Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) is globally recognised for its pioneering Orphans’ Project and is best known for operating what it describes as the most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation programme in the world—rescuing, raising, and ultimately rewilding orphaned elephants (and also supporting orphaned rhinos). Its Nairobi Nursery—set within Nairobi National Park—is where many rescue journeys begin. Every day, visitors can join the orphans for their midday routine, watching the calves gather for a mud bath and milk feed during the strictly timed public viewing window from 11:00am to 12:00 noon (the public visit does not run on 25th December). What makes the experience memorable is the storytelling: keepers and staff share the individual rescue backgrounds and progress of each calf, turning a single hour into a window into real-time conservation—trauma, care, trust-building, and long-term preparation for life back in the wild. Your visit directly supports the rescue and rehabilitation work at the Nursery. Planning matters. Access is by advance booking only (limited capacity, up to three months ahead), entry is via the KWS Mbagathi Gate (Magadi Road), and SWT notes KWS park entry fees are required in addition to the Nursery entry donation. SWT’s stated minimum donation is US$20 per adult (or KSh 2,000 for Kenya residents with proof) and US$5 per child (or KSh 500 for resident children with proof), payable on arrival—SWT also recommends arriving by 10:30am so you do not miss the start of the session.