Kansas City families can now meet the zoo’s tallest neighbors nose to nose. At Giraffe Crossing, the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium’s new giraffe habitat that opened in May 2026, daily giraffe feedings invite visitors to hand-feed the gentle giants at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm.
Feedings cost $5, card only, and they are always the giraffe’s choice: each animal decides whether to wander over for a treat. The adult Masai giraffes — which can stand around 18 feet tall — take part, while the youngest calves are still growing tall enough to join in.
Giraffe Crossing transformed how Kansas City sees its giraffes. The barn and the savanna used to sit a quarter of a mile apart, so giraffe viewing depended on the weather. The new complex connects a spacious indoor habitat directly to the outdoor yards, making the herd visible every day, all year round, with feeding stations inside the barn and out on the savanna.
There is more comfort for everyone: natural substrate, shade structures, and freedom for the giraffes to choose where to spend the day, plus family-friendly touches like accessible restrooms with a universal changing table and a nursing room. The zoo also partners with Save Giraffes Now in Kenya, supporting a Masai giraffe population that has fallen by about half in 30 years — one more reason a Kansas City visit feels good.
Photo: Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
