Visit the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage on Your Kenya Safari

Visit the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage on Your Kenya Safari

If you’re planning a safari in Kenya and want to include a meaningful visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, this itinerary is perfect for you. Located inside Nairobi National Park, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) is world-famous for rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned elephants and rhinos. A visit to the SWT Nursery not only gives you the chance to meet these young animals up close, but also supports their journey back to the wild.

The public visit to the Nursery is available daily from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon, except on Christmas Day. Here’s a detailed day-by-day itinerary for a Kenya safari that includes this unforgettable experience, along with visits to national parks, wildlife centers, and cultural attractions.

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. You’ll be met by our driver and transferred to your hotel or lodge in the city for overnight rest as you prepare for the adventure ahead.

Day 2: Nairobi City Wildlife Tour

Nairobi National Park Morning Game Drive

Start your day with a guided game drive in Nairobi National Park, just minutes from the city center. Despite its urban backdrop, this park is home to incredible wildlife including:

• Black rhinos

• Lions and leopards

• Cheetahs

• Giraffes

• Buffalos

• Over 400 bird species

Enjoy scenic picnic spots, walking trails, and stunning views of wildlife set against Nairobi’s skyline.

Visit to David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

At 11 AM, join the public feeding and mud bath session at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Nairobi Nursery. This one-hour visit gives you a close look at the baby elephants as they play, feed, and interact with their keepers. Learn about each orphan’s rescue story and how the SWT works to rehabilitate them for eventual reintegration into the wild.

Important Notice:
Visitors must also pay a separate Nairobi National Park entrance fee, as required by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). This is in addition to the SWT Nursery donation, which is collected on the day of your visit. Please plan to arrive early, as visits start promptly at 11 AM and cannot be extended for late arrivals.

Giraffe Centre Visit (Afternoon)

After lunch, head to the Giraffe Centre, home to the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Learn about giraffe conservation, hand-feed these gentle giants, and enjoy the elevated viewing platforms for great photo opportunities. The center is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Kazuri Beads Workshop Tour

End the day with a visit to Kazuri Beads, a fair-trade ceramic bead and pottery workshop in Karen, Nairobi. “Kazuri” means “small and beautiful” in Swahili, and you’ll get to watch artisans handcraft colorful beads while learning how this initiative empowers local women through sustainable employment.

Day 3: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park (Drive Time: Approx. 5–6 Hours)

After breakfast, depart Nairobi and drive through Kenya’s scenic Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park.

Upon arrival, begin your first game drive in the park. Lake Nakuru is world-renowned for its birdlife, especially flamingos and pelicans, and hosts over 400 bird species in total.

Wildlife at Lake Nakuru

In addition to birds, Lake Nakuru is a prime spot for seeing:

• Black and White rhinos

• Rothschild’s giraffe

• Lions and leopards

• Buffalo and zebra

• Impala, eland, and waterbuck

• Colobus monkeys and baboons

• Hippos and the rare clawless otter

Enjoy a hot lunch at your lodge and return to the park for an afternoon game drive, giving you more chances to spot wildlife along the lake’s edge and surrounding savannah.

Day 4: Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara Game Reserve

Drive Time: Approx. 5–6 Hours

After breakfast, you’ll depart Lake Nakuru and journey through the scenic Great Rift Valley toward one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations—the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

Part of the larger Serengeti ecosystem, the Maasai Mara is world-renowned for the Great Wildebeest Migration, an annual wildlife spectacle where over a million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle thunder across the plains. But even outside migration season, the Mara is teeming with life and offers exceptional year-round game viewing.

Check in at your safari lodge or tented camp and enjoy a freshly prepared lunch. After some time to relax, you’ll head out for your first afternoon game drive in the reserve.

The Maasai Mara is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, including the Big Five:

• Lion

• Elephant

• Leopard

• Buffalo

• Rhino

You’ll also spot plenty of resident wildlife such as Maasai giraffes, elands, zebras, topis, impalas, and both Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles.

Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay under the African stars.

Day 5: Full-Day Game Drive in Maasai Mara

Today is dedicated to exploring the rich landscapes of the Maasai Mara. After an early breakfast, set off with packed lunch boxes for a full-day safari adventure across the rolling hills and tree-dotted savannahs.

Your guide will lead you in search of predators and prey, possibly catching thrilling moments like a lion stalking its meal or elephants splashing in a muddy watering hole. Around midday, enjoy a scenic bush lunch at a safe, peaceful location—often with views of the Mara River, where crocodiles and hippos laze as birds call from above.

Spend the afternoon continuing your game drive through different sections of the reserve. The Maasai Mara never fails to deliver awe-inspiring wildlife encounters.

Return to your camp or lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Maasai Mara to Nairobi – End of Safari

Enjoy an early morning game drive as you bid farewell to the Maasai Mara and begin the journey back to Nairobi. After breakfast, you’ll drive through the highlands, arriving in Nairobi in the afternoon where your safari concludes.

If you have an evening flight, we can arrange for airport transfers or additional activities in Nairobi based on your schedule.

When is the Best Time to Visit Kenya?

Kenya is a year-round safari destination, but the best times to visit are during the dry seasons:

• June to October – Ideal for general wildlife viewing and witnessing the Great Migration (especially July–September in Maasai Mara)

• December to February – Excellent for birdwatching and spotting newborn animals

The rainy months, typically March to May and November, can make some areas harder to access but offer lush scenery and fewer tourists.

Why Book Your Kenya Safari with a Visit to David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Through Trek Africa Expeditions?

At Trek Africa Expeditions, we pride ourselves on offering ethical, reliable, and tailor-made safari experiences across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Here’s why travelers trust us with their East African adventures:

• We’re a locally owned and operated company, so we know Kenya inside and out.

• Our professional and experienced team is dedicated to making your trip smooth, enjoyable, and unforgettable—from first inquiry to final transfer.

• We are proud members of AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators) and maintain close working relationships with Kenya Wildlife Services.

• We’re highly rated on platforms like TripAdvisor and Trustpilot, and our website offers reliable, up-to-date information to help you plan your safari with confidence.

• When you book with us, you’re not only choosing a trusted tour operator—you’re also supporting conservation and community-driven tourism.

Whether you’re here for the wildlife, the landscapes, or the chance to connect with East Africa’s incredible culture, we’ll help you create a safari that’s unforgettable—and completely your own.