Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Tour Nairobi Day Trip

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), often called the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, is a world-renowned rescue and rehabilitation center for orphaned baby elephants and rhinos located in Nairobi National Park and is definitely one of Nairobi’s most popular tourist attractions.

The Nairobi Elephant Orphanage, often referred to as the Nairobi Nursery, rescues and rehabilitates orphaned baby elephants in Kenya. It hand-raises them around the clock until they are old enough to be released back into the wild. The elephant orphanage is located in Nairobi National Park, just 17 km south of Nairobi. Access to the orphanage is via the KWS Workshop Entrance, off Magadi Road.

The tour to the orpahange is available  for those with a booking for an unforgettable hour with the Nursery herd. Your visit begins as the orphaned elephants converge for their midday milk feed.

Afterward, watch them enjoy a playful frolic in the dust or, if the mood suits them, a full mud bath. The Keepers are on hand to introduce you to each orphan, share their unique rescue stories, and explain the threats facing elephants.

Funds from your visit help support the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants in their care. This tour is by advance booking only and cannot be made on the same day.

Visiting Hours & Access

The orphanage is open for a single public visiting hour every day, strictly from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (except December 25th). 
Booking Requirement: Access is by advance booking only through African Spice Safaris. Same-day bookings are not possible, and it is recommended to book up to three months in advance due to high demand.
Arrival: It is highly recommended to arrive at or before 10:30 AM to allow time for park entry procedures

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) Popular Day Itinerary

0900 Hours – 1030 Hours: Giraffe Centre (Start here to avoid the large crowds that arrive immediately after the elephant feeding ends)
1030 Hours – 1100 Hours: Transit to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The drive between the two sites is approximately 15–20 minutes (roughly 7–9 km)
1100 Hours – 1200 Hours: Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (Elephant Nursery) Observe the orphaned elephants’ midday feeding and mud bath.
1230 Hours Onwards: Lunch & Optional Extras. Many visitors go on to the Kazuri Beads Factory or the Karen Blixen Museum, both nearby

What to look forward to:

The Experience: You will observe the orphaned elephants running from the forest to enjoy their midday milk bottles and mud baths
Education: A senior keeper provides a talk about each elephant’s rescue story, personality, and the trust’s conservation efforts
Interaction: While direct feeding is for keepers only, playful calves may approach the visitor ropes for close-up viewing and occasional nuzzling
Adoption: Visitors can “adopt” an orphan for a minimum donation of US$50 per year, which includes digital updates and a certificate
Essentials: Wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and water, as the viewing area has minimal shade. Smoking and flash photography are strictly prohibited

Note:
✓ Because the Elephant Orphanage has a strictly limited one-hour public window (1100 Hours – 1200 Hours), your schedule must revolve around that slot
✓ Combining a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (Elephant Orphanage) and the Giraffe Centre is the most popular half-day excursion in Nairobi due to their close proximity in the Karen suburb 

Elephant Orphanage Tour is a Nairobi Day excursion to a sanctuary for Orphaned Elephants, Rhinos, and other animals located off Magadi Road, Nairobi, Kenya. Daphne Sheldrick Animal Orphanage is located in a secluded area of Nairobi National Park, where orphaned baby elephants, among other animals, are cared for by a dedicated team of conservationists.

The orphanage is run by Daphne Sheldrick, the wife of the late famous Naturalist, David William Sheldrick, who was the founder and Warden of Tsavo East National Park in Kenya from its inception in 1948 to 1976. At 1100 Hours, the baby animals are brought from the National Park for a mud bath at the orphanage, where for an hour, you can get close to them and sometimes touch them.

You can visit between 1100 Hours and 1200 Hours every day and see the elephants being fed and playing. In addition, there is a keeper who will give a talk about the elephants, where they came from, how they are getting on, and how some of the previous orphans are progressing.

The private session is strictly between 1500 Hours and 1600 Hours each day, allowing you to see the animals in private and interact with them. This requires advance booking through African Spice Safaris. An adoption viewing session visit is available for foster parents between 5 pm and 6 pm.

This is for those people directly supporting the care of the orphans, active adopters, to witness the elephants returning from the forest for their evening milk feed and bedtime.

Sheldrick Baby Elephant Orphanage is located inside the Nairobi National Park, and the drive from the city center takes approximately 45 minutes. The orphanage is open to the public for only an hour a day. You can get really close to the elephants. The orphanage also takes in rhinos, and so if you are lucky, you will get the chance to see a young rhino.

