The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife established the Giraffe Centre in Karen in 1979 to breed the endangered Rothschild's giraffe — one of the rarest subspecies, with fewer than 800 remaining in the wild. The centre has since reintroduced dozens of animals to national parks in Kenya.
Visitors walk up to a raised platform level with the giraffes' heads and feed them by hand. The giraffes are remarkably tame and will take food directly from your lips if you are willing. The experience is genuinely memorable, especially for children.
The centre is in the Karen suburb, about 20 minutes by taxi from the city centre. It is easily combined with the Karen Blixen Museum, which is a few minutes' drive away. Open daily; check the current website for hours and admission fees.