Lahore park set to open giraffe café

Pakistan's first giraffe café has been established at Lahore Safari Park, offering visitors the opportunity to feed giraffes by hand and enjoy tea or coffee in close proximity to the animals. Designed around a wildlife theme, the café is part of the park's revamping project. According to the administration, preparations are under way to open the facility to the public soon.

Zainab Ali, a member of a family visiting the safari park, said sitting near giraffes, drinking coffee and feeding the animals by hand would be a unique experience. She expressed the hope that the café would open soon so visitors could benefit from the new facility.

Another visitor, Abdul Rehman, said he had toured the giraffe enclosure in an electric vehicle. He described the experience as feeling like being in an African forest. He said he was looking forward to feeding the giraffes by hand and enjoying tea in the wildlife-themed setting.

Lahore Safari Park currently houses 10 giraffes, including two males and eight females. The animals were brought to Pakistan from South Africa in September 2025. Special rooms and enclosures have been built to accommodate them, with round-the-clock monitoring to ensure their well-being. The temperature in their housing blocks is maintained at 25 degrees Celsius because giraffes cannot tolerate excessive heat.

According to Dr Warda Gul, a veterinary officer at Lahore Safari Zoo, giraffes are social animals that prefer to live in groups. They can gradually adapt to their surroundings and become accustomed to human presence.

She said the animals were provided with a balanced diet comprising green fodder, minerals and other essential nutrients. Giraffes also enjoy feeding on leaves from tree branches.

Dr Gul said the growth and development of all the giraffes at the park were satisfactory, with their height increasing rapidly. The administration hopes that the animals may eventually breed at the facility. If successful, this would mark an important development for giraffe breeding in Pakistan.