Note: It is not possible to make same-day bookings. We encourage guests to reserve their slots early, as we have limited daily capacity. Bookings may be made up to three months in advance of a proposed visit. The public visit takes place every day, except the 25th of December, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.

To ensure minimum delays, we encourage guests to arrive at 10:30 a.m. on their booked date.

Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Tour Rates Include:

✓ Professional English-speaking guides
✓ All entry fees, service charges, and taxes
✓ Pickup from your hotel in Nairobi and drop-off at your hotel
✓ Visit Daphne Sheldrick Animal Orphanage at Nairobi National Park

Notes

* Access to the Nursery is by booking only
* The visiting hours take place from a.m. to 12 noon
* Smoking and vaping are prohibited at the Nursery
* We ask visitors to set their phones to silent and not to make or receive calls at the mud bath area
* It is not possible to make same-day bookings, and we ask that you please do not come to the Nursery unless you have a confirmed booking
* We encourage guests to reserve their slots early, as we have limited daily capacity. Bookings may be made up to three months in advance of a proposed visit
* Important Update: As of 19th September 2023, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) requires that all visitors to the Daphne Sheldrick Nairobi Nursery must pay the Nairobi National Park entry fees, regardless of whether they will venture further into Nairobi National Park or not. It is important to note that this is separate from the Daphne Sheldrick Animal Orphanage entry donation, which still needs to be paid on the day of your visit
* Private viewing sessions are also available from 1500 Hours to 1600 Hours. (Private return transport from the city center included). Kindly email us for a visit at [email protected]

Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Tour Rates Do Not Include:

* Drinks
* Tips or gratuity
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Minimum of 1 person required
* Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes; meals
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)

1. What happens during the Nairobi Nursery’s public visit?

The public visit is timed to coincide with our Nursery herd’s midday milk feed and mud bath. From a variety of viewing areas, you will see the orphaned elephants run out of the forest in groups for their much-loved bottles of specialist milk formula. Afterward, all the orphans gather for playtime.

Some wallow in the mud, while others challenge their friends to a wrestling match or indulge in a dust bath. Each day is unique among our Nursery herd. One of our senior Keepers leads the public visit, introducing you to each orphan, sharing a bit about their stories and personalities, and teaching you about our wider conservation work across Kenya.

We always set aside time for questions at the end.

2. Will I see my adopted orphan?

During your visit, you will see the orphaned elephants currently in our care at the Nairobi Nursery, attending the midday mud bath. On our website, we state the location where each orphan currently resides. You can find an up-to-date list of our Nursery herd on this page. It is not possible to visit Maxwell the rhino, as he is blind and prefers a very quiet life.

3. Can I adopt an orphan in person on the day of my visit?

Yes! Adoptions directly support our Orphans’ Project, funding the specialist care needed to successfully raise orphaned elephants and other creatures. You are most welcome to adopt in person at the end of your visit, for a minimum contribution of US$50 per year.

As a memento of your in-person adoption, you will receive a special adoption packet available only during the public visit. This includes an adoption certificate, an elephant watercolor print, a printed book copy of our latest annual newsletter, and a profile of your chosen orphan.

4. Is there a gift shop at the Nairobi Nursery?

After the mud bath, we offer for sale a small selection of souvenirs and gifts made by Kenyan artisans.

5. What should I bring with me to the visit?

Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the outdoor setting. It can be hot and sunny in the mud bath, so we strongly advise guests to wear sunscreen and a hat. During the rainy season (April through May and November), it can be muddy, so bear that in mind when visiting. We do not offer refreshments on-site.

Bring plenty of water for yourself, but leave other drinks and snacks at home.

6. Is Wi-Fi available at the Nursery?

There is no public Wi-Fi available at the Nairobi Nursery.

7. How can I continue to support and stay involved with Sheldrick Wildlife Trust?

As a non-profit, we fund our conservation projects entirely through donations. Every contribution makes an enormous difference. We can facilitate donations through our US 501(c)(3), UK charity, and on-site at our Kenya charity.

If you are in a position to give, adopting an orphan in our care is an engaging and deeply impactful way to support our work. You will receive monthly updates on your adopted orphan and our wider orphan herd throughout the year, along with exclusive access to the latest Keepers’ Diaries and other special content.

Mobile: +254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com