David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi

Escape Nairobi’s hustle. Visit David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, meet majestic elephants, and learn their survival stories. Perfect for wildlife enthusiasts.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Sheldrick Wildlife Trust - The tour starts by picking you from your Hotel/Home within Nairobi 9:30AM. We will drive you to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust have a walk through the little center from 11am - 12pm in an open space, with a rope fence around it. The youngest elephants come trotting out of the bush to greet their keepers who stand at the ready with giant bottles of milk. For the next 10-15 minutes you can watch each little one slurp and gargle their milk. When they’re done, there’s water to play with and keepers to nudge and get hugs from. While you get to watch them play and take photos. You find out how old they were when they arrived at the orphanage, where they were rescued from, and what got them into trouble. The most common reasons for getting orphaned being: mother’s poached, falling into wells, and human/wildlife conflict. Once the youngest are all fed, they are led back into the bush, and it’s the turn of the 2-3 year olds. Some of them can feed themselves, and some are still fed by their keepers. It’s very cute to watch them hold their giant milk bottles in their trunks and close their eyes with joy as they make quick work of several gallons of milk.
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
What's Not Included
  • Pay extra $45 per person for Nairobi National park which is mandatory to access elephant orphanage
  • Drinks
  • Food and drinks
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Additional Information

Escape the busy streets of Nairobi for a day and visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Experience the unique opportunity to see the city’s only Elephant Orphanage, where you can meet some of the largest mammals on the planet and discover their life stories and survival strategies in the wild. The visit is scheduled during feeding time, with viewing strictly from 11:00 to 12:00.

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
Location
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Mbagathi Road, Kws Workshop Entrance - Nairobi National Park
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.3
(41 Ratings)
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Jacque2020
Jun 15, 2024
Best choice for half day excursion - We had just a half day of free time in Nairobi and I’m so glad we chose this excursion. Everyone has seen an elephant at a zoo, etc., but this is on an entirely different level. To watch the orphaned elephants and rhino walk into the public areas with their caretakers is a once in a lifetime experience. To see them drink from bottles is endearing. To hear the stories of how they arrived at the orphanage is touching. And I petted the baby elephant and rhino! An unforgettable day!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marianne_k
May 21, 2024
Elephants! - We enjoyed a day in Nairobi which was an add on to a guided tour with another company. The elephant orphanage is beautiful and my happy place. I had been there before. I loved the communication from our Viator representatives. The day was enjoyable. Our driver was accommodating, a little quiet, but nice to work with.
Review provided by Viator
Suzi1211
Jan 24, 2024
Such an experience - What a great day Was picked up at my hotel and driver messaged to let me know about traffic, communication with the driver Titus were brilliant all day Went to see the elephants as part of a package I picked and this was by far the best experience I’ve had in Nairobi, I was excited to get to see the baby elephants and hear all about them but wasn’t sure if I could touch them well you can if they come up to you The keepers have twigs all around near where everyone stands and also bottles over with them so the first lot of babies come out and run straight for the bottles of course, so cute to see them the other one hold the bottle by themselves When they finish their bottles they start to walk around to the leaves and branches left out for them and this is where you get to pet them 🥰 they don’t seem to mind at all as they stand and let you pet them or walk along to see everyone, the se on lot of babies which are bit bigger do the same only they are more playful with each other like human siblings they push and bump each other out of the way and play very funny to watch Any then there was the baby Rhino well she is just the cutest thing, I’ve never got to interact with a rhino never mind pet a teeny baby one she was just adorable following her keeper and having a look at everything around her The keepers are amazing full of knowledge about every animal and you can see the animals love them, one of the keepers talked to us the hole time explaining about each elephant and their story which was nice to hear the background and ages etc There is a little shop on the way in or out with some lovely things from shopping bags to figures, pictures, elephant adoptions etc so much stuff and they weren’t expensive, support a good cause and get some gifts to bring home On the way back to the van we seen some baboons wondering about, we’re not bother by people nor did they wanna bother us, charm of being in the National pack all sorts of animals all around
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Priyanka_g
Jul 6, 2023
Highly recommended experience! - Such a special experience being a part of the baby elephants story. Met the baby elephants during feeding time and had opportunities to support them.
Review provided by Viator
Anonymous
Jul 5, 2023
Memorable and Eye opening - Its a memorable experience Its very sad what the elephants go through. We are grateful that the Foundation are doing their best to save the orphaned elephants
Review provided by Viator
Irene_k
Jul 2, 2023
I loved having been able... - I loved having been able to visit the orphanage I read about in a book by Daphne Sheldrick. Never thought I would ever get the opportunity. Loved being able to support the good cause. Loved the elephants rumbling.
Review provided by Viator
Tutvey
Jun 9, 2024
Baby elephants and rhinos - An interesting experience. It was super muddy due to all the rain Kenya was getting. The orphans were fun to watch being fed and the baby rhino was a show stealer. Highly recommend you put this on your Kenya safari list.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Connie_w
Feb 18, 2024
Good Tour, but I had to pay $45 more on site. - I enjoyed seeing the baby elephants and the baby rhino. I did not like that after I paid $105 for this short experience, I still had to pay an additional $45 for park entrance. If I had understood the total cost of this tour, I very likely would have chosen something else. If there are additional costs, please be very clear about that in the tour description.
Review provided by Viator
Catherine_h
Jun 21, 2024
Elephants amazing. Tour overpriced and badly organised - The elephant orphanage was an unmissable experience.Absolutely heartwarming and amazing to watch.However the tour was overpriced and badly organised. For a 4 hour tour costing over $100 , 2 and a half hours was spent travelling to pick people up. Then we had to queue to buy a 45 dollar pass to the park, this had mot been adequately explained to us snd we spent so long queuing that we missed 15 mins of the hour long experience. It was also extremely stressful . I would discourage anyone doing a tour like this. Instead book at least 24 hours ahead for a place at the orphanage then get a cab. Much better use of time and far cheaper. A disappointing experience
Review provided by Viator
Elite1886
Jul 18, 2023
Last Minute Cancellation! - The Local tour guide cancelled an hour before the scheduled pick up with a short curt message. I had already paid for the tour and at no point were we told that the local guide did not have confirmed slots. Our group had paid to extend our stay in Nairobi which included hotels and flights just for this tour. No compensation or alternate options were given. Book directly on the Sheldrick website, not through Gracepatt Ecotours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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