The Day I Thought I’d Just Pet a Giraffe

Written by Joni Roberts

Traveler, storyteller, and public health advocate

Sometimes when you travel, you think you know exactly what you’re signing up for.

And then the day unfolds in a way that reminds you—you really didn’t.

The day I went to Serval Wildlife in Tanzania, I thought I was doing something simple: petting a giraffe.

Giraffes have always been my favorite animal. Graceful, calm, unbothered. In my mind, this was going to be a wholesome, slightly adventurous experience. Feed a giraffe, take a few photos, check off a childhood dream.

What I was not prepared for… was everything else.

From the moment we arrived, my tour guide started teasing me.

“You should hug a lion,” he said casually, like he was suggesting I try a new restaurant.

I looked at him, genuinely confused.

“Who’s going to hug a lion?” I asked.

“That’s a lion.”

He laughed. Kept joking. Kept pushing. And I kept reminding him that there are some things in life that don’t require personal experience to know they’re a bad idea.

But the animals kept coming.

Zebras. Antelope. Birds. Movement everywhere. And while it was beautiful, it was also overwhelming. I found myself both amazed and deeply aware that these were not domesticated animals. These were wild animals, simply accustomed to human presence.

Even when I finally got to the giraffes—my moment—I was still nervous.

The guides noticed immediately.

“It’s your first time,” they said. “You’re just scared.”

First time? I thought.

I shouldn’t feel comfortable. This isn’t something you’re supposed to get used to.

And yet… there I was.

At one point, I was feeding and petting zebras, trying to stay calm while they casually moved around me. What no one prepared me for was the fact that zebras fight. Not play-fight—fight. And they were doing it right next to me.

The guides, completely unfazed, kept saying, “Be calm, everything is fine.”

Everything is fine?

I’m standing between animals that sound like they’re about to stampede, and I’m supposed to just… breathe through it?

But I stayed. I pushed through. And yes—the photos are incredible.

Then came the lioness.

Her name was Nahlah, and she was resting peacefully when we approached. I was already on edge, but I tried to compose myself. Everything was fine… until she rolled over in her sleep.

When I tell you I nearly lost my mind.

Something about seeing that much power shift, even slightly, reminds you very quickly where you are—and who you are not in control of.

Later, when I told my friend about the experience, she didn’t hesitate.

She said, “When it wakes up and decides, ‘wow… dinner had been so kind to be waiting for me?’ Then what 😂”

Exactly.

Because in that moment, that’s all I could think about. There’s a fine line between awe and awareness—and being that close to a lion makes you very aware of where you fall on the food chain.

And yet, somehow, I made it through the entire experience.

I fed the zebras.

I stood my ground.

And yes—I even hugged a giraffe.

Looking back, the day was equal parts thrilling and terrifying. The kind of experience that pushes you just enough outside your comfort zone to remind you that fear and wonder can exist at the same time.

If you ever find yourself in Tanzania—especially on safari—Serval Wildlife is worth the visit. Just know that what you think will be a simple moment might turn into something much bigger.

And if someone tells you to hug a lion…

you’re allowed to say no.