Nature Parks & Sanctuaries in Garissa
Garissa Giraffe Center: Peaceful Coexistence
A few hours out in Wajir Giraffe Centre can beat a visit to a national park or reserve. There are about 60 of them throughout Kenya, each offering its own unique blend of landscapes, wildlife, and experiences. But it is the convenience and simplicity of this place that makes it a joy, whatever time of year you visit. Situated just 6 km south of Garissa town, Garissa Giraffe Centre was established as a safe protected haven where wildlife, notably of the giraffes, would thrive.
From close encounters with the graceful giraffes, including the experience of feeding them, to learning about Somali culture, there’s a lot to enjoy during your visit. Rather unique to Garissa Giraffe Center is that you can also visit adjacent villages and farms, who are also working partners. Along the winding Twiga trails to the farms, you get to enjoy ripe farm-to-mouth produce as you interact with the farmers. Likewise, the center borders a long stretch of Tana River that makes for lovely walks. A visit to the educational center rounds up the perfect outing.
Back at camp, you can enjoy a quiet meal at the Twiga restaurant, with a one-of-a-kind dining experience. All along its walls are beautiful giraffe artwork, which is a slightly surreal experience with real one wandering at hand. The restaurant, offering the best of Somali traditional delicacies, is open to both walk-in and staying guests, for breakfast, lunch and supper. Best of all, visitors to Garissa Giraffe Center can enjoy a night or two at the pocket-friendly chic Twiga suites.
Wajir Giraffe Centre began in 2020 as a feeding program to save giraffes from the biting drought experienced in Garissa County. It was also a working resolution to mitigate human-wildlife conflict – of crop-raiding giraffes. It initially began with mobile feeding troughs strategically placed across giraffe concentration areas. Subsequently, a permanent giraffe feeding station was built at the current camp, which was also a preferred resting area for giraffes. Happy with the outcome, the farmers happily participated with harvesting of the Acacia pods giraffes feed on.
A few years later and Garissa Giraffe Center is the first wildlife educational center in Northeastern Kenya. The center now partners and purchases the acacia pods from farmers’ cooperatives to support drought mitigation measures and also improve local livelihoods. The educational centre offers an on-site demonstration of conservation through the “Hall of Animals” with display of the Somali Special Six; hirola, Somali giraffes, Somali Ostrich, Beisa Oryx, Grevy’s Zebra and Lions.
Here you learn about the natural history of these mammals. Other species of interest include the cheetah, African wild dogs, the Gerenuk and the Desert Warthogs. The Hall of Animals offers a virtual wild experience of epic wildlife as it houses the best of our field photography and videography work. The center is open to school groups, community groups, and travellers throughout the week.
Around Kenya are to be found a hatful of delightful nature parks and sanctuaries, many of these being community initiatives to protect wildlife in their natural habitats. Fairly small in comparison to the national parks and reserves, they offer a more intimate exposure to the wild, to fully appreciate the local flora and fauna.
Index of Nature Parks & Sanctuaries in Kenya
Bomet County - Kipsegon Ecosystem, Masese Nyangores Ecotourism Site, Bungoma County - Buteyo Miti Park, Garissa County - Garissa Giraffe Centre, Bour Algi Giraffe Sanctuary, Homa Bay County - Ondago Swamp Nature Sanctuary, Kakamega County - Isecheno Nature Reserve, Yala Nature Sanctuary, Kericho County - Tagabi Monkey Sanctuary, Chebown Nature Sanctuary, Kilifi County - Mnarani Snake Park, Mazingira Park, A Rocha Ecolodge & Conservation Centre, Mida Creek Sanctuary, Local Ocean Conservation, Bio-Ken Snake Farm, Mida Creek Nature Camp, The Kipepeo Butterfly Farm, Kisumu County - Dunga Beach Wetland Boardwalk, Kitui County - Mutomo Reptile Park, Kwale County - Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, Colobus Conservation, Kaya Kinondo, Bora Bora Wildlife Park, Diani Reptile Park, Wasini Boardwalk, Gazi Boardwalk, Lamu County - Amu Ranch, Makueni County - Kivungoni Springs, Meru County - Thaaru Springs, Mombasa County - Mombasa Butterfly House, Haller Park, The Butterfly Pavillion, Nguuni Nature Sanctuary, Nairobi County - Nairobi Arboretum, Nairobi Animal Orphanage, Safari Walk, Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Nyandarua County - Sharpe's Longclaw Reserve, Samburu County - Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Maralal Game Sanctuary, Taita Taveta County - Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Njoro Springs, Ithumba Elephant Nursery, Tana River County - Ozi Conservation, Trans Nzoia County - Kitale Nature Conservancy, Treasure of Africa, Uasin Gishu County - River Sosiani Park, Eldoret Nature & Cultural Centre Park, Wajir County - Wajir Giraffe Sanctuary
Touring Garissa County offers a unique blend of cultural immersion, natural beauty, and opportunities to explore the traditional way of life in northeastern Kenya, unchanged since the days of yore. It’s a chance to experience authentic Somali culture and hospitality while enjoying the serene beauty of northeastern.
You Are Here: Garissa Giraffe Center
Where to Next?
Explore Destinations Near Garissa Center
A Guide to Garissa County
A Summa Digest of Garissa
About Garissa Way Back When
18 Destinations in Garissa County, arranged as one would visit these - west, north, east then south - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
River Tana, Almond Resort, Suuq Mugdi Market, Jamia Mosque Garissa, Garissa Culture and Heritage Center, Garissa Giraffe Centre, Garissa Solar Power Plant, Bour-Algi Giraffe Sanctuary, Rahole National Reserve, Merti Plains, River Ewaso Nyiro, Lorian Swamp, Dadaab Camp, Arawale National Reserve, Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy, Lake Ishaqbini, Boni Forest National Reserve, Lag Badana Reserve
Know More About Garissa County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Temperatures are generally high throughout the year in Garissa, ranging from 20oC to a high of 38oC. The average temperature is 36oC. February is the hottest month of year.
The vast Garissa County is basically flat and low-lying without notable hills, valleys and mountains. It rises from a low altitude of 200 to 400 ms