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Sheldrick Wildlife Trust + Giraffe Centre Tour
This is Nairobi’s easiest wildlife morning: the 11am orphan-elephant feeding at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust followed by hand-feeding endangered giraffes at the Giraffe Centre — two guaranteed, hands-on encounters, no game drive and no park fee. Perfect for families, short layovers and anyone who wants the animal magic without an early dawn start.
Free quote & itinerary within ~24 hours · reserve with a deposit · enquire at safaricapital.org/contact.
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Key takeaways
- Two guaranteed, hands-on encounters — orphan elephants and giraffe feeding — in one easy morning.
- No game drive and no park entry fee, so it’s the lowest-cost Nairobi wildlife tour.
- Sheldrick only opens 11:00–12:00, so pickup is a relaxed ~10:00.
- From US$79 per person (group of 5–6), both admissions included.
- Ideal for families and layovers; add a park game drive to see wild rhino too.
What is the Sheldrick + Giraffe Centre tour?
It is a private half-day tour pairing Nairobi’s two most-loved animal encounters — the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust orphan-elephant feeding and the Giraffe Centre — without a national-park game drive. Both are guaranteed sightings, both are hands-on, and neither requires a dawn start.
Because the Sheldrick nursery only opens to the public for one hour (11:00–12:00) and the Giraffe Centre is minutes away in Lang’ata, the two combine naturally into a short, low-cost morning. There’s no park entry fee because you don’t enter Nairobi National Park — which is exactly why this is the most affordable wildlife tour in the city.
Want wild rhino and lion as well? Add a game drive with the three-stop Park + Sheldrick + Giraffe tour.
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How the morning is timed
A relaxed ~10:00 pickup, Sheldrick for its 11:00 public hour, the Giraffe Centre next door, and back by around 12:30–13:00.
~10:00 · Pickup
Collected from your hotel, JKIA or Wilson Airport in a private, air-conditioned vehicle.
11:00–11:45 · Sheldrick
The daily orphan-elephant feeding and keeper talk — bottle-feeding and mud baths.
11:50–12:30 · Giraffe Centre
A short hop to hand-feed endangered Rothschild’s giraffes from the raised platform.
12:30–13:00 · Drop-off
Returned to your hotel or airport; add lunch in Karen on request.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
The Sheldrick nursery opens to the public only 11:00–12:00, when orphaned elephants are bottle-fed and mud-bathed while keepers explain each animal’s rescue. Admission is by donation and included in your tour.
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust runs the world’s most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rewilding programme, on the edge of Nairobi National Park. The public hour is a single, well-organised viewing — a guaranteed, deeply moving highlight, and completely safe for children. For full visitor detail, see the Sheldrick visitor guide.
The Giraffe Centre
At the Giraffe Centre you hand-feed endangered Rothschild’s giraffes from a raised platform — eye-to-eye, and a guaranteed hit with children.
Run by AFEW Kenya, the Giraffe Centre protects the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe through breeding and education. The elevated walkway brings you level with the giraffes’ heads to feed them pellets by hand (and, if you dare, the famous “giraffe kiss”). It’s a joyful, unhurried finish. Full detail in the Giraffe Centre guide.
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Who this tour suits
It’s ideal for families with young children, travellers on a budget, and anyone with a half-day or long layover who wants guaranteed wildlife without a dawn game drive.
Because both encounters are hands-on and certain, it’s the safest bet for keeping children delighted, and the late start suits jet-lagged arrivals. On a long layover it fits comfortably between flights — see the JKIA layover safari for airport-timed options.
Best day and season to go
Any day works, as Sheldrick’s public hour runs daily; weekdays are quieter than weekends and holidays.
The tour is weather-independent — both stops are enjoyable year-round. Weekday mornings are calmer at both centres. If you’re combining with a game drive on another day, the dry seasons (late June–October, January–February) give the best park wildlife.
Sheldrick + Giraffe Centre tour prices
From US$79 per person for a group of 5–6, including both admissions and transfers. There’s no park entry fee because this tour doesn’t include a game drive.
| Group size | Price / person | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Solo traveller | $165 | Private vehicle, both stops |
| 2 people | $115 | Per person, shared vehicle |
| 3–4 people | $89 | Per person, good value |
| 5–6 people | $79 | Per person, lowest rate |
Included: Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver, Sheldrick admission/donation, Giraffe Centre admission, bottled water, and hotel/airport pickup and drop-off.
Not included: Lunch, gratuities and personal shopping. No national-park game drive (add separately if wanted).
Indicative 2026 rates in USD per person for non-resident guests on a private tour. Includes Nairobi National Park entry at the current KWS non-resident fee (US$80 per adult, effective October 2025) and attraction admission where shown; excludes lunch, gratuities and personal extras. Final price confirmed on enquiry. Last checked: July 2026.
What’s included and excluded
Included: private air-conditioned vehicle and driver, Sheldrick admission, Giraffe Centre admission, bottled water, and door-to-door transfers.
Not included: lunch (easy to add in Karen), tips, personal purchases, and any national-park game drive. Residents and citizens pay lower attraction fees — tell us your status.
Pickup and transfer times
We collect from any Nairobi hotel, JKIA or Wilson Airport; both stops are in the Lang’ata/Karen area.
Guests staying in Karen or Lang’ata are closest to both centres, but door-to-door transfers are included from anywhere in the city or the airports.
| Pickup area | Nearest gate | Approx. transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Karen / Lang’ata | Lang’ata Gate | 10–25 min |
| CBD / city centre | Main Gate | 20–40 min |
| Westlands / Gigiri | Main Gate | 30–50 min |
| JKIA (airport) | East Gate | 20–35 min |
| Wilson Airport | Lang’ata / Main | 15–30 min |
Should I add a game drive?
Add a Nairobi National Park game drive if you also want wild rhino, buffalo and lion; keep it as-is if you only want the guaranteed elephant and giraffe encounters.
| Tour | Includes | Park fee | From (5–6 pp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheldrick + Giraffe | Elephants · giraffes | None | $79 |
| Park + Sheldrick + Giraffe | Game drive · elephants · giraffes | Included | $219 |
| Park + Giraffe Centre | Game drive · giraffes | Included | $179 |
How to book
Email your date, group size and hotel and we return a fixed quote and timed itinerary within about 24 hours.
1 · Enquire
Send your date and numbers to tours@safaricapital.org or via safaricapital.org/contact.
2 · Confirm
We check Sheldrick availability and set pickup time.
3 · Reserve
A deposit secures the vehicle and slots.
4 · Travel
Relaxed late-morning pickup, two stops, back by early afternoon.
Book the easiest wildlife morning in Nairobi
Orphan elephants and giraffe feeding, no early start and no park fee — from $79 per person. Send your date and group for a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Sheldrick and Giraffe Centre tour?
Is there a park entry fee?
What time does it start?
Is it good for young children?
Will I see wild elephants or rhino?
Can you pick me up from the airport?
Related tours & guides
Two guaranteed encounters, one easy morning.
Orphan elephants and giraffe feeding — no dawn start, no park fee. Send your date and group for a tailored quote.
Sources & last updated. Updated July 2026
Sheldrick public hour (11:00–12:00, by donation): Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Giraffe Centre hours & admission: The Giraffe Centre (AFEW Kenya). Hours, fees and the daily feeding time are variable — confirm before travel. Tour prices are SafariCapital indicative 2026 rates, confirmed on enquiry.