Tour Overview
Open to the public from 11:00hrs to 12:00hrs daily. Located at The Nairobi National Park, Daphne Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage looks after and supports orphaned baby elephants and rhinos who have lost their mothers to poaching, death, injuries, on getting lost in the wild or other tragedies. Besides feeding, washing and walking the babies, Daphne and her dedicated staff of keepers provide emotional support to the orphans as they raise them to be released back into the wild when they are ready.
It is worth a visit to the park to see the young elephants interacting with their keepers – playing, taking mud baths and being fed with milk. This is a rare sight to watch and a most memorable way to get up close to the babies and observe their playful habits, something which is not possible or even safe during your safari in the wild.
Included in Tour Price:
- Transport by private vehicle
- Entrance fees
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Excluded:
- Food and drinks
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Tour Plan
Expand allCollapse allDay Tour
The tour starts by picking you from your Hotel within Nairobi.
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. You can reach out and touch and nuzzle any elephant that comes close to the ropes, occasionally they’ll slip under the ropes and have to be chased back by the keepers. 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. Again, you are free to touch them if they come close to the ropes (and they will), and watch them interact with their keepers, munch on some branches of their favorite acacias, and play with the half drums of water and mud.
Tour Booking Form
A really great experience ! - Communication with Rose was very fluid. She answered my questions and was very quick in the exchanges. So I was able to quickly book the safari.
We then met... read more our guide Charles who was very professional throughout the safari. He made us live a unique experience during his good knowledge of the reserve (Masai Mara). We were lucky enough to see many lions and many other animals. Communication was very easy and the Jeep was comfortable.
We then went to Lake Nakuru, unfortunately we had to change guide and Jeep, this one was much less comfortable and the guide was not very communicative. Lake Nakuru is still nice.
We had opted for the budget formula and the 2 accommodations were nice, there was everything we needed (tent and hotel). To take into account that sometimes you have to wait a little while to have hot water for the shower, but the staff indicates it at the time of Check in
Plan small snacks, the days are long.
It was a very rewarding and unforgettable experience. Do not hesitate to make your reservation.


August 29, 2025