David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center Tour: A Real Review

Visiting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Elephant Orphanage and the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi is quite a well known excursion for animal lovers, that is, it is a popular activity when people are visiting Kenya. It is that very cool opportunity to see rescued elephants up close and personal, and also, that equally awesome chance to feed giraffes. The experience can be incredibly rewarding and a unique interaction with wildlife; and so, the key is really getting the most from it. This honest review, you see, aims to share details about what to anticipate on the day tour and offer practical tips to really boost your visit. After all, preparation makes any travel better.

Why Visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust?

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), you see, isn’t just any animal attraction; rather, it stands as that beacon of hope for elephants and rhinos in Kenya. Started in 1977 by Daphne Sheldrick, the DSWT really steps up to the plate to help orphaned elephants. The work they carry out is quite impressive; which includes rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing these vulnerable creatures back into the wild. Visiting them provides vital support and it contributes to their worthy conservation efforts, that are focused on animals after all.

Supporting organizations that actually take the responsibility of rescuing and returning animals to their native habitit is something really admirable. The elephant orphanage actually gives people a chance to actually see how baby elephants are raised and the stages of growth and development that each one of them actually undergo.

Plus, knowing that you’re directly supporting conservation when you go on this tour adds more value to the experience, you see.

Planning Your Day Tour

To really take your experience to the next level, of course, you should plan ahead to make the most of this day trip to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Here are just some things to ponder as you go over planning this really great wildlife experience.

The David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage is usually open to the public for one hour daily from 11am to noon. So, too it’s important to factor in travel time because Nairobi traffic can be fairly heavy, especially during peak times. It may be quite worthwhile to actually hire a taxi or arrange for a driver that you are actually certain will ensure you arrive on time. You will surely get stressed if you run late and do not get to have your full hour to have fun with the elephants! It might also be of benefit to know that there are two centers, one in Nairobi and one in Tsavo National Park.

Booking Tickets: Actually booking tickets beforehand can be a great plan and can guarantee that you’ll actually have your spot because, that is, places do fill up pretty fast, mostly during the high season. Tickets may or may not be able to be acquired on arrival but that chance is almost always dependant on the crowd of that very day, so better to be ready than sorry! Members, however, might just be able to breeze through the gates on a chance, so check if that may be an option!

Best Time to Visit: Now, weather-wise, so to speak, Nairobi is fairly pleasant for much of the year, which might be something you would actually want. But the dry season, from July to October and January to February, so to speak, provides the most ideal conditions for any outdoors activities that might pop up. As you prepare for that very day, just be mindful of any upcoming weather forecasts so you can dress suitably, but this should always be that case in most circumstances when doing some travelling.

What to wear? Wearing layers may be great. When travelling in the heat it may also be useful to wear a hat to protect from direct sunlight.

At the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Alright, when you are finally at the Elephant Orphanage, be prepared for that amazing experience to interact with these gentle giants. The actual viewing hour usually goes something like this:

The Feeding and Mud Bath: You’ll have the chance to actually watch the baby elephants being fed with giant bottles. This is where you actually get to see and realize just how much milk they consume. After this feeding, which is also just like the one a human baby would undergo, comes their mud bath. As it is quite essential for their skin protection from that intense sun, they really appear to enjoy covering themselves in that glorious dirt! The Keepers usually provide an informative talk during this time, so too, do make certain that you are actually around to really hear it; that being their actual life stories of all of those precious elephants.

Getting Up Close: After the feeding and their messy mud bath, visitors can approach the elephants. If you go over to the fence line, so too, the keepers really encourage visitors to have their chance to touch and pet the elephants. This interaction is something really unforgettable; and something like that can be seen and felt. Make sure to take pictures or just record the moment!

Adoption Program: Have a heart for a particular baby elephant that you see there? Have you considered to adopt one? This is certainly one way that helps keep their operation sustainable and to help support conservation!

Visiting the Giraffe Centre

The Giraffe Centre, that is, officially known as the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), is a really cool add on to any visit, since it’s relatively close to the Elephant Orphanage. Here, you get to encounter Rothschild giraffes that, actually, roam semi freely and are quite used to people because that’s something very familiar to them at this point in time. The main attractions, in particular, really include:

Feeding the Giraffes: One highlight from going on any tour like this is actually the experience to personally feed the giraffes with some special pellets the staff there give you. Just to get them closer to you and interacting with you more is that you hold it right with your actual lips so you might be able to get a kiss or maybe have a full makeout experience with one of these tall creatures, right? Just like at the Orphanage, this is also something memorable and an instagrammable opportunity to treasure that you won’t experience in many places!

Educational Talks: Staff typically deliver short presentations about giraffes, so too do they emphasize their conservation, what is happening to their dwindling population and a few points you can do in helping improve the situation.

Maximize your day

The tour of the Giraffe Center and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust are about 12pm to 2pm. Make it the middle part of an all-day exploration of the region!

Nairobi National Park: After the Orphanage and Giraffe Center, what better to complement this safari of orphaned and giraffes than actually going for a real life Safari? Visit Nairobi National Park. Located in the south of Nairobi this unique sanctuary has many animals such as rhinoceroses, giraffes and lions.

Kazuri Beads Factory: Looking for that little souvenir that you can actually take home from your Kenya trip? Check out the Kazuri Beads Factory. Not far from the Giraffe Centre it’s really that factory where they really hand-make unique ceramic beads. They help disadvantaged women and you get to have a peek as to how everything is being created! This helps communities become empowered through education and sustainable economies, as well as encourage ethical buying and ecological responsibility.

Tips for an Incredible Experience

Keep in mind the below recommendations for actually enriching your wildlife interaction day!

• Arrive Early: Seriously, be there with some spare time as getting into those venues do involve long security lines, you see.
• Bring a Good Camera: You are likely to have many photo and video opportunities during this tour, you see. Make sure your phones have batteries or that you have sufficient film for an actual camera so that you can remember those precious moments
• Stay Hydrated and apply sunscreen: You would really want to remember, though, that Kenya may get really warm, that is, during some points in the day. So being prepped, hydration and sun wise is extremely valuable!

Is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Day Tour Worth It?

For all nature lovers, wildlife advocates, or families, after all, the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre Tour in Nairobi really gives that pretty exceptional opportunity to connect with some animal life while contributing to conservation. Not only are you getting face to face time with elephants and giraffes, that is, but you’re also playing that role that can actually make this stay, that kind of support, sustainable! Yes it might seem too fast. That tour is short but its an enriching experience when everything you do, from entry fee to the potential adoption are going towards preserving these awesome gentle creatures. Remember the tips here and you can make that day extra special!