Super User 19 July 2023

Best Travel Guide To Sheldrick Elephant/Wildlife Trust Orphanage In Kenya

There’s nothing more endearing than a baby elephant, and the best place to watch them is at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi (Kenya). Named after the late naturalist who created Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park, it’s administered by his pioneering wife Daphne who developed the first formula milk that can be given to elephants.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a remarkable rescue center in Nairobi, It's where highly-trained and dedicated keepers act as mother substitutes for Kenya’s lost, abandoned, and orphaned baby elephants. Keepers act as foster parents and remain with the babies 24 hours a day and provide constant companionship until they can wean them off milk. Then they rerelease them back into the wild in Tsavo. Visitors can watch the elephants’ morning feeding time and mud bath at the nursery with trunks and ears flopping this way and that. It’s a bit like watching a playground full of kids tearing around.

The Trust is a great place to see some of the cutest animals you will ever see on a Kenyan safari.

About Sheldrick Wildlife Trust;

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust runs an orphanage for elephants in Kenya. Its core mission is the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants. Dame Daphne Sheldrick established it in 1977 in honor of her late husband, David Sheldrick who was a naturalist and founding warden of Tsavo East National Park and has been run by their daughter, Angela Sheldrick since 2001.

It’s a non-profit organization that raises orphaned baby elephants alongside other animals such as rhinos, giraffes, and hippos, and integrates them back into the wild. The trust helps to save the remaining African elephant populations in grave danger of illegal poaching for ivory. The organization runs a digital foster program that allows individuals to support their daily activities by fostering an orphaned elephant, rhino, or giraffe in their care.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust travels throughout Kenya to rescue orphaned African elephants and other animals such as rhinos, giraffes, hippos, and others which are mainly victims of poaching and human-wildlife conflicts. The trust in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service runs Anti-poaching Units and other wildlife conservation measures such as fencing wildlife-protected areas, conserving and sustaining forests, temporary water-relief programs, community outreach projects, and others in several wildlife-protected areas of Kenya.

Where is Sheldrick Wildlife Trust?

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has a presence throughout Kenya and works with many of the country’s national parks and forests. However, it is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. The Trust owns 1,618 hectares (4,000 acres) of land next to Tsavo East National Park which provides support for all their Tsavo-based projects. Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has three Reintegration Units located within this conservation area. The nursery is located within Nairobi National Park and serves as the organization’s main base for most rehabilitation efforts.

What Does Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Do?

Elephants and rhinos have been in a long and constant battle against poachers and habitat loss. The demand for ivory, the act of deforestation, and persistent drought have all been contributing factors to the loss of wildlife. Kenya is seeing a small increase in elephant populations for the first time in years and this can largely be attributed to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has a handful of projects in place to combat loss of life. These include the Anti-Poaching Unit, Veterinary Unit, Water for Wildlife, and the Orphan’s Project to name a few. All play a very important role in the survival of wildlife but we’ll focus on the Orphan’s Project.

What to expect at the Sanctuary?

The trust offers the chance to see the lovely baby elephants up close and visitors can mingle with the lovable creatures, where the youngest elephants are hand-reared until they reach 2-3 years of age and you can watch the keepers bottle-feed the babies.

At the Sanctuary visitors get to watch the baby elephants wallow in the mud or nudge a soccer ball around, offering an unforgettable experience. The baby elephants are irresistible cute creatures and one can consider adopting an orphaned elephant, giraffe, or rhino and assist in supporting an important non-profit conservation organization aimed at preserving wildlife threatened by illegal poaching and human activities.

Many African elephants and other animals have been rescued, rehabilitated, and integrated back into their habitats. The trust orphanage is located in Nairobi National Park, easily accessible and open to visitors for one hour every day and visitors get a chance to learn more about the trust's daily activities and the orphaned animal's daily life at the trust.

Elephants are certainly a sight to see. That's what's so magical about Africa. The beautiful wildlife. The stunning scenery. It's exotic and exhilarating.

The best time to visit Kenya is during the dry season - from June to October. During this time, the bush is less dense. And so you will spot more wildlife as they gather around the watering holes and rivers. The more popular parks may attract more crowds during this time. You may want to consider exploring more "off the beaten track" options.

If you're interested in visiting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, or anywhere in Kenya, contact us at Ultimate Wild Safaris. We'll be happy to sort out your trip for you.

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