Giraffe Centre and Elephant Orphanage Tour in Nairobi

Feed giraffes at a protecting wall, watch baby elephants slurp milk from giant bottles, walk a nature trail to the Gogo River

A Nairobi tour visiting three sites in one morning: the Giraffe Centre to hand-feed Rothschild giraffes and walk a nature trail, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage to watch baby elephants drink milk during their 11am feeding, and Kazuri Beads factory to see the full production process. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a professional English-speaking guide and bottled water. Park entry fees are optional at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Giraffe Centre1h · entry included
2. Sheldrick Wildlife Trust1h · entry included
3. Maasai Market1h

Visit Giraffe Center, Elephant Orphanage, Beads Factory

• Pick up from Nairobi hotel
• Visit Giraffe Center and nature trail
• Walk through David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
• Tour Kobe Beads factory

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and a drive to the Giraffe Centre, headquarters of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. You'll stand at a protecting wall where the Rothschild giraffes come to be fed. These gentle giants live in a semi-wild state at Giraffe Manor and you get to observe them at eye level. The centre teaches you their behaviours and conservation status, then takes you onto the Gogo River nature trail, a one-hour walk through bushes with birds singing overhead, the part most visitors skip. Entry to the Giraffe Centre is included.

From there the guide drives you to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where the real spectacle happens between 11am and noon. The youngest elephants trot out of the bush to greet their keepers, who stand ready with giant bottles of milk. For 10 to 15 minutes you watch each calf slurp and gargle, then play in water while you photograph them. The keepers explain how old each one is, where it was rescued from, and what brought it to the orphanage. Once the youngest are led back into the bush, the 2- to 3-year-olds come out: some feed themselves, holding their milk bottles in their trunks with their eyes closed in joy.

The final stop is Kazuri Beads factory, where you're shown every stage of bead production from start to finish. Lunch is available at nearby restaurants at your own cost. The whole tour runs about five hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Nairobi.
• a professional guide speaking English.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• entry to the Giraffe Centre.

Options for this experience

2 options

Park fees are not includedGuide in English · 08:00Park fees are not included: you pay the Giraffe Centre entrance fee of USD 15 per person, the Elephant fee of USD 20 per person, and the Nairobi National Park entrance fee of USD 85 per person. Pickup is included.

Park fees includedGuide in English · 08:00Park fees are included: Giraffe Centre park fees of USD 15, Elephant fee of USD 20, and Nairobi National Park fee of USD 85. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gracepatt Safaris

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want hands-on time with animals (feeding giraffes and watching baby elephants drink milk) rather than viewing them from a distance. The fixed 11am elephant feeding time means the schedule is built around that moment, so you see the youngest calves at their most active.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3).

Can I feed the giraffes myself at the Giraffe Centre?

Yes. At the Giraffe Centre, the Rothschild giraffes come to a protecting wall to be fed, and you get to hand-feed them at eye level during your visit.

What time do the baby elephants get fed at David Sheldrick?

The youngest elephants are fed between 11am and noon. The 2- to 3-year-olds are fed afterward, so you see both age groups during the visit.

Is the Gogo River trail difficult to walk?

No. The nature trail to the Gogo River takes about one hour going up and down at a relaxing pace, with bushes on either side and birds throughout.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional English-speaking guide, bottled water, and entry to the Giraffe Centre are included. Park fees for David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage are optional. You choose at checkout whether to add them.

Is lunch provided?

Lunch is not included. The guide can take you to nearby restaurants at the Kazuri Beads factory stop, and you pay for your meal separately.