David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: Nairobi Elephant Orphanage Guide

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust operates Kenya’s most successful wildlife orphan rescue programme. The Nairobi nursery, inside the Nairobi National Park boundary at Mbagathi, is the first home for orphaned elephants (and occasionally rhinos and other species) rescued from across Kenya.

For visitors, the public visiting hour — 11am–noon daily — is one of the most memorable wildlife experiences in Nairobi. Baby elephants being fed from oversized bottles, play-fighting, and charging tourists are genuinely extraordinary.

The Programme

The Sheldrick Trust was established by Dame Daphne Sheldrick, who developed the first formula capable of sustaining orphaned milk-dependent elephants — a breakthrough, as elephant milk has unique fat content that normal substitutes cannot replicate. Previous programmes had failed; Daphne’s formula and raising method allowed elephants to survive and develop normally.

How it works:

• Orphaned elephants (typically calves whose mothers died from poaching, drought, or human-wildlife conflict) are rescued and airlifted to Nairobi
• At the Nairobi nursery, they are raised by a dedicated keeper who stays with the calf 24/7, including sleeping beside it
• When old enough, the elephants transfer to Tsavo East rehabilitation centres (Ithumba, Voi, Umani Springs)
• Over 2–4 years, they gradually integrate with wild elephant herds and become fully independent

Results: Over 250 elephants raised and released. Several have had calves of their own in the wild — the first-generation “wild-born” calves of hand-raised orphans mark the programme’s success.

The Visiting Hour

Time: 11am–noon daily (this is the only public access time — no exceptions) Duration: Exactly 1 hour Cost: Approximately USD 10 per person as of 2026. Booking is required in advance at sheldrickwildlifetrust.org. Children: Under-1s are not admitted for safety reasons (the elephants are powerful and the visit involves proximity to them).

What happens during the hour:

• The keeper team brings the elephant herd from the stables/forest
• The elephants feed from large bottles (held by keepers) — the youngest calves drink formula, older calves graduate to other milk
• The elephants socialise, play, and inevitably investigate visitors
• Keepers explain each elephant’s rescue story and current status
• A short film introduces the programme

Getting close: Visitors form a loose crowd around the feeding area. The elephants wander among the visitors. This is not behind glass — the calves are within touching distance. The Trust asks visitors not to touch the animals but the elephants occasionally make this academic. Being approached by a curious 3-month-old elephant is memorable.

Practical Information

Location: Inside the Nairobi National Park boundary, off Magadi Road, Karen. Adjacent to Nairobi National Park’s main (Langata) gate.

Getting there:

• Uber/taxi from Westlands: approximately KES 800–1,500, 20–30 minutes
• Self-drive: From the city, take Langata Road south, follow signs to “Nairobi National Park” and “DSWT”
• Parking available at the site

Booking: At sheldrickwildlifetrust.org. Book at least a few days ahead; the visiting hour has a maximum capacity and popular dates (Saturdays, July–September) fill quickly.

‘Foster Parent’ programme: You can foster a specific elephant (from USD 50/year) and receive updates including photos of your fostered elephant. The Sheldrick Trust’s fostering programme is one of the original wildlife charity models that inspired many others.

Combining with Other Activities

The Nairobi wildlife half-day:

• David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (11am–noon, USD 10)
• Giraffe Centre (1–2pm, 5km away, USD 15)
• Karen area restaurants for lunch

With Nairobi National Park:

• Enter Nairobi National Park at 6am (Main Gate, adjacent to the DSWT site)
• Game drive 6am–10am (lions, rhinos, giraffe, buffalo)
• Return to gate; the DSWT is a 2-minute drive
• Visit the elephants at 11am

Both attractions are in the same corner of Nairobi (Langata/Karen), making the combination efficient.

What the Foster Parent Programme Funds

The Sheldrick Trust’s elephant fostering programme allows individuals worldwide to sponsor specific orphaned elephants. Each foster parent receives monthly updates, photos, and access to the elephant’s online profile. The donations fund keeper salaries, milk formula (which costs approximately USD 60 per day per infant elephant), veterinary care, and the Tsavo rehabilitation operations.

Approximately 40–50 elephants are in active foster care at any time across the Nairobi nursery and Tsavo rehabilitation centres. Several “wild-born” calves — the offspring of previously hand-raised orphans that have returned to the wild — have now been born. The Trust tracks these animals and their calves via radio collars and field teams.

The Tsavo Operations

The Nairobi nursery is the starting point, but the full programme operates across several sites:

Ithumba (Tsavo East, north): The main reintroduction facility for older orphans (typically 3–5 years old). The orphans begin spending days in the wild and nights back at the facility, gradually integrating with wild herds. This phase takes 2–4 years.

Voi (Tsavo East, south): A second reintroduction facility for different groups.

Umani Springs (Kibwezi Forest, Tsavo West): A third facility handling orphans from different regions. The forest environment is dramatically different from the savanna operations.

How to Book

Website: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org — the only booking method. Select a date, time slot (11am–noon is the only option), and number of visitors. Booking opens 60 days before the visit date.

Advance booking: Saturdays and during school holidays (July–August, December–January) fill quickly. Weekday visits are easier to book at short notice. International visitors planning specific dates should book immediately on confirmation of their Nairobi dates.

Entry cost: Approximately USD 10 per adult as of 2026. Children under 12 are a reduced rate; under-1s are not admitted.