Giraffe Heights

You’ll hear the faint drumming of African music as you watch giraffes, zebras and antelopes – all living side by side as they do in the wild.

Our giraffes are very tall. Best of all, our enclosure has a walkway where you can stand at head height alongside our herd. It goes right into the enclosure, so you really feel like you’re in the giraffe’s home. Many visitors say it’s the closest they’ve ever seen a giraffe. And some lucky people even get to stroke one.

The boys

Giraffe Heights is home to a bachelor herd (male group) of a type of giraffe called Rothschild hybrid. We’ve got two here at Folly Farm – Rian and Dr Shrimp! Yes you read that right! And you can find out why he’s called Dr Shrimp here.

As well as our impressive walkway, the enclosure has a large yard. This hard area is good for giraffes’ feet and it’s where we hang their ‘browse’, or tree branches, at head height. There’s also a large paddock for grazing, and a tall, heated house with four separate bedrooms.

You’ll also see a stable for our zebras. Our herd of Chapman’s zebras share the Giraffe Heights enclosure. Plus, there are Nile lechwe, a type of African antelope.

Helping to breed giraffes

We’re part of a giraffe breeding programme, but you won’t see baby giraffes at Folly Farm just yet. For now, we’re helping by taking male giraffes (the brothers of breeding females) from other zoos, so they can continue to breed from their herds. This happens in the wild too. The dad will kick the mature males out of the herd and they will start their own families.

Learn more about giraffes, including fun facts like why they have black tongues. You can adopt a giraffe with Folly Farm, a truly unique gift for yourself or for someone special. And you can also feed our giraffes by booking a truly unique giraffe experience.