Nairobi Elephant & Giraffe Tour: Is It Worth It? [Review]
Okay, so you’re thinking of checking out the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage and the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi? Good choice! These are seriously must-see spots, and I can tell you about my experience. Very first off, these locations don’t just provide awesome animal encounters; they’re very involved in conservation. This review gives you what I wish I knew before I went. It is to hopefully help you make the most of your trip.
Getting Up Close and Personal at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage, sometimes called the Elephant Nursery, is so where you get to see baby elephants who’ve, in a way, lost their families. Basically, they’re rescued from all over Kenya. And very, very many have heartbreaking stories, right? They all gather, though, at a very specific time each day. Then you get to watch them play, getting all muddy, and the keepers are right there telling their stories. It’s very educational but also very heartwarming. You just might fall in love with each and every one of them. As I did! These little beings are such an inspiration. Actually, you get the chance to see them fed with big milk bottles – really amazing to watch. The work this organization is doing really is amazing, very focused on protecting elephants. The visit helps, too, supporting conservation efforts. Pretty cool, I think.
Planning Your Visit to the Elephant Orphanage
Now, listen, there are tips to help. Here’s a bit I wish I understood! Entry is that limited to just one hour a day, between 11 am and noon. So be very early. And actually, expect there to be lots of other folk wanting to see these awesome animals! It gets rather crowded. Buying tickets could be, just possibly, best done ahead of time online, especially if your travel is during the peak season. You get the chance to “adopt” an elephant, too. So it helps provide money for the project. A good thing! And then, be respectful. The elephants have been saved after dreadful incidents. So remember to listen to the staff, respect guidelines, and keep noise to what they advise.
Making the Most of Your Time with the Elephants
To be very honest, that one hour goes fast. You might want to have any questions ready. Listen closely to the keepers, too, and learn from what they tell you about each elephant’s story. You’ll leave with a feeling, and you’ll want everyone else to understand the perils these beings face. You could find very different elephants here each time. So every viewing is kind of different. Also, think about the sun. It is that you may want to bring along things like a hat, sunblock and sun glasses. You’re out in the open, remember!
Giraffe Centre: Hand-Feeding Giants
Right after, swing by the Giraffe Centre! The Giraffe Centre, officially the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) Kenya, is where you find yourself face to face with very tall, graceful giraffes. And so, it’s a lot less solemn than at the elephant place! That highlight is the opportunity you will get. To feed Rothschild’s giraffes right from a raised platform! So, they come right up to you. Very gently, you hold out food pellets between your fingers. Their tongues are remarkably ticklish! So just brace yourself. You get great views of these animals. It’s rather breathtaking. A little conservation information is shared, too. So helping you get the wider issues. What you give makes a difference, because AFEW works hard to teach about looking after wildlife.
Tips for Visiting the Giraffe Centre
For folks who worry about germs and things, hand sanitiser is provided, very essential! The centre could get busy. Like I said, book tickets beforehand to get the best access and also beat those possible long lines. Weekday visits are slightly quieter! You could want to arrive rather early for feeding times, very worth the effort to do! While you’re on the platform, you get these amazing, spectacular shots. Take your camera! Actually, also grab yourself a coffee, relax, and view the terrain from the tea house, right? So very soothing.
Understanding the Giraffe Centre’s Mission
AFEW is all about making ordinary people conscious of what threatens animals. So that helps giraffes thrive around Kenya. Very committed to saving one animal kind, it welcomes very important teaching roles. Take that walk, too! And that wander nearby, right? You discover different wild birds in their special safe spaces. As such, you could give time as a visitor by using the gifts they provide; purchasing products they list for sale gives money so that way they run properly. And then get involved! Spread their great stuff about helping creatures.
Combining the Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre: Logistics and Planning
Combining the visits very definitely gives an incredible experience that many like to undertake. Actually, you see orphans and other giraffes in mere hours! What you do takes organizing so, actually, be attentive as that goes on. The travel comes next. As such, the logistics might matter a great deal.
Transportation Options
Taking Uber is fairly practical to get around. A chauffeur helps too. They have knowledge concerning the quickest path. The prices, though, swing all the time! When there’s busy seasons those charges increase a bit. Tour packages could assist if you think very hard about comfort! Quite some companies propose a tour! They give everything: transportation to the site along with entry expenses combined with guides also! Check thoroughly whether this meets your criteria.
Timing is Key
Start so early to reach the elephant place! It starts first at around 11 am and for around sixty minutes. So travelling has to be finished before 11! Then quickly after move right over there for that next area which remains nearby also. When planning always take delays into consideration from jams to traffic. If not the visit will stress you! And in my honest opinion, you have got better fun from less hassle!
What to Bring
Don’t think about leaving something before entering! Those sunny sunbeams necessitate those items! You may like caps! Shades help with glaring lamps shining on you up front plus wear something comfortable while walking as I did! Money comes in handy for shopping; you may just wish, and could buy elephant gifts in order that those sanctuaries will have earnings so definitely carry many Kenyan Shillings alongside Credit instruments because those might not assist everywhere though in shops perhaps but for a few people it helps that way.
Ethical Considerations and Supporting Conservation
Those activities help nature through both financial contribution as well publicity about it because tourism increases awareness towards creatures therefore it contributes significantly towards sustainability plus safekeeping efforts also plus always select groups dedicated to responsible standards too while observing flora with fauna which avoids harming their existence as often tourists interfere rather rudely.
Choosing Responsible Tour Operators
Get guides plus outfits doing fair jobs regarding the safaris in addition that they will display real dedication towards looking carefully for animal welfare with environmental stewardship policies while assisting locals from across Kenya especially and never individuals who care primarily for quick earnings solely.
Making a Direct Impact
You will probably adopt different animals through conservation centers themselves so therefore those efforts encourage money which keeps assisting these creatures since adoptions help providing tools staff needs like medications or sometimes they’re investing too by building newer improved spaces that helps them. When buying from their establishments shop items produced via indigenous workers who benefit off money thus improving many local people.
Are the Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre Worth Visiting?
Yep I believe without hesitation I suggest it. When time is limited. Experiencing what can and should become great happens when spending many times interacting close in these precious natural resources for supporting care facilities plus observing creatures very intimately truly helps become unforgettable moment even helping keep your memory intact plus when done morally via tourism benefits regional communities with saving all kinds while teaching folk globally plus the planet deserves such acts frequently enough!
- Close Animal Interactions: The very rare ability to be among these gentle, majestic creatures offers such closeness, and I had fun, to put it plainly.
- Conservation Support: Money and publicity comes thanks because tourism offers all funds needed towards safeguarding wildlife and promoting awareness all at once!
- Education: Such knowledge and engagement make seeing the place rather exceptional compared versus purely witnessing something since it allows appreciating something really great personally.
- Convenience: Viewing a wildlife hub remains pretty easy if getting to Nairobi thanks because everything keeps the travel very relaxed when someone likes saving something special right under that capital destination within its boundaries.
So there you have it. My honest opinion about that particular activity, if there are doubts still nagging! Hopefully this insight helps give someone who needs reassurance enough convincing why taking the wildlife visit could represent the moment among someone’s greatest times!