Giraffe & Friends

Giraffe and Friends is the largest habitat in the history of the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center. It serves as the year-round home to the reticulated giraffe, and new friends—Lesser Kudu, Ostrich, Grey Crowned Crane, and Thomson’s Gazelle. The habitat, interior, and exterior exhibit spaces interact with the Zoo’s African safari-themed project “Camp Cowabunga,” with interpretive exhibits that were also designed by Studio Tectonic.

Take a walk on the wild side and meander around life-size giraffe sculptures in the interior giraffe viewing and feeding area. The Topeka zoo’s giraffe herd is situated at about visitor eye-level, making for engaging direct animal encounters. However, to share with visitors the sheer scale and wonder of these animals, full size scaled male, female, and juvenile giraffe fill the visitor gallery area for memorable direct human-to-giraffe comparisons.

The interpretive narratives highlight the names, stories, and personality traits of each giraffe (always a big question for zoo staff) and provided specific examples of the great care that the zoo provides to its giraffe. Visitors can learn about how the zoo has direct impact to support wildlife, safari staff, and active conservation efforts for giraffe across Africa.