Penny the Ostrich and the Giraffe Sanctuary

By Andrew -

 Alright folks, keep in mind that this blog is as much for us as it is for you.  That being said, this post is going to have a LOT of pictures of giraffes. 

While many of our fellow voyagers arranged to go on a safari, we didn't have the money to do that kind of extravagance.  Instead, Kim found a giraffe sanctuary within Mombasa that had open territory where families of domesticated giraffes live.  We weren't able to feed them like you can in some zoos, but sanctuary was huge and gave them lots of space to roam and live. The only thing missing? Natural predators.  So the giraffes were basically domesticated because they didn't really have anything to fear. As a result, humans could walk among them. 


They are still wild animals, so it was emphasized to guests that you shouldn't approach the giraffes or try to touch them. Just let them be and they would get as close as they felt comfortable. 






This is the look they gave us anytime we walked near.


The youngest giraffe



The friendliest (dumbest?) animal on the preserve was this ostrich named Penny.  She was everywhere any food might be. 





















When feeding time came, everyone was in attendance.




If we weren't already in awe of the giraffes, these Guinea Fowl came running out at meal time to get in on the action. 



Sometimes Penny fought with the giraffes.






When we stopped to have a picnic Penny wanted to join.  






























What's so great about this thing? 




One of the park guides also insisted we traumatize this poor tortoise. 





We had an awesome time spending the afternoon with the giraffes and Penny. 

Watch the video!

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