Mara National Reserve delivers reliable sightings all year-round for the giraffes. Masai Mara giraffes are a regular sight in the reserve, especially in the open plains.
Mara reserve is home to the Masai giraffe which is a different subspecies from the Rothschild and Reticulated giraffes. The Masai giraffes coat is covered in irregular star shaped patches and is buff-colored below the knee. These giraffes live in herds and the females are led by a dominant male.