Tour to the Nairobi Giraffe Centre & Optional Elephant Orphanage

Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre gives you something rare in a capital city: the chance to feed giraffes at close range while learning why Rothschild’s giraffes need protection. The experience is short, personal, and easy to combine with another Nairobi stop.

I like the private hotel pickup and the freedom to choose between the elephant orphanage and Kazuri Beads Factory. I also like that the giraffe admission is included, while your own chauffeured vehicle keeps the day simple. The main drawback is that the advertised extra costs are not fully consistent, so confirm the elephant and conservancy fees before you set out.

Key points at a glance

• Feed giraffes at close range: Spend about an hour watching their behavior, hearing conservation information, and offering food.
• Choose your second stop: Add the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage for an extra fee, or visit Kazuri Beads Factory at no added transport cost.
• Ride privately: Your group travels in its own vehicle with hotel or residence pickup and drop-off.
• Meet a working social enterprise: Kazuri shows how clay beads and pottery are made while employing single mothers from a poorer Nairobi neighborhood.
• Plan the elephant visit early: The orphanage accepts only 200 people per day, so availability needs to be confirmed ahead of time.
• Expect a three-to-seven-hour outing: The length depends on your chosen stops, traffic, and whether you include lunch.

Feeding giraffes at Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre

The tour begins with a 9:00 a.m. pickup from your Nairobi hotel or residence. From there, you head to the Giraffe Centre, where the main event is direct contact with the animals during feeding.

This is not a safari drive. You will not be watching giraffes from a distant vehicle in a national park. Instead, you get close enough to study their faces, tongues, eyes, and calm movements as they approach the feeding area. That makes the visit especially appealing if you have only a short stay in Nairobi or if your safari begins later in the trip.

The visit lasts about an hour. It includes information about the giraffes’ behavior, physical traits, and conservation needs. The educational side matters because the encounter is more than a quick photo stop. You learn why these giraffes are endangered and how conservation work helps protect them.

I would give this stop your full attention rather than rushing through it. The giraffes’ gentle behavior is the appeal, but their size can still surprise you. You may find yourself watching how they inspect people, reach for food, and interact with one another as much as you watch the feeding itself.

The setting also avoids the feel of a large group excursion. Since the booking is private, only your party participates in the tour vehicle and guiding arrangement. That gives you more room to ask questions and spend a little longer with a particular animal if the schedule allows.

Admission to the Giraffe Centre is included. This is an important value point, since the centre is the fixed part of the experience and the reason many people book the outing in the first place.

Adding the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant visit

After the giraffe centre, you can request a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, home to rescued baby elephants. The visit is optional and paid separately, but it changes the day from a single wildlife encounter into a broader look at animal rescue and conservation.

The elephant stop is built around watching young elephants feed and play. You also hear the stories of animals that were rescued, which adds emotional weight to what could otherwise be a simple viewing session. The personal accounts connected with the animals are one reason this option can be particularly memorable.

There is a firm capacity limit: the orphanage accepts 200 people per day. You need to notify the operator early enough for availability to be checked. Do not assume that adding the orphanage on the morning of the tour will work.

The supplied price details list two different elephant fees, $15 per person in the itinerary and $20 per person in the inclusions section. They also list a $43 conservancy fee per person, payable by card, and refer separately to the elephant entrance fee. Because those figures do not line up neatly, ask for the current total before booking or before departure. Bring cash for any charge specifically described as cash-only, and bring a card for the conservancy payment if that fee applies.

This extra stop can also lengthen the outing considerably. The full experience is described as lasting between three and seven hours, and traffic between Nairobi attractions can affect the timing. If you have an afternoon flight or a fixed appointment, tell the operator before confirming the elephant visit.

I would choose the elephant option if animal rescue is a major reason you are in Nairobi and you have enough time to avoid feeling hurried. If you mainly want close contact with giraffes, the Giraffe Centre alone provides the core experience at a lower total cost.

Watching pottery take shape at Kazuri Beads Factory

Kazuri Beads Factory is the other optional stop. There is no extra transport charge to add it, making it the more economical extension of the tour.

Here you see the production process from beginning to end. The factory makes beads and pottery, and the visit explains how raw materials become finished jewelry and other goods. This gives you a more practical look at local craft than a standard shop visit, since you see the work behind the products before deciding if you want to buy anything.

Kazuri also has a social purpose. It employs single mothers from a poorer Nairobi neighborhood, helping them earn money to support their families. That makes the stop useful for anyone who wants to connect a purchase with the people and work behind it.

The factory may suit you better than the elephant orphanage if you enjoy craft, design, and community projects, or if you want to avoid another animal attraction. It also gives the day a different rhythm after the giraffe centre.

The scheduled factory visit lasts about an hour. Afterward, lunch can be arranged before you are driven back. Lunch is not included, and the information provided does not name a specific restaurant, so ask your guide what choices are available and what payment method is expected.

Why private transport changes the day

This is a private activity, not a shared bus tour. Your group receives hotel or residence pickup at about 9:00 a.m., transport between stops, and drop-off afterward. A driver-guide is included, and the vehicle is described as chauffeured.

