Review: Getting Up Close at Nairobi’s Giraffe Center & Baby Elephant Sanctuary

If you’re looking for unforgettable experiences while you visit Nairobi, Kenya, two places, too, really jump to the top of that list, and that’s the Giraffe Center and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and that happens to be where they raise baby elephants, it’s almost like a big day care center! Both spots will give you special, close-up interactions with amazing animals and you’ll learn something about the efforts they make to protect them.

Getting Face-to-Face with Gentle Giants at the Giraffe Center

The Giraffe Center is just a short drive from Nairobi’s city center, and yet, it is a place that is super accessible and so is very worth it. This little slice of giraffe heaven was created by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, and their main aim is, arguably, conservation via education. That’s achieved simply, too, by having you hand-feed Rothschild’s giraffes! You can purchase little food pellets, too, at the entrance, but there are employees walking around passing them out, typically. Holding that little brown pellet and having one of these incredibly tall creatures gently take it from your hand is quite something. Getting slobbered on just a bit is basically part of the fun! They have a raised platform, and so this brings you right to eye-level, yet it is easy to capture some amazing pictures, actually.

There’s an information center, apparently, where you can learn about giraffe conservation, too, if you want to. If you visit here you may find out, seemingly, that the Rothschild’s giraffe is one of the most endangered subspecies, and this center is, in a way, playing a pretty huge part in boosting their numbers in the wild. They do this by running a breeding program and then they do reintroduction of the giraffes to protected areas. So, while, that feeding experience is clearly the most memorable part for guests, still it’s vital to recognize how much it goes beyond simple entertainment, you know?

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: Where Baby Elephants Find Sanctuary

Next on your list simply must be the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Elephant Orphanage, not too far from the Giraffe Center. The SWT, more or less, rescues and raises baby elephants that, often, have been orphaned due to poaching or habitat loss. You get to observe them during their feeding time. And seeing them race in, eager for their milk bottles, is incredibly adorable. You are almost, just watching giant toddlers!

During your visit, typically, the keepers will, just a little, share each elephant’s personal story. This just offers such a personal connection! You see just how much dedication and work that they put into helping raise these orphans so that one day, very, they are strong enough to go back to the wild. In many respects, the SWT’s work actually goes far beyond simply caring for baby elephants. They do a lot of things, but this place has vet teams that respond to animals in distress throughout Kenya. They protect their habitats by actively working to take out poaching rings. So it might be fair to say that when you visit, basically, you’re supporting pretty widespread conservation efforts, you know?

Planning Your Visit: What You Should Know

Here’s some stuff that will help you get ready, basically. Arguably, the Giraffe Center and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust are quite popular, very. So, it is advisable, you know, that you visit them on weekdays or go in the early morning, really. That way, you beat the crowds, too, and there are no long lines to worry about. SWT is only open for a few hours a day (11am – 12pm) and, typically, visitors cannot just wander the premises on their own. Arrive way before it starts to maximize your time! Booking tickets ahead is important so that you can keep your visit stress free. Now, that both locations are only a drive from each other, in some respects, it may be a good idea that you make it a half-day outing!

So far as dress goes, Nairobi’s weather often is comfortable. Having said that, you should wear light layers. Closed toe shoes are a bit easier if you’re just going to walk outdoors. Bring your camera! I guess you’ll probably take lots of pictures when you are feeding giraffes or when baby elephants are running to meet their keepers. So it’s vital to keep your camera close!

Making the Most of Your Experience

When you go to the Giraffe Center, actually, don’t rush that giraffe-feeding experience, very. Be certain to relish those gentle moments! Watch their graceful necks bend so that you can eat the pellets from your hand. Find ways to take photographs but then watch everything with your own two eyes as much as you possibly can. And be certain to spend time reading informational displays in order to find out more info about Rothschild’s giraffes and those efforts they make so as to protect them, really.

At the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, seemingly, if you want, you can also participate in their fostering program. Here you support these efforts to care for these little elephants by fostering them personally. These foster parents also get all kinds of great things back too; this includes updates as to how the elephant is getting along. This simply boosts one’s connection with the project. This isn’t merely about some quick interaction with the elephants. But more or less, it is actively helping save elephants throughout Kenya.

It goes without saying that there’s a whole bunch more to conservation! Respect those animals! Understand conservation’s broader scope! By spending a little extra time, naturally, you increase appreciation for each species. With a broader education it becomes a positive impact that affects more people!

Impact and Conservation: Beyond the Tourist Experience

By going to see The Giraffe Center and The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, we get these cool up close animal experiences; still, arguably, this provides us with tangible means so that conservation programs are funded. Such experiences help make many conservation stories visible, thus allowing many guests the option so as to engage directly by promoting animal welfare overall. To get people involved can sometimes be the difference between survival of threatened species as opposed to extinction!

Those visitors going and seeing The Giraffe Center and The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust have all the great experiences. Still, it’s vital to acknowledge our role to conserve. One might donate to projects or get more engaged within responsible wildlife tourism so that more visitors recognize sustainability while preserving those animal populations around Earth, and so too help make sure similar animal populations increase globally. As folks make choices that value ecology, wildlife, therefore continues prospering over generations too.

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