Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery Visit

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was founded in 1977 by Dame Daphne Sheldrick in memory of her husband David, the founding warden of Tsavo East National Park. Its best-known work is rescuing orphaned baby elephants, many of them victims of poaching or conflict with people, and raising them until they can return to the wild. The Nairobi Nursery, inside Nairobi National Park, is where the youngest orphans live, and for one hour each day the public can watch them.

The visit runs from 11:00 to 12:00 every day except 25 December and follows the herd's midday routine. The calves come running out of the forest for their bottles of milk, then play in the mud, push each other about and throw dust over their backs while a senior keeper introduces each orphan by name and tells its rescue story. Questions are taken at the end. Only keepers handle the elephants, but some calves wander right up to the rope that marks the visitor area, which is a special moment for children and adults alike.

Booking is essential and must be made in advance; same-day visits are not possible. Email the Nairobi office through the Trust's website up to three months ahead with your preferred date, the number of adults and children, and the names of everyone in the group, including children's ages. Allow at least two working days for a reply, and keep your confirmation email for the day. Bookings made through third-party sites are not accepted, so if you use a tour operator, ask them for the Trust's own confirmation.

The visit has two separate payments. The Nursery donation is paid in cash on arrival, with lower rates for children under 12 and Kenya residents, while the Kenya Wildlife Service park entry fee is paid online through eCitizen, ideally before you set off. At the end you can adopt an orphan from a minimum of US$50 a year and receive an adoption pack. A small shop sells Trust merchandise and gifts made by Kenyan artisans.

Access is through the KWS Mbagathi Gate on Magadi Road. Arrive by 10:30, because the visit starts on time and cannot be extended for latecomers. Taxis and ride-hailing drivers drop passengers at the gate, where a Trust vehicle collects on-foot visitors between 10:15 and 11:30. Wear sensible shoes, a hat and sunscreen, bring water as no refreshments are sold, and expect mud in the rainy months of March, April and October to December. Phones must be silent during the talk. Combine it with the Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum nearby.