Nairobi Day Tour: Giraffe Center, Beads & Karen Blixen Museum

Feed giraffes from a raised platform, watch beads made by hand, and walk through the house that inspired "Out of Africa"

A six-hour guided tour from Nairobi hotels visiting the Giraffe Center, a working bead factory, and the Karen Blixen Museum. You start at the Giraffe Center with a raised observation platform for eye-level contact with Rothschild giraffes, then move to a pottery and bead factory where you watch single mothers hand-craft beads from start to finish, and finish at the colonial home of the Danish author in the Ngong Hills. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, with an English-speaking guide throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Giraffe Centre1h · entry included
2. Maasai Market1h · entry included
3. Karen Blixen Museum1h · entry included

Visit Giraffe Center, Beads Factory, Karen Blixen Museum

• Pick up from Nairobi hotel at 8:30am
• Visit Giraffe Center and observation platform
• Tour Kazuri Beads Factory and gift shop
• Explore Karen Blixen Museum and Ngong Hills
• Return to hotel around 5pm

The experience

Six hours gives you three distinct stops without rushing. The tour picks you up at your Nairobi hotel at 8:30am and heads straight to the Giraffe Center, where the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife runs a breeding and conservation program for Rothschild giraffes. The rarest of Kenya's three giraffe species. You stand on a raised observation platform to get eye-level with the animals, and an education center on-site walks you through their behavior and conservation status.

The second stop is a bead factory that employs single mothers from poor neighborhoods, paying them to hand-craft ceramic and beads from raw material through finished product. You see each stage of the work and can browse the gift shop, which stocks pieces now exported worldwide. The workshop closes Saturday afternoons and Sundays, though the shop stays open seven days.

The final stop is the Karen Blixen Museum, the old colonial house of the Danish author whose memoir became the film "Out of Africa." The property sits in the Ngong Hills and draws visitors interested in African history and the book's legacy. You return to your hotel around 5pm.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Nairobi accommodation.
• professional English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
• entry to the Giraffe Center with access to the raised observation platform and education center.
• entry to the bead factory to watch the production process.
• entry to the Karen Blixen Museum.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (17 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 16 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 8

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 levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gracepatt Ecotours Kenya

Is this one for you?The tour is led in English by a professional guide, so it works best if you're comfortable following commentary in that language. Children from age three can join when accompanied by an adult, and the raised platform at the Giraffe Center and museum visits suit all fitness levels.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 16 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly happens at the Giraffe Center?

The Giraffe Center is a breeding and conservation facility for Rothschild giraffes, the rarest of Kenya's three giraffe species. You stand on a raised observation platform to get eye-level with the animals, and an education center explains their behavior, traits and conservation work.

Can I watch the beads actually being made?

Yes. The bead factory shows you all the stages from start to finish. You see the single mothers who work there hand-craft the ceramic and beads. The factory also has a gift shop open seven days a week if you want to buy finished pieces.

What is the Karen Blixen Museum?

It is the old colonial house where Danish author Karen Blixen lived. The property and surrounding Ngong Hills were made famous by her memoir, which became the film "Out of Africa." The museum is now open to visitors interested in the author's life and African history.

Does the tour include lunch or drinks?

No. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off with a professional guide, but food and drinks are not part of the package, so plan to bring water or eat before or after.

What time does pickup happen and when do I get back?

Pickup is at 8:30am from your Nairobi hotel. The tour runs six hours total, and you return to your hotel around 5pm.