Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Signs, Signs: Giraffe Rescue Centre, Kenya


Just outside Nairobi, there is a sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates giraffes. Tall platforms let visitors feed the giraffes by hand and stroke their velvet noses. Fortunately, most are happy to buy the animal food provided...the centre needs all the help it can get.




The day we visited in 2006, a bus pulled in full of children from the Precious Gifts Daycare. The children were incredibly sweet and well-behaved in spite of their excitement. Like parents everywhere, moms and dads plopped their kids onto a wall to
get pictures of them with the animals in the background.




I'm not sure these boys were altogether
thrilled with the picture-taking experience!They were eager to feed the giraffes and raced off as soon as they were finally lifted down...

This cute baby came galloping toward us looking for all the world like any clumsy colt. The giraffe became one of my  most frequently photographed animals of the trip.
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Our time in Nairobi was brief, before heading off on safari, but it was a wonderful introduction to our African holiday...
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I'm reposting a piece from last summer, because I've been too busy lately to join in the wonderful Signs,Signs meme, and I did love the "No Hooting" instruction! You'll enjoy checking out more signs at the link below...
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This is me feeding the giraffe.....

19 comments:

Ella said...

What an unique experience..I don't know how thrilled I would be, as a child! I would love to see these magnificent creatures~

vicki said...

Unbelievable images - I am in awe of your photograpy talents. This is a fabulous blog - I will be your newest follower! Outstanding!

Vicki

Lois Evensen said...

What a wonderful place! Just love your images. :)

jabblog said...

Aren't giraffes just wonderful?

joo said...

What a great place! I love the photos of giraffes and the kids are so cute:)

Gemma Wiseman said...

O these photos are wonderful! If there is a re-habilation centre for giraffes, does this mean that they are poached or endangered here? Love how there are two signs close together in the first photo!

Joy said...

Children and giraffes, that is definitely cute central. Isn't it amazing they have they same number of bones in their neck as us.

Inger-M said...

It must have been a fabulous place to visit. The giraffes are such amazing animals!

Lesley said...

the 'no hooting' had me ... er, laughing!
I love that you are sharing your Africa photos.

Anonymous said...

the children are so cute. i like the no hooting part of the sign.

EG CameraGirl said...

Giraffes are such handsome animals. I promise not to hoot or make loud noises. :)

genie said...

These giraffes are absolutely beautiful. Your captures of then are awesome. The little children are precious in their uniforms. Do loud noises upset them?

Donnie said...

What beautiful children enjoying the giraffes.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Love it, kids, giraffes and all....the baby is adorable.

Pat said...

It is so cool that visitors are able to feed giraffes from a tall platform--what a great idea! Giraffes are my favorite African animals, too. I think it's because they are herbivores, they have beautiful eyes and they are so unusual-looking with their long necks.

When my youngest son and daughter-in-law returned from two years in Niger and had just bought a house, I went online and found an African-motif light switchplate. It had giraffes and palm trees silhouetted against a bright orangey-golden sky. They put it in their African-themed study on the room's light switch.

Clytie said...

I too love the 'no hooting' sign. As for the rest of your pics ... they are off the cuteness scale! I love the little kid on the top of the wall, looking rather reluctant to be there. Cute, cute cute!

Katy Cameron said...

I loved the giraffes. I have loads of photos of them too. Did you know a giraffe can pick its nose with its tongue? Neither did I till I caught it on camera lol

Anonymous said...

Thank you for all your kind comments.

What a lovely experience - both the feeding of the giraffes and the sight of all those gorgeous excited children!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful series. Must be very special to visit that place and feed some young giraffes.