Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The wildlife center at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust ranks among Nairobi’s most popular attractions. Travelers on full or half-day tours from Nairobi observe as handlers bottle-feed and play with baby elephants in their watering hole. Keepers tell the stories of the orphaned animals. Those with limited time in Nairobi can combine the elephant orphanage, Nairobi National Park, the Karen Blixen Museum, and the Giraffe Center into a single day of sightseeing.

• The wildlife trust is a must-visit for animal lovers and families with kids.

• Entrance fees and contributions made on-site must be made in cash.

• Don’t forget your camera; the baby elephants are very photogenic.

• Day trips to the wildlife center can last from four to 10 hours, depending on what other attractions are included.

It’s possible to reach the wildlife center by taking bus 125 or 126 from Moi Avenue to the KWS Central Workshop; from there it’s a short walk to the center. The easier way is to hire a taxi from the city center, or book a guided tour that includes the center as well as round-trip transportation from Nairobi hotels.

Visitors who want to see the orphan elephants must be present between 11am and 12pm, because the orphanage is only open for an hour each day. Arrive early, as the Trust gets busy during nursery viewings.

For more than two decades, David Sheldrick worked at Tsavo National Park as a park warden and anti-poaching activist. After his death in 1976, his wife Dr. Daphne Sheldrick established the nonprofit in her husband’s name. She and her family continue to live and work in Nairobi National Park.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust keeps strict visiting hours. Its Nairobi Nursery—the home of its orphaned elephants—is open for an hour a day, typically from 11am to 12pm. Make sure to book your tickets ahead of time to avoid disappointment. If you’re visiting with a tour, your operator will arrange bookings on your behalf.

The main activity at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Nairobi Nursery is seeing the orphaned baby elephants. Visitors are able to watch the keepers as they bottle feed the orphans and give them a daily mud bath. Note that visitors are not allowed to touch the animals, out of respect for animal welfare.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is located inside Nairobi National Park, within easy reach of Nairobi and the surrounding areas. The best way to get there is to join a tour that includes round-trip transportation from your hotel. Alternatively, you can arrange for a private taxi to take you there, wait for you, and then take you back.

Sort of. Tours from Nairobi include transportation to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, but once inside you’ll learn about the animal rehabilitation program directly from Sheldrick’s staff members. Tours often also visit Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre, while some include a game drive at Nairobi National Park.

No, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is not open to volunteers—it relies on trained professionals who have expertise in dealing with wild animals. However, you can help out by fundraising in your local community or by digitally adopting an elephant for a small annual donation.

If you want to adopt an orphaned elephant (financially, not literally), you can do so on the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust website. You will receive an adoption certificate and a monthly update about your chosen adoptee.