Giraffe Centre 3-day itinerary

Arrive at the AFEW Giraffe Centre when it opens at 9am. The centre sits on 50 hectares of natural forest and is dedicated to conserving the Rothschild's giraffe — a subspecies once reduced to fewer than 130 individuals. Today the population has recovered to over 1,600, largely thanks to breeding programmes like this one. From the raised wooden platform, feed the giraffes by hand — they are gentle, curious, and incredibly tall up close. Walk the 1.5km nature trail through the adjacent Gogo River Bird Sanctuary, where over 180 bird species have been recorded alongside dik-dik, bushbuck, and monitor lizards.

Visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust during the 11am–12pm public hour to watch orphaned baby elephants being mud-bathed and bottle-fed by their devoted keepers. After lunch at Tamambo Karen Blixen restaurant (KES 800–1,800 for excellent Swahili-inspired meals), explore the surrounding Lang'ata area — essentially Nairobi's wildlife corridor, sitting on the edge of Nairobi National Park.

Head to the famous Carnivore restaurant — a Nairobi institution since 1980, located just off Lang'ata Road. An enormous charcoal grill roasts every type of meat imaginable on Maasai swords. Waiters bring round after round of different meats — crocodile, ostrich, lamb, beef, pork ribs, chicken — and you eat until you surrender by lowering a small paper flag on your table. The all-you-can-eat experience costs around KES 4,500 ($35 USD) per person.

Wake early for a half-day safari in Nairobi National Park — the only national park in the world located within a capital city. Lions, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and over 400 bird species roam against a backdrop of city skyscrapers. The park is 117 square kilometres and sits just 7km south of the city centre. Enter through the main gate (KES 4,320 / $35 USD for non-residents) and spend 3–4 hours driving the tracks.

Visit the Nairobi Railway Museum (KES 600, $5 USD) near the main railway station — a quirky collection of old locomotives, carriages, and photographs documenting the building of the railway from Mombasa to Kampala. Explore the city centre on foot — visit the Maasai Market, browse bookshops on Kenyatta Avenue, and grab a chapati and beans from a street vendor (KES 100–200).

Visit Kazuri Beads factory in Karen — a social enterprise employing over 340 single mothers to make hand-painted ceramic beads and pottery. Free factory tours show the entire process. For evening drinks and dinner, head to the Westlands neighbourhood — Nairobi's entertainment hub with a mix of locals and visitors.

Drive 25km southwest of Nairobi to the Ngong Hills — the scenic ridge that Karen Blixen wrote about. The hike along the ridgeline is 10km one way, following a trail that runs along seven peaks with views across the Rift Valley on one side and Nairobi on the other. The highest point reaches 2,460 metres. The trail is exposed and windy but not technically difficult. On clear days you can see Mount Kilimanjaro. Entry fee is KES 400.

After the hike, visit the Karen Blixen Museum (KES 1,200) — the colonial-era farmhouse preserved exactly as the Danish author left it in 1931. Walk through rooms filled with original furniture, hunting trophies, and photographs. The extensive gardens offer views across to the hills you just hiked. The nearby Karen Triangle shopping centre has good cafes for a post-hike lunch — Java House serves reliable coffee and food (KES 400–1,000).

If your budget allows, book afternoon tea at the legendary Giraffe Manor — the boutique hotel where Rothschild's giraffes poke their heads through the windows during breakfast and tea. Non-guests can sometimes book the afternoon tea experience ($250+ per person). Alternatively, visit the Giraffe Centre for the quieter afternoon session. For dinner, try Mama Oliech in Kilimani — a beloved local restaurant famous for the best fried tilapia and ugali in Nairobi (KES 500–1,000).