Giraffe Up Close - Experience the Thrill of being Eyeball to Eyeball with a Dozen Rothschild Giraffes

Want to see a giraffe up close? Well, then make a date with the Giraffe Center in Nairobi.

In fact, this giraffe sanctuary is one of my family's favorite spots and we come here when we want to touch, stroke, feed and peck a dozen Rothschild giraffes.

First, we head up the wooden deck where we stand shoulder to shoulder with the gorgeous blondes...

Then, we are handed a handful of grain pellets - the giraffes' favorite snack...

Then we muster some courage to feed these gorgeous blondes.

"I want to see the incriminating evidence," I hear you say. OK... OK...

Here I am feeding 3-year Kelly...

It is slimy and ticklish so am suppressing a giggle.

Besides seeing a giraffe up close, the Giraffe Center is a must-visit if you want to experience the thrill of the planet's tallest and most elegant mammal eating out of your hand.

Or if you fancy watching giraffes grazing and lazily browsing the upper branches of the acacias dotted in the center's huge grounds.

By the way, acacias are a delicacy among giraffes and the blondes' antiseptic saliva helps the wounds delivered by the tree's thorny branches heal fast.

You can learn about these and other fascinating giraffe facts here but I digress...

A dozen or so giraffes roam the Giraffe Center's 140-acre grounds, away from predators and encroachment by humans which nearly rendered these Kenya animals extinct.

But there are other reasons why this giraffe sanctuary, located in the up-market Karen suburb, is an absolute winner.

First, it was established by Jock Leslie-Melvile in 1979 to save the then gravely endangered Rothschild giraffe.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) which runs the center, the number of this species of giraffe has risen from a paltry 120 when the center was opened, to well over 500.

Once they mature, at 3 to 4 years of age, many are successfully translocated into the wild.

Second, the sanctuary makes for a great family outing and is guaranteed to be great fun for little children.

Their highlight will obviously be the moment they put pellets on the giraffes' purplish-black tongues.

Here is my son Atu having a go...

You don't just get an opportunity to see many a giraffe up close, if you have the time, you could go on a guided nature walk through the Center's huge primeval forest.

There, you will see where the giraffes spend the nights. And, there are plenty of colorful birds chirping away in the bushes while at it.

Third, this Kenya tourist attraction educates children about the country's wildlife and on the need to conserve the environment and more, specifically, their animal heritage.

Fourth (and I don't intend this to be an essay!), the opportunity to see several tortoises, warthogs, guinea fowl and the elusive bushbuck will come as an unexpected bonus to many.

And, if you love it there and have really deep pockets (and are ready to spend about US$ 360 per night full board), you can stretch this surreal experience a while longer by booking into the exclusive Scottish-styled Giraffe Manor...

Here you will, am sure, happily share your meals with the graceful inhabitants of the compound.

You can help the Rothschild giraffes' cause by adopting one of the Center's giraffes.

This entails making a $500 donation directly to the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) which runs the Center. This donation is tax deductible in the US and you will, in appreciation, receive a beautiful adoption certificate.

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