The Giraffe Centre in Lang’ata, Nairobi, is famous for allowing visitors to feed endangered Rothschild’s giraffes at eye level from a raised wooden platform, where the gentle giants extend their long prehensile tongues to take food directly from your hands.
It is currently owned and operated by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Kenya, a non-profit conservation organization founded by a conservationist couple in 1979.
The couple, Jock Leslie-Melville and Betty Leslie-Melville, married in 1964 and purchased Giraffe Manor in Lang’ata, Nairobi, in 1974.
Through the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, they launched efforts to protect the endangered Rothschild’s (Nubian) giraffe, which was facing serious threats to its survival.
Their conservation work began after they rescued and raised giraffes on their property and established a breeding program to increase the population of the endangered subspecies.
These efforts later led to the establishment of the Giraffe Centre in Lang’ata, which focuses on wildlife conservation and environmental education.
Beyond conservation, the couple authored several books about wildlife and life in Africa.
They also featured in the 1979 documentary The Last Giraffe alongside their adopted giraffe, Daisy.
Meet Jock Leslie-Melville and Betty Leslie-Melville, Giraffe Centre Founders
Jock Leslie-Melville, whose full name was John David Leslie-Melville, was born on February 28, 1933, in Kensington, London, England. He was the grandson of the 11th Earl of Leven and Melville, a Scottish nobleman.
Although born in the United Kingdom, Jock was raised in Kenya and later became a Kenyan citizen of British descent. He spent much of his life involved in wildlife conservation and environmental protection efforts.
He is best known for founding the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Kenya, the non-profit organization that operates Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre and supports the conservation of endangered giraffe species.
Jock Leslie-Melville died on April 30, 1984, in Nairobi after battling brain cancer.
Betty Leslie-Melville
Betty Leslie-Melville, born Betty Bruce McDonnell, was born on March 7, 1927, in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. She was an author, writer, and conservationist who became widely known for her dedication to giraffe conservation.
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Nicknamed “The Giraffe Lady,” Betty often described herself as a “total giraffe junkie” because of her passion for protecting the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.
In 1972, she founded the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife USA, which supported conservation initiatives and raised funds for giraffe protection.
Working alongside her husband, Jock Leslie-Melville, she played a key role in establishing Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre in 1983 and helped secure financial support for the project through fundraising efforts in the United States.
Betty Leslie-Melville died on September 23, 2005, in Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 78.
What the Giraffe Centre Is Known For
Located in Lang’ata, about 20 kilometers from Nairobi city centre, the Giraffe Centre is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.
It operates daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is situated next to the famous Giraffe Manor.
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The Giraffe Centre is recognized as a major conservation facility for the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.
Established in 1979, it serves as a breeding centre and has successfully introduced breeding pairs into Kenyan national parks, helping protect the subspecies from extinction.
Some of the resident giraffes, including Eddie, Betty, and Kelly, are individually named, and the Centre offers a giraffe-naming program.
Visitors can also enjoy additional attractions including free-roaming warthogs, a 2-kilometer nature trail, a teahouse, and a gift shop.
Another key feature is its environmental education programme. The Center educates between 30,000 and 40,000 Kenyan schoolchildren annually through conservation-focused learning activities. It also receives between 30,000 and 40,000 members of the public each year.
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