Photo Essay: Did You Ever Invite a Giraffe to Eat from Between Your Teeth?

When my daughter and I landed in Nairobi well after lunch, we were trying to plan how to maximize our time in the city before leaving first thing the next morning, so we had the driver take us directly to the Giraffe Manor in Nairobi. We were a little afraid it was too much of a kid thing for us to choose, and it was great for kids, but I think adults who have not been so spoiled by virtual reality and talking animals advertising everything from flea powder to stock investments are perhaps even more impressed by the fact that they can hug a giraffe. There is a balcony, so that the giraffes who choose to and are the friendliest will come right up to you and let you admire their long eye lashes and, yes, to hug them.
The pleasant young adult helpers were asking if anyone would like to try feeding a giraffe by holding a pellet of giraffe food , uh, in one's teeth. No one said a word. If she had asked who wanted to bungee jump or who wanted to swim with sharks, I would think those suggestions fit into that 'over the hill' category that I seemed to have less than gracious but more than constant reminders of lately. So figuring here was a time even I could go for broke, I volunteered to be the heroic role model for the rest of the group. I figured this was one thing I would never, ever have another opportunity in my life to experience, and it did not involve a jump from a high platform and a possibly unexpectedly too long elastic cord, or sharp, menacing rows of teeth and my unexpectedly shortened body length, or displaced body parts whether in the air, smashed on the ground, or turning the ocean waters red. This challenge was meant for me. It had little potential for morbidity, although I did underestimate the length of a giraffe's tongue. I admit my courage waned as the giraffe approached my now contorted face, but, to my credit, I did not turn away. Well, after this old lady let the giraffe partake of his dinner from her own front teeth, everyone else was lining up to join in on the culinary excitement. Perhaps this was a little vindication for my inability to trek gorillas or scale the Himalayas and was certainly a finer hour for me than when I fell out of bed for no good reason a few nights later.

The three pictures of me were neccesarily taken by my daughter or a staff member there. I just thought you would want to see me lose my dignity.

There was also a decent gift shop here that was not over priced on many items, and I, for one, always appreciate the reasonable places to shop. With or without your kids, I think you would enjoy a visit there.