Getting to the Giraffe House
The Giraffe House Wildlife Awareness Center (or Giraffe House for short) is a 30-minute drive from Cape Town on the N1. Although the Giraffe House is on a farm, it is easily accessible by car (bus, taxi, bicycle). They charge an entrance fee, and at the time of writing this article, the costs were R60 for adults, R45 for senior citizens, and R40 for Children (2-15yrs). Check out their website for the latest prices before visiting them.
The establishment usually is open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm (closed on Christmas day). Check their Facebook page or phone as they may be closed on rainy days.
Giraffe House Focus on Education
The Giraffe House’s main attraction is the giraffes, but they have so many other beautiful animals! Some of the Giraffe House’s incredible wildlife and bird species include Meerkats, Zebras, Warthogs, Crocodiles, Ostriches, etc.
Once you enter the park, you can walk, enjoy the outdoors and explore all the exhibits in your own time for as long as you want. Bring a picnic basket (no alcohol permitted) or buy some kiosk refreshments.
Young and old will thoroughly enjoy a visit to the park. Their primary focus is education, and schools can find a booking form on their website for school group bookings. They also host an interactive “creepy-crawly encounter” session three times a day on weekends and during school holidays. The encounter allows visitors to touch, meet, and hold some fascinating creatures. I was brave enough to kiss a frog at one of these encounters! And no, the frog didn’t turn into a prince, but I’d say it was worth a try.
You can also buy some animal food to treat some of the animals!
Parties and Year-end Functions at Giraffe House
The Giraffe House has a 100 square meter thatched roof lapa (with sides that can drop down), offering a unique venue for kids’ parties, functions, and talks. Contact the Giraffe House for bookings. There is also a play area with three jungle gyms and a lawn (for kids’ parties).
Some notes:
- Possible animal interaction. Some animals might interact with you if you initiate an interaction, but this is not guaranteed. I spent nearly 3 hours at the park before the giraffes showed up close enough to the fence to interact with them.
- You control your exposure. Animals at the park are kept in enclosures, so if you don’t like to be near the animals or are scared of them, don’t worry, you are in control of how much exposure you are comfortable with.
- Cash only. There are no card facilities. You can pay with cash. I was also able to pay with Zapper at the kiosk.
- Wear comfortable clothing. It’s a big establishment, giving the giraffes, zebras, impalas, and other animals room to move. Wear comfortable shoes and be ready to walk for a bit.
- Dirt paths. There are some smooth pathways between a few of the exhibits, but heading over to the giraffes is dirt paths. Keep that in mind when thinking about bringing your child in a stroller.
- Sunscreen and a hat. The entire park is outdoors, so remember to wear sunscreen, a hat on a lovely sunny day, and warm clothing on a cold day.
- Mud pools on rainy days. Some mud pools might be on the dirt paths if it is raining (or was raining the day before). Be sure to dress appropriately.
- Bring or buy water. The tap water at the Giraffe House is not suitable for drinking. Bring your own or buy some at the kiosk.