Day 4 Nairobi continued – visit to the giraffes

http://www.giraffecenter.org/

After visiting the elephant orphanage there was more delight in store as we drove to the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), known as the Giraffe Centre. This place is devoted to saving the Rothschild giraffe, the only endangered breed. The other two types of giraffe are the Reticulated giraffe(found in zoos throughout the world) and the Maasai giraffe which is also plentiful. The markings on a Rothschild are more jagged and redder in colour.

The centre was started by Betty and Jock Leslie-Melville in 1979 when the plight of the Rothschild giraffe was recognised.

These giraffes are used to visitors and extremely tame. We were given pellets to feed to them and it felt wonderful when their soft muzzle met our open hands. They do have long rough black tongues and one visitor tried giving food by holding a pellet between his teeth - but neither of us fancied that method somehow!

There was a platform at giraffe head level so we could really get up close and personal with these gorgeous beasts – and admire their beautiful eyes and long lashes.

The Latin name for giraffe is camelopardalis – which means a camel-like creature with leopard spots. Certainly the way they move is quite “rocky” like a camel but they are amazingly graceful at speed.