Would you love the chance to stand next to a baby elephant? Will you be visiting Nairobi, Kenya sometime in the future? If so, then you will definitely want to check out the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage.
Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is the most successful elephant orphan rescue and rehabilitation program in the world!
And for just one hour each day, this facility opens its doors for the public to view up-close and personal, their precious orphaned baby elephants.
It’s an experience, not to be missed!
Our family was fortunate enough to visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage in the summer of 2022 and I’d love to share with you what we learned.
SHELDRICK ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE VISITING INFORMATION
First, to visit the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage you’ll need to make a reservation in advance. If you are going with a tour, they should do this for you. If you are not on a tour, bookings can be made up to 3 months in advanced, so book as early as you can, as their is a limited number of tickets for each day.
Sheldrick Elephant Nursery Reservation Page
Entry Fees: There is minimum donation for entry and this is collected upon entry, in Cash or via Mpesa, on the day of your visit.
Hours: The Elephant Nursery is only open for one hour each day, from 11am-12 noon. Visitors are encouraged to arrive by 10:30am so that there are no delays.
Tip: Arriving by 10:30 will not only make sure you get in before the program starts, but it will also help you get a great spot along the ropes right next to the elephants.
Address: The Elephant Orphanage, or Nairobi Nursery, is located on the edge of Nairobi National Park (KWS Central Workshop Gate on Magadi Road.)
OUR VISIT TO THE SHELDRICK ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE
Our family arrived at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage at 10:45am. (We were running a little late. We had been touring Nairobi National Park on an early safari drive that morning and slightly misjudged our time.)
At 10:45 there was a huge line of vans waiting to pay and get into the Elephant Orphanage. After waiting in the line for a while, we finally got in, parked and quickly made our way down the path to the elephant viewing area. Luckily we arrived just in time before the program started, but unfortunately the prime spots along the ropes were all taken, except for one small area at a far end. So that’s where we headed.
Restroom Tip: As you drive into the parking lot, you will pass a small path off to the left, before the parking lot, that leads to the restrooms. (This is not along the path to the elephant viewing area, so if you need to use the restroom, stop here first before walking all the way to the viewing area.)
THE ELEPHANT VIEWING AREA
After walking down the path from the parking lot, you’ll see a place to sanitize your hands, and then you’ll come to the roped-off orphan elephant viewing area.
Tip: When we arrived we discovered that almost anywhere right along the ropes is a great viewing spot since the elephants tend to spread out. (Although being on the far end where we were was not as ideal as I had hoped for.) There are also some raised viewing platforms behind the roped walkway that you can stand on for a great view as well, if you do not get a spot along the ropes.
When we first came to the viewing area, no elephants had arrived yet. But, once the program began, 10 young elephants excitedly ran into the viewing area to get their bottled milk. Watching them happily run in, with some even giving a little trumpet of excitement, was absolutely wonderful to see.
Each young elephant ran up to their Keeper and was hand-fed a bottle of milk. And boy did they down those bottles fast!
One thing I really appreciated, was that the Keepers were spread out throughout the viewing area. And therefore, no matter where you were along the ropes, a baby elephant was being fed pretty close to you.
The Presentation
As the elephants drank, we listened to an extremely informative presentation about the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. And we were also told each elephant’s unique orphan story. This made our experience more personal as we really felt like we were getting to know the orphans that were being raised here.
During this presentation we also learned that each orphaned elephant here will ultimately be reintegrated back into the wild when it is ready. I found this very impressive. Just knowing that these young elephants would someday be back roaming free in the wild, when otherwise they probably would have died, was extremely heart-warming.
With this in mind, only the Keepers here are allowed to feed and directly interact with the elephants. This is also why there is only a one hour viewing window each day. Yet, during your visit, if a curious baby elephant happens to want to come over and say, “Hi” well, then you might get the amazing opportunity to touch one of these precious baby elephants.
This was a very exciting moment for our family!
THE SECOND GROUP OF ELEPHANTS
After the first group of baby elephants finished drinking, they were then ushered out and a new group of 10 elephants trotted in.
These elephants were slightly older in age and slightly larger. They, as well, were immediately given a bottle by their Keeper. And surprisingly most of these slightly older elephants could hold their own bottle with their trunk to drink it!
Once they had their fill of milk, at least 1-2 bottles worth, these slightly older elephants began search for the scattered leafed-branches that had been placed around the viewing area for them to eat.
While we watched the elephants eating, we were presented with each of these specific elephant’s orphan stories as well. And although it can be sad to hear about what these poor, young elephants have been through, their stories really made me appreciate even more just how wonderful the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is.
MORE GREAT WORK OF THE SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST
As of Fall 2022, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has successfully raised over 288 orphaned elephants! And, on top of this, their veterinary units have provided medical attention to over 9,000 animals found in conservation areas throughout Kenya. They also currently operate 22 anti-poaching teams in hopes of protecting threatened wild animals and their habitats.
To Learn More or to Support this Amazing Organization, Please Visit Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Website
AFTER THE PRESENTATION
After the one hour presentation, most of the guests began to disperse, but to me, this is when you’ll want to stick around for a few extra minutes.
Because it was at this point that most of the elephants had finished eating, and at least during our visit, they seemed to wander more along the ropes, curious about the people that came to see them.
This was also how all five of us in our family had the chance to touch at least one of these curious, baby elephants! And better yet, one elephant even wrapped his little trunk around my youngest son’s hand in a friendly greeting!
These are the moments I know we’ll never forget!
After our exciting elephant interactions, the young elephants were then ushered out and we began to make our way back to our vehicle.
Little did we know what lied ahead along our path.
As we walked the short distance back to our car, a family of warthogs trotted past, right in front of us!
We quickly learned that you always need to keep your eyes open for wild animals when visiting Kenya!
SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST
Visiting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage is an eye-opening experience to the incredible conservation efforts that are ongoing in Kenya. Their program is an absolute inspiration and this is truly a must-visit sight in Nairobi.
Therefore, if you are planning to visit Nairobi, Kenya sometime in the future, we highly recommend visiting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. And hopefully you too, can see some of the amazing work that they do, and possible get the chance to say “Hi” up close and personal to a baby orphaned elephant.
Have a Great Time Visiting the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi with Your Traveling Feet!
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POPULAR TOURS TO THE ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE
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