That arrangement is valuable in Nairobi, where a short list of attractions can still take much of a day once road time is added. You do not have to make your own way to the Giraffe Centre, arrange a taxi between attractions, or coordinate a return trip after lunch.

The private format also gives you control over the optional stop. You can request the elephant orphanage, choose Kazuri Beads Factory, or ask about the available plan for your party. The tour description says both optional locations can be reached with no extra transport cost, though entry charges apply at the elephant orphanage.

Do keep expectations realistic. Private transport does not remove Nairobi traffic, and the three-to-seven-hour duration is a wide range. The day may feel compact if you visit only the giraffe centre, but it can become a substantial half-day or longer outing with the orphanage, factory, lunch, and city traffic.

The mobile ticket and booking confirmation make the basic arrangement convenient. Most people can participate, and no special fitness requirement is stated. If you have an unusual mobility need or a tight schedule, contact the operator before booking rather than relying on the general participation note.

What the guide adds to the experience

The driver-guide is more than a person behind the wheel. At the Giraffe Centre, the visit includes explanations of animal behavior, physical traits, and conservation. At the elephant orphanage, the value comes from hearing the individual rescue stories, while Kazuri provides context about the production process and its workers.

One guide specifically named in the feedback is Calvin. He was praised for helping make the day work across the giraffe centre, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and bead factory. Calvin may not be the guide assigned to your booking, so treat his name as useful background rather than a guarantee.

The best use of the private format is to tell your guide what interests you. Ask for more conservation information at the giraffe centre, more time for the craft process at Kazuri, or clear advice about the elephant orphanage fee and entry conditions. A private tour gives you a better chance to shape the conversation than a large shared group.

Price, extra fees, and overall value

The listed price is $63 per person. That includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a driver-guide, private transportation, and Giraffe Centre admission.

For a short Nairobi outing, that is a fair convenience price if you value door-to-door service. You are paying not only for admission, but also for a private vehicle and a guide who can connect the attractions. The price becomes more attractive for a small group that wants to avoid arranging separate taxis.

The value is less clear if you plan to add the elephant orphanage. The elephant entrance fee is not included, and the supplied details mention both $15 and $20 per person. A separate $43 conservancy fee per person is also listed, with card payment required. Those extra amounts could change the total substantially, so ask for a written breakdown before committing.

Kazuri Beads Factory is the budget-friendly add-on because transport is available at no extra cost and admission is listed as free. You still pay for lunch and anything you purchase, but it lets you extend the tour without adding the elephant orphanage charges.

Tips and gratuities are optional. Lunch is also separate. I would budget for both only after confirming the day’s exact route and any mandatory fees.

Who should book this Nairobi outing

I would recommend this tour to you if you have a short Nairobi stay, want a private schedule, or need an easy activity before or after other plans. Families may appreciate the close-up giraffe encounter, while first-time visitors can cover two very different sides of Nairobi in one outing: wildlife conservation and local craft work.

The tour also suits you if you prefer a gentle introduction to Kenya’s animals before a longer safari. The Giraffe Centre does not replace a national park experience, but it offers a controlled setting where you can focus on feeding, behavior, and conservation education.

Choose the elephant orphanage if rescued wildlife is your priority and you can confirm availability and fees early. Choose Kazuri if you want a lower-cost second stop, an explanation of handmade products, and a social enterprise connection.

I would think twice if you want a full-day safari with broad animal viewing. This is an urban conservation and culture tour, not a game drive. You also may not like it if you need a tightly timed schedule, since traffic and the optional stops can push the duration toward seven hours.

Practical booking advice before you go

Book ahead, especially if you want the elephant orphanage. The experience is commonly reserved around 20 days in advance, and the orphanage’s 200-person daily limit makes early planning sensible.

Confirm four points before departure:

• The exact elephant admission fee, since the published figures differ.
• Whether the $43 conservancy fee applies to your route.
• The payment method for each extra charge.
• Your preferred second stop and expected return time.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows Nairobi local time.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you want an easy, private introduction to Nairobi’s conservation work, with the Giraffe Centre as the reliable centerpiece. The close feeding encounter, included giraffe admission, hotel pickup, and flexible second stop make it useful for a first day in the city.

My preferred plan would be the Giraffe Centre plus Kazuri Beads Factory for the clearest value. Add Sheldrick Wildlife Trust only after confirming space and the full extra cost. That choice gives you the best balance of wildlife, local work, private transport, and manageable planning.

FAQ

What time does the tour begin?

Pickup begins at 9:00 a.m. from your Nairobi hotel or residence.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Hotel or residence pickup and drop-off are included.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private activity.

Is Giraffe Centre admission included?

Yes. Entrance to the Giraffe Centre is included in the listed tour price.

Can I visit the elephant orphanage?

Yes, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust can be added upon request, subject to availability. The orphanage accepts 200 people per day, so you need to notify the operator early.

How much does the elephant orphanage cost?

The supplied details list both $15 and $20 per person for the elephant visit, so you should confirm the current fee before booking. A separate $43 conservancy fee per person is also listed as payable by card.

Can I visit Kazuri Beads Factory instead?

Yes. Kazuri Beads Factory can be added upon request with no extra transport cost, and admission is listed as free.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but the tour can take you somewhere for lunch before the return drop-off.