Elephant orphanage, Nairobi National Park

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust runs its Nairobi Nursery inside Nairobi National Park, where orphaned baby elephants are raised by Keepers before moving on to reintegration units. Once a day the Nursery opens for a one-hour public visit timed around the orphans’ midday milk feed and mud bath.

What makes it special

Orphaned elephants are hand-raised by Keepers and fed milk formula from bottles.
The visit is led by a senior Keeper who introduces each orphan and tells its rescue story.
The Nursery is located inside Nairobi National Park, accessed from Magadi Road.
Visitors can foster (adopt) an orphan on site and receive a certificate and profile of their chosen elephant.

Good to know

Public visiting hour is 11am to 12 noon daily, except 25 December; the visit is not extended for late arrivals, so plan to arrive by about 10:30am.
Entry is by advance booking with the Trust only; same-day bookings are not possible. An entry donation is paid in cash on arrival.
Nairobi National Park (KWS) entry fees apply in addition to the Nursery donation; access is via the KWS Mbagathi (Workshop) Gate on Magadi Road.
No refreshments are served; bring water, sun protection and sensible shoes, as it can be muddy in the rainy seasons.

Why visit

It is a rare chance to see young orphaned elephants up close and to learn how the Trust rescues and raises them. The Keepers’ commentary explains each orphan’s background and the conservation work behind the Nursery.

Experience it with Mbutu Tours & Safaris

The fixed 11am visiting hour fits into a morning or half-day Nairobi tour, often combined with the Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum in the afternoon.

At a glance

Known for
Midday milk feeding and mud bath of orphaned baby elephants

Activities
Watching the milk feed, mud bath viewing, Keeper talk, elephant fostering, gift shop

TRA Licence No

TRA2/1/C01/47054

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