Lucy’s Travel Diary
5th Entry
Our next destination was Kenya, and I was thrilled to discover what this incredible country had to offer. As The Blue Train made its way to Nairobi, Abeni and I had a chance to chat about what lay ahead.
‘Kenya is a land of diverse landscapes and rich wildlife,’
Abeni said with a smile.
‘One of the unique experiences you can have here is getting up close and personal with some of Africa’s most magnificent creatures, the giraffes.’
The mention of giraffes had me instantly intrigued. Abeni continued,
‘But here’s the twist: In Nairobi, there’s a place called the Giraffe Centre, where giraffes roam freely, and you can even feed them from the comfort of the train.’
My head swivelled towards Abeni.
‘Really?’
Abeni laughed.
‘No, unfortunately, you can’t feed them from the train, but you can definitely feed them at the Centre.’
I had to be honest, I was a bit disappointed, it would have been awesome to feed giraffes through the train window.
‘Have you ever done it? Feed Giraffes, I mean?’
Abeni subconsciously started cleaning her hands on her uniform.
‘Yes, I have. It was quite slimy, to be honest. They have long, black tongues to lap up food right out of your hands.’
We disembarked from the train, and soon, we found ourselves at the Giraffe Centre. I eagerly approached the platform, and with a handful of specially provided giraffe snacks, I reached out to feed these beautiful creatures. Their long, graceful necks stretched down to accept the treats, and I marvelled at their elegance and grace. It was an experience I’d never forget.
Amid the laughter and the gentle chomping of giraffes enjoying their snacks, I couldn’t help but be fascinated by these incredible creatures. Abeni noticed my curiosity and decided to share some fun and interesting facts about giraffes.
‘Did you know that giraffes are the world’s tallest mammals?’
she asked with a twinkle in her eye.
‘They can reach heights of up to 5,5 meters, and their long legs and necks allow them to browse leaves from the tops of trees that other animals can’t reach.’
I was amazed by their sheer size and how they used it to their advantage. Abeni went on,
‘Giraffes have long, prehensile tongues that can extend up to 45 centimetres. This adaptation helps them grasp leaves from thorny trees without getting pricked by the thorns.’
I watched in awe as a giraffe’s long tongue elegantly plucked a leaf from the platform’s edge, proving Abeni’s point. She continued,
‘And here’s a fascinating fact: despite their long necks, giraffes have the same number of neck vertebrae as humans—just seven. Their vertebrae are just much larger.’
I couldn’t help but smile at this quirky similarity between humans and giraffes.
‘They’re incredible creatures,’
I remarked.
Abeni nodded in agreement.
‚They are. And they’re also incredibly social animals. They live in loose groups and are known for their strong, friendly bonds within the herd.’
As I fed another giraffe and observed their interactions, I could see the truth in Abeni’s words. These magnificent animals had truly captured my heart.
As the sun set over Nairobi, casting a warm golden glow over the Giraffe Centre, I knew that my adventure in Africa was far from over. The Blue Train awaited its next destination, and with Abeni by my side and a heart full of wonder, I looked forward to the adventures that lay ahead.