On the 11th February, 2026 a total of 48 children accompanied by 2 teachers went on an Ecology and Conservation trip to the Giraffe Centre.  Each year the Education department at the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (Kenya) AFEW, allocate places free of charge to school children who would otherwise not be able to take part in such trips.  For the past few years AFEW (K) have supported Patmos Cottage School by allocating places to our school children to enable them to go on these important trips.

 

AFEW Kenya is a Kenyan non-profit organisation whose main purpose is to protect the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, conserve Kenya’s wildlife, and educate Kenyan school children and youth about environmental sustainability and conservation.

 

On Wednesday 11th February the first destination was the Nairobi National Park, where they participated in the Nairobi Safari Walk. During the safari walk, they had the opportunity to observe a variety of wild animals in their natural habitats.  They saw animals such as lions, cheetahs, antelopes, monkeys and different bird species.

 

The safari walk enhanced the children’s understanding of ecosystems, food chains and the relationship between animals and their habitats. The practical exposure strengthened concepts that had previously been learnt in the classroom. The experience was both exciting and educational as they learnt more about wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting animals. They were also taught about the role of national parks in protecting endangered species and preventing extinction. The children observed how different animals adapt to their environments for survival, including camouflage, feeding patterns and shelter.

 

After completing the safari walk, they proceeded to Mamba Village. There, they learnt about crocodiles, tortoise and ostriches and observed them closely.  The children learnt a lot about crocodiles, their life cycle and how they catch their prey. Additionally, they learnt about the importance of conserving crocodiles and how crocodile farming contributes to economic activities.  The children were told about the life span of tortoises and how they protect themselves from predators.  The visit to Mamba Village helped the children understand the characteristics of reptiles and large birds, their habitats, feeding habits and adaptation features. The visit was informative and gave them insight into the behaviour and habitat of these reptiles and birds respectively.

 

Later the children went to the Giraffe Centre where upon arrival they had lunch which comprised of rice, chapatti, vegetables, chicken and bananas.  They then attended a lecture about giraffes. The session was very informative, as they learnt about the different species of giraffes, their feeding  habits and the conservation efforts being made to protect them. The children learnt interesting facts about the giraffes including how their long necks and prehensile tongues ( 45–50 cm) help them reach high branches and feed mainly on leaves especially from acacia trees. During the lesson, the children were taught about the endangered Rothschild giraffe which is conserved at the centre and which is mainly found in parts of Kenya and Uganda.  The guide stressed the importance of protecting giraffes from habitat destruction and poaching.

 

After the lecture the children had the opportunity to interact with the giraffes and one of the highlights of the visit was feeding the giraffes.  The children were given special food pellets which they excitedly placed on their palms allowing them then to experience the feeling of the giraffes long sticky tongues as they picked up the food. This activity allowed the children to interact closely with the animals and observe their feeding behaviour which in turn helped the children develop a deeper appreciation for wildlife.

 

The trip was enjoyable, educational and memorable for the children and teaching staff.  It provided them with practical learning experiences outside of the classroom and helped them appreciate wildlife and environmental conservation.

 

Patmos School is extremely grateful to Mr Oliver Kemei, Conservation Education Officer in the Education Department of AFEW (K), for organising and facilitating this trip for the children.

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​For more information about the AFEW (K) please visit their website:  Homepage - African Fund for Endangered Wildlife - Giraffe Centre​​

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