How to Properly Kiss a Giraffe....

This past Saturday we decided to go and visit the Giraffe center in "Karen", a neighborhood to the west of the city.  It was a beautiful day, which we got to enjoy for a long time while queued up in traffic.  Jammed is a better term and is the normal condition for traffic in Nairobi - and Saturday is no exception. The center itself was pretty small with about 7 giraffes in residence. That makes the name of the center (a few) remarkably honest.  Note how high the altitude is on the sign.  Even though we are on the equator the high altitude tempers the heat.  The days are normally just a bit chilly if the sun is not out, which is almost every day as this is the rainy season.  Everyone at work is bundled up and asking about how we are taking the cold weather - but for us it is light jacket at the worst and normally about perfect.  It sounds like it only varies from the low 50's to the high 80's here so it is really a very mild climate.  I have not seen any sign of either heating or air conditioning in any building I have been in, including our apartment.

Dorothy with a new friend

Kimberley with a very good new friend

So, How do you properly kiss a Giraffe?  I think the first challenge is to get up to their level.  A nice hut on stilts helps with that immensely.  Next having a giraffe handy is essential.  A group of Rangers to call them over when they have wandered will help out there.  How to tempt the Giraffe to engage closely is the next problem.  A handful of their favorite food pellets will get their attention.  Finally the kiss itself - one must place a food pellet where the kiss is desired.  Get ready for a big, black, slimy, raspy tongue the size of a banana to come for the pellet.  Did I try it?  If there is no photo it never happened - right?

Warthogs too!

There were also Warthogs hanging out and other creatures in the bushes that we could not get clear sight of.  I was lucky they did not recognize me and attempt vengeance for all the troubles I have inflicted on their brethren across the seas.