Things to Do at David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Complete Guide to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi
About David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
What to See & Do
Elephant Feeding Time
Baby elephants drink massive bottles of specially formulated milk while keepers support the bottles and narrate each calf's story. The calves suck their trunks like human babies suck thumbs. Each elephant has a distinct personality - some are greedy, some shy, some mischievous. The feeding takes about 20 minutes. No touching the elephants (they're wild animals in rehabilitation)
Mud Bath Sessions
After feeding, the calves plunge into a mud wallow and roll, spray, and body-slam each other. The mud protects their skin from sun and insects, and they clearly enjoy it. The mud bath is the most photogenic part of the visit. Stand upwind unless you want to share the mud. The calves sometimes spray spectators deliberately - the keepers find this hilarious
Keeper Presentations
Each keeper is assigned specific calves and sleeps in the same room with them every night. They rotate to prevent the elephants bonding too strongly with one human. The narration during feeding explains each calf's rescue story, personality, and progress. Some stories involve poaching (keepers describe finding calves next to their dead mothers). Bring tissues
Adoption Program
USD 50/year adopts a specific calf. You receive an adoption certificate, monthly photo updates by email, and a profile card. The visitor center board shows every elephant ever rescued, with pins marking which are still in the nursery, which have moved to Tsavo, and which have graduated to wild herds. Some adopted calves have had their own calves - the program tracks generations
Rhino Orphans
The trust also rescues orphaned rhinos, though they're shown less frequently than the elephants. If a rhino calf is in the nursery program, it may appear during the feeding hour. The keepers explain the particularly dire situation facing Kenya's rhinos. Rhino sightings are not guaranteed but the trust's anti-poaching teams protect both species across vast areas of Tsavo
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Open daily 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM only (visiting is limited to one hour to minimize stress on the animals)
Tickets & Pricing
Adults KSh 500 (about $5 USD), Children KSh 200 - tickets must be purchased online in advance as walk-ins aren't guaranteed entry
Best Time to Visit
Dry season (June-October and January-March) tends to be more comfortable, though the elephants are equally charming year-round
Suggested Duration
1 hour (this is actually enforced - the visit is structured and timed)
Getting There
Things to Do Nearby
Kenya's first national park sits right next door - you can literally see giraffes and zebras grazing with Nairobi's skyline in the background
About 20 minutes away in Karen, where you can hand-feed endangered Rothschild giraffes from a raised platform - it's touristy but genuinely fun
The former home of the 'Out of Africa' author, offering insights into colonial Kenya and Blixen's life - worth a visit if you're already in the Karen area
A local cooperative where single mothers make beautiful ceramic beads and pottery - good for authentic souvenirs with a social impact
A raised boardwalk through different Kenyan habitats with native animals - it's like a preview of what you might see on safari