I Locked Lips with a Giraffe at B Bryan Preserve

I Locked Lips with a Giraffe at B Bryan Preserve

As mentioned in my last post on my amazing weekend in beautiful Mendocino County, visiting the B Bryan Preserve was the highlight of my trip. After talking to friends and family about the place, it’s apparent to me that it’s still very unknown, which is why I wanted to dedicate an entire article to the magical destination. B Bryan Preserve is an African wildlife sanctuary that promotes the education and conservation of animals, in which all its inhabitants are bred or raised on-site. I personally felt my experience at B Bryan was better than any zoo I’ve visited. Granted, I’m sure there are some pretty incredible zoos I haven’t been to. Here are the basics on B Bryan Preserve if you’re hoping to visit and why I loved it so much.


B Bryan Preserve Basics

  • Location: Point Arena, CA (about 3.5 hours north of San Francisco via car). The town has a population of under 500 people!
  • Cost: $35/person
  • Duration: The website states 1.5 hours, but ours ended up being just over an hour. It varies due to how many questions are asked throughout the tour.
  • How to book: You must book in advance. I booked about a week prior. You can book online or by phone on their website and offer tours at 9:30am and 4:00pm everyday. If it says a tour is booked up online, give them a call and they might be able to make room for you. That’s what we did.
  • What to expect: I’ve never been on an African safari, but this was the closest I’ve experienced thus far. You are driven in Jeep’s around the sprawling property and are introduced to zebras, antelope, and giraffes.

Why I Love B Bryan Preserve

  • You are in a small group, which means you aren’t fighting to get a look at the majestic wildlife or straining to hear what the guide is saying.
  • It is a personalized, educational experience. I’ve definitely learned a lot from my time at zoos, but I loved having an actual guide to educate us on the diverse range of animal species and have the opportunity to ask her questions as they came up.
  • The animals don’t feel completely detached from us. Rather than being enclosed by glass or thick fences, the animals were up close and personal with us. I was less than a foot away from their zebras! And the best part – I got to kiss a giraffe!
  • As mentioned in the last point, you get to kiss a giraffe! This is totally optional, but they let you feed the beautiful creatures and give you the opportunity to put a carrot in your mouth, which leads to a big fat giraffe kiss.
  • The core of their business is to educate and conserve. I never felt like I was being sold anything or presented with any “fluff”. They are really passionate about what they do there.




B Bryan Preserve in Pictures

Mendocino County Travel

I kissed a giraffe at B Bryan Preserve!

B Bryan Preserve

They’re so friendly!

B Bryan Preserve

Just look at those long necks

Mendocino County Travel

Feeding an adorable kudu at B Bryan Preserve

B Bryan Preserve

Roger feeding a kudu

B Bryan Preserve

The 3 kudu who came out to greet us

Mendocino County Travel

Elvis the plains zebra at B Bryan Preserve

B Bryan Preserve

Zebras vying for the food

B Bryan Preserve

Posing perhaps?

B Bryan Preserve

How adorable are their ears?

B Bryan Preserve

The meeting area and gift shop at B Bryan Preserve

B Bryan Preserve

You can paint with giraffes at B Bryan Preserve! Here’s some of their artwork.


Thoughts or questions on B Bryan Preserve? Have you done anything like this before? Let me know in the comments!


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Comments ( 36 )

  1. hashtagsandhandbags
    This looks like so much fun!! But I think I would be scared the Giraffe was going to bite me!
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      Haha it was fun! And they're such friendly creatures - I don't think they'd bite anyone unless super aggravated.
  2. Chetan Jadhav
    He He! that had to be an amazing taste, of the kiss. ;-) but loved the article feels very adventurous. Keep posting
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      It happened so quickly that I don't even remember a taste! Haha. Thanks so much, Chetan!
  3. Rochelle Valle
    This looks like such an amazing place to visit. Your picture is so cute!
  4. vanprice
    I would love to do this! All of the animals seems so friendly.
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      They really are! They were all very sweet animals. You should definitely find a preserve by you! I've heard there are hidden ones scattered everywhere.
  5. Kay
    This looks like so much fun!
  6. thesaltymamas
    So cool! We just fed giraffes at The Living Desert in Palm Springs and would love this experience as well! We'll have to check it out next time we're up north!
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      No way! I was just in Palm Springs last year and had no idea they had something like that! Will have to check it out next time I'm back.
  7. littleslifeandlaughter
    This looks like so much fun! Getting kissed by a giraffe is the bucketlist item I never knew I had!
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      Haha that has got to be one of my favorite comments! Love that it's on your bucket list now.
  8. Misty Eilar
    I love that it is personalized and intimate. It gives it more of a welcoming and enjoyable experience.
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      Exactly - that's what I loved so much about my experience there. Thanks for your comment, Misty!
  9. Brittany
    Aw what a fun trip! That giraffe kiss looks pretty darn cute :)
  10. Crystal // Dreams, etc.
    That's awesome! I'm pinning this post for later. I'd love to visit sometime. (And I would totally kiss a giraffe. Those pictures are so cute!) Thanks for sharing our experience!
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      Thanks so much, Crystal! I highly recommend it. I hope you have a giraffe kiss in your future! Haha
  11. kristin | life of stones
    Awwww he's so sweet!!! We have a similar place here in PA and it's such a cool experience!
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      That's awesome, Kristin! Since I went, I've heard from other people that there are quite few places like this across the states.
  12. Christina | From Under a Palm Tree
    I love this! I remember going to a place like this back in high school. It was somewhere in North Georgia. It was so cool because, a lot like this park, you weren't super separated from the animals. At the park I went to you could pretty much drive through the park, either in your own vehicle or one of theirs. With no windows on the vans you could directly interact with the animals but you couldn't get out of the van. It was so cool and I got a lot of great pictures like yours! It's so cool!
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      What an awesome experience. Thanks for sharing, Christina! From what I've heard, there are a lot of places like this scattered around the states!
  13. theobriensabroad
    That looks amazing! The animals are so beautiful!
  14. chynna92
    That is so awesome!!
  15. Jenny
    This looks amazing. Giraffes are my favorite animal ever so I'd be dying over this.
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      Thanks, Jenny! Well it seems you have to find a magical place like this so you can get your giraffe kiss! <3
  16. The Olive Blogger
    What a great experience!!! I don't know how I would have reacted, probably ran and screamed, but I love the photo <3
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      Haha thanks, Olive! Yes there were definitely some people REALLY not into the kissing experience :P. Watching from afar was all good with them.
  17. Jane Davidson
    Oh my gosh! This looks AWESOME! What a cool experience. I am definitely adding this to my bucket list.
    • Emma @ theweekendabroad.com
      Thanks, Jane! It definitely was one of the most unique things I've ever experienced. Glad I could give you something to add to your bucket list :P
  18. celeste
    This has to be the cutest thing ever.

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