Since the day of our arrival in Kenya, Simon has been wanting to see the giraffes. So after church today we went to the Giraffe Centre sponsored by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife.
It is a 120 acre reserve park dedicated to educating youth about giraffes. The park is a 30 km (60 minute) drive from the school. Someday we will tell you about the roads in Nairobi! Thankfully our driver, Boniface, is very skilled. Boniface works at the school and grew up in Kenya but this was his first trip to the Giraffe Centre. He said he had never been so close to a giraffe and seemed to have as much fun as we did.
Simon was in his glory getting licked and nuzzled. Do you see how this baby giraffe extended its reach? Yes, that tongue is 45 cm long!
Lisa was amazed that the staff could tell the giraffes apart by the colouring and shapes of their spots. Each giraffe has a name and will come when you call its name. We spent most of our time with “Laura” and “Betty”.
Max became a pro at having them eat out of his hand over his shoulder.
Female giraffes grow 4 meters tall. Tim called it a surreal ex
perience to be under a giraffe looking up as it swoops its neck down toward you – a little bit intimidating too. A person can walk under a giraffe without touching its belly. You wouldn’t want to do that though, because a giraffe’s only mode of defense is by kicking. Its legs are big and strong; we lifted one leg bone that weighed 10 kg.
Lisa was amazed that the staff could tell the giraffes apart by the colouring and shapes of their spots. Each giraffe has a name and will come when you call its name. We spent most of our time with “Laura” and “Betty”.
Max became a pro at having them eat out of his hand over his shoulder.
Female giraffes grow 4 meters tall. Tim called it a surreal ex
perience to be under a giraffe looking up as it swoops its neck down toward you – a little bit intimidating too. A person can walk under a giraffe without touching its belly. You wouldn’t want to do that though, because a giraffe’s only mode of defense is by kicking. Its legs are big and strong; we lifted one leg bone that weighed 10 kg. 
1 comment:
Hi Chute family:
This is my first time blogging...I hope it works! Your trip to see the giraffes looks AWESOME. What an adventure!
I see it's 24 degrees there...not as hot as I thought it would be...and traveling 30 km is an hour...the roads must be bad.
I hope you are settling in well.
Take care,
Paula MacLeod
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