How to kiss a giraffe

The Giraffe Manor is a privately owned boutique hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. It is set in 12 acres of private land within 140 acres of indigenous forest in the Langata suburb of Nairobi. This is about a 40 minutes drive from the city center.

The most fascinating thing about Giraffe Manor that has tourists trouping in from all parts of the world is the resident Rothschild’s giraffe who come into the hotel in the mornings and evenings in hope for a treat from the tourists before going back to their sanctuary.

They get to share your breakfast, and sometimes, a kiss. Now, this is not for everyone. The giraffe has not just the longest neck and tail of all land animals but also the longest tongue of all species of animals – a whole 18 inches.

The hotel staff leaves grain pellets on the windowsills of the 2nd storey bedrooms. This entices the long-necked animals to act as a morning wake-up call for the visitors. I mean, who wouldn’t love to be woken up by these cuties.

While having breakfast, they also peer down from the windows expecting a treat. There are always grain pellets around that they can be fed with. They have no preference as to how they want to be fed. You can feed them with your hands, or stick a grain pellet in-between your lips for kiss. Don’t worry the giraffe’s tongue is antiseptic.

If you’re visiting Giraffe Manor, and you’ll like to get intimate with these endangered species, this is how they can be kissed:

1. Before the kiss, it’s advised to feed them by hand first, to build rapport and also to get more comfortable.

2. Pick a long grain pellet so there’s enough room for the giraffe tongue to grab.

3. Put the pellet in-between your lips. Your lips should cover as little of the pellet as possible.

4.Tilt your head upwards, and eagerly await your kiss. Don’t forget to get the cameras clicking as well.

How does it feel to kiss one? Well, expect it to be a bit sloppy, and maybe slimmy too. A giraffe’s tongue has a thick protective slime that is made for stripping the leaves off thorny acacia bushes while avoiding the thorns. But like we mentioned earlier, don’t worry, a giraffe’s saliva has antiseptic properties so you’re totally safe.

The Giraffe Manor is a five star hotel and like many five star luxury hotels, it’s not the most affordable. However, you can still get the same experience at The Giraffe Center just adjacent to the Manor.

Sincerely, thank you for reading.

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