Feed a Giraffe
See what it’s like to stand eye to eye with a giraffe at The Maryland Zoo’s Giraffe Feeding Plaza! Bring your family and friends to experience The Maryland Zoo giraffe like never before.
Hours of Operation
Hours are daily from 10:30 am – 3:00 pm, weather permitting. Please
be aware that our giraffe yard must be very dry to allow the giraffe down
to the feeding station so, even if it is not raining on the day of your visit,
if there was rain a day or two before, it may affect the station being open.
What to expect at the Feeding Station
The Feeding Station features a gated feeding area where visitors can purchase
a branch of acacia browse for $2 to feed the giraffe. There is also
a separate, non-gated deck for viewing and photography. A small gift
shop featuring giraffe and elephant souvenirs and a large hand-washing station
is behind the feeding area – always wash after feeding a giraffe!
History of the Giraffe House and the Feeding Station
The Giraffe House was opened in 1965 – built for approximately $200,000
by the City of Baltimore. The Zoo’s first two giraffe were made possible
by a gift from The Gildea Foundation. The Giraffe Feeding Station began
construction on July 31, 2007 and was substantially completed was Dec 12,
2007. It was designed by CLRdesign, Inc., a Philadelphia-based architecture,
planning, landscape architecture, and exhibit design firm, and built by the
Baltimore offices of HITT Contracting, Inc. Construction cost was approximately
$750,000 and was funded by the State of Maryland.
On May 9, 2008 it was dedicated in honor of A.B. Krongard’s grandchildren
- Alex, Ben, Caroline, Luke, Lilly, Maggie and Brandon. Mr. Krongard has
a long association with the Maryland Zoological Society’s Board of
Trustees and has supported the zoo not only financially, but with his personal
time and leadership skills as well.