🦒 A giraffe experience with kids can be a wild adventure for the whole family
Looking for a family-friendly experience that’s equal parts fun, educational, and unforgettable? Welcome to Longneck Manor in Fredericksburg, Texas—where you can have a giraffe experience with kids that brings you all face-to-face with real giraffes and rhinos; where you’ll learn about wildlife conservation, and make memories that go way beyond the typical zoo day.
Here’s everything you need to know about a giraffe experience with kids at Longneck Manor:
🦒 What Kids Can Do at Longneck Manor
Whether your child is an animal lover, a future vet, or just curious about the world, there’s something magical here for them. Parents can bring children on any of our daily tours, OR they can choose to stay overnight and create a more immersive and memorable experience. Staying overnight means you and your kids get to see even more:
- Morning/midday giraffes in the pasture
- Evening rhinos roaming at dusk
🛌 Accommodations with Kiddos
Longneck Manor offers two child-friendly accommodations: Our luxury Giraffe Suite which can sleep up to 4, and our equally fantastic Kirafu Villa which can sleep up to 6. There are 3 additional villas that allow ages 9 and older. While we welcome children of all ages, Longneck Manor does not provide cribs, toddler beds, cots, strollers etc. We recommend parents bring playpens, plastic drinking cups, snacks and anything to make their child more comfortable throughout your visit.
âś‹ Get Up Close with Animals during Tour Time
- Giraffe Experience: Kids of all ages can feed and interact with our gentle giraffes—an unforgettable, hands-on experience that’s both thrilling and heartwarming. For safety, we do require that parents keep a close eye on and carry any littles that are active.
- Rhino Experience: While rhinos don’t take food from guests, they love a good scratch and rub. Our expert guides explain their habits, personalities, and the challenges they face in the wild while guests pet the big boys one at a time.
🎓 Learn Through Experience
- Our guided tours are packed with fascinating facts tailored to all ages. Kids learn about conservation, animal behavior, and the role humans can play in protecting endangered species.
- Bonus: They’ll come home with more than just photos—they’ll come home inspired.
đź’ˇ What Kids Get Out of It
A visit to Longneck Manor isn’t just a day trip—it’s an experience that sparks curiosity, empathy, and connection.
- Real-World Learning: From biology to geography to environmental science, it’s education in action.
- Connection to Nature: In a world full of screens, meeting a giraffe in real life reminds kids just how amazing—and worth protecting—our natural world is.
- Confidence & Wonder: Feeding a giraffe or asking a question during the tour builds confidence and fuels a lifelong love of learning.
We welcome future wildlife lovers of all ages! Here’s how kids at different stages can engage with the experience:
- Toddlers & Preschoolers (Ages 2–5): Little ones love the visual excitement of seeing giraffes up close and watching rhinos move through the pasture. It’s a sensory-rich outing where they can point, giggle, and interact safely with animals from a distance.
- Early Elementary (Ages 6–8): This age group thrives on hands-on animal experiences. Feeding a giraffe is often a highlight, and our keepers make learning fun with age-appropriate facts and stories.
- Tweens (Ages 9–12): Curious and full of questions, tweens benefit from deeper conversations about conservation, animal behavior, and behind-the-scenes care. They’re at the perfect age to start grasping the global importance of wildlife protection.
- Teens (13+): Older kids and teens often come away deeply inspired by our mission. They connect with the ethical and environmental themes of conservation, making it a great visit for aspiring biologists, animal advocates, or thoughtful adventurers.
No matter the age, every child leaves with a new appreciation for wildlife—and memories they’ll never forget.
đź‘Ş How Parents Can Plan the Perfect Visit
We want your giraffe experience with kids to be stress-free and spectacular. Here are a few tips:
đź•’ Book Ahead. Arrive Early!
Our tours and lodging fill up fast—especially on weekends and holidays. Be sure to book your day tour or overnight stay in advance! If coming for a tour, be sure to plan on arriving about 15 minutes ahead to allow time to park, sign in, use the restroom, etc.
🧢 What to Bring
- Sunscreen & hats: Much of the tour is outdoors
- A camera or phone—trust us, you’ll want pictures
- Snack for any little ones. We do not have a restaurant on property.
- Strollers are fine and may be helpful
🍽️ Snacks & Meals
While Longneck Manor does not offer food service during day tours, Fredericksburg has plenty of nearby options in Fredericksburg for before or after your visit. If you’re staying overnight, villas are equipped with a kitchette and the Giraffe Suite is equipped with a full kitchen.
🎟️ Ready to Visit?
Get started on your giraffe experience with kids! An animal experience at Longneck Manor is more than a day out—it’s a chance for your kids to fall in love with wildlife, ask big questions, and feel like part of something important. Whether you’re here for a tour or planning a weekend escape, your family will leave with stories they’ll tell forever.
👉 Book your visit now or learn more about our overnight stays.
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