Protecting Elephants in Kenya: Visiting the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

When most people dream about an African safari, they picture lions lounging beneath acacia trees, herds of zebras stretching across the plains, and elephants roaming freely through the savannah. We imagined all of that too.

What we didn’t expect was that the most memorable experience of our trip would take place before our safari had even begun.

Our visit to the elephant orphanage in Nairobi became one of the most emotional and inspiring moments of our journey through Kenya. Watching orphaned baby elephants splash in the mud, chase one another around the yard, and eagerly run toward their keepers for oversized bottles of milk was both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Each elephant had a story. Many had lost their mothers to poaching, while others were victims of drought, human-wildlife conflict, or accidents caused by expanding settlements. Without intervention, these calves would not have survived.

That visit changed the way we think about wildlife travel. It reminded us that responsible tourism isn’t just about seeing incredible animals in their natural habitat. It is also about supporting the people and organizations working tirelessly to protect them.

Why Elephant Conservation Matters

African elephants are one of the continent’s most iconic species, yet they continue to face significant threats. Habitat loss, climate change, and illegal ivory trafficking have dramatically reduced elephant populations over the past century.

Elephants are more than magnificent animals. They are ecosystem engineers. As they travel across the landscape, they disperse seeds, create water holes, and clear vegetation that allows other species to thrive. Healthy elephant populations are essential to maintaining the balance of Africa’s ecosystems.

While conservation efforts have made encouraging progress in many regions, elephants still need our help. Every responsible traveler has the opportunity to contribute through thoughtful choices about where they visit and which organizations they support.

What is Ivory anyway?

Elephants use their tusks to tear up tree barks, they use them to aid foraging, digging soil and moving things out of the way.  The tusks are just elongated incisors and are essentially no different from other teeth… that has an enamel lining.  Ivory poaching for these tusks is the main reason that elephants have been so heavily hunted. Elephant ivory has been used in huge amounts to make billiards balls, piano keys, chess pieces and other curious.  

One of the key differences between African and Asian elephants is the tusks. All African elephants, male and female, have tusks whereas only some Asian males have tusks.  These tusks never stop growing and hence there are some majestic mature elephants sporting big tusks.  Poachers who are after the tusk,  harm them, separate them from their families even kill them senselessly for this ivory.

Visiting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

One of the best places to learn about elephant conservation is the elephant nursery operated by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi.

The organization rescues orphaned elephants from across Kenya and provides around-the-clock care until they are strong enough to begin their gradual return to the wild. Baby elephants require constant feeding, medical attention, and companionship. Their keepers often sleep beside them, becoming surrogate family members during their rehabilitation.

Visitors have the opportunity to watch the elephants play, listen to their rescue stories, and learn about the conservation challenges facing Kenya’s wildlife. It is an educational experience that leaves a lasting impression on visitors of all ages.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was founded in 1977 by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick DBE, in honor of the memory of her late husband, famous naturalist and founding Warden of Tsavo East National Park, David Leslie William Sheldrick. 

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Elephant Orphanage is located in Nairobi National Park, Kenya and is open to the public for one hour every day, from 11 am to noon.

During this time the orphans arrive for their midday mud bath and feeding.  But if you adopt one of the animals through their foster program which allows individuals across the world to support their field projects… you can visit them in the evening at 5 pm when the elephants come back to the nursery. 

You will also receive through email a personalized certificate, an interactive map, a monthly update on the progress of your orphan and a watercolor by CEO Angela Sheldrick.

We visited the nursery on our first evening in Kenya. The foster parents from different parts of the world waited in a line with cameras ready, excited to see their babies.  A few moments later, much like a sports team marching out onto the field, with the animal handler waiting on the side, they came running, about a dozen or so baby elephants.

They made their way to the nurseries and were fed. Once the little guys and girls have drunk their fill, they proceed to play around like toddlers. One little guy was still thirsty and was trying to pull the bucket which stores bottles of their special milk.  He was not shy to pull your hand with his truck or give you a fist bump.   It was delightful to watch them come home to their playpens and interact with the visitors.

Meeting Our Foster Elephant, SATTAO

Before our visit, we decided to foster one of the orphaned elephants through the Trust’s adoption program.

We chose Satao, a young elephant whose resilience captured our hearts. Learning about his rescue and following his progress made our visit even more meaningful. Rather than simply observing wildlife, we felt connected to one individual whose future depended on the dedication of conservationists and the generosity of supporters around the world.

The adoption program is one of the simplest ways travelers can continue supporting elephant conservation long after returning home. Sponsors receive regular updates and photographs as their foster elephant grows and gradually prepares for life back in the wild.

I gave the option of picking our foster elephant to my daughter and was proud when she picked fragile and shy Sattao.  She didn’t look for the cutest, most playful ellie but one that touched her heart. 

Here is Satao’s story from DSWT:

On the 18th of March KWS received a number of reports from visitors about a tiny orphaned baby elephant wandering alone and abandoned, very thin and with predator bites on his back legs. Our Keepers based at our Voi relocation unit were informed, as was the DSWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit and the DSWT Anti Poaching team operating within that area. The Rescue Team located the calf after a short search and it became clear that he was in desperate need of rescuing, and in fact with the infamous Tsavo lions plentiful in that area, it was a miracle that he was still alive. Small predators (we suspect jackals), had attacked his rear end and hind legs and hence due to his wounds coupled by poor condition, it was evident that we needed to respond fast.

The reason behind him being abandoned remains a mystery, but there had been a couple of poaching causalities in the area around this time and it is possible that one of these victims was his mother. What often happens in such situations is that the calf remains with the herd, but as it loses strength due to a lack of milk, the herd is forced to abandon it when it can no longer keep up due to its weakened state. This is more than likely what transpired in this baby’s case, because he was incredibly thin and dehydrated when eventually found. It is hard to imagine how frightened and stressed he must have been, all alone in such a hostile environment!

How Can you Help Protect Elephants

Every of us has the power to make a positive impact.

Choose ethical wildlife experiences that prioritize conservation over entertainment. Never purchase ivory or products made from endangered wildlife. Support organizations that rescue and rehabilitate orphaned animals, and book safaris with operators committed to sustainable tourism and local conservation initiatives.

Most importantly, share these stories. The more people understand the challenges elephants face, the greater the support for protecting them.

• Visit ethical conservation organizations instead of attractions that exploit wildlife.
• Do not ride elephants, pose with a drugged and captive animal or swim with captive dolphins.
• Never purchase ivory or products made from endangered species.
• Support elephant adoption and conservation programs.
• Choose safari operators committed to wildlife conservation.
• Avoid experiences that involve riding elephants or interacting with captive wildlife.
• Learn about the conservation challenges facing elephants and share their stories with others.
• Remember that every responsible travel decision helps protect wildlife for future generations. Ethical tourism plays an important role in supporting elephant conservation across Africa.

We often think, our pockets are not deep enough or our reach is not wide enough and hesitate to give our voices to causes that matter to us.  In reality, though every little bit helps, it brings awareness and helps educate about these issues. 

We have swum with dolphins and been to see sharks in tanks before – we didn’t know any better.  Now that we do, we will do our research first before we visit any places that profit off of Animal tourism. 

Animal tourism is big in Asian countries – from posing with Tigers that have been tranquilized to riding elephants and bathing with them, are all sought after by tourists. 

People don’t understand that to train that elephant(s) to bend down on his knees so you can climb and ride involves what is called elephant crushing – the systematic breaking of the elephant’s mind, body and spirit. Starved and deprived of sleep, sometimes they are beaten with bullhooks or nail-studded sticks till they learn to obey orders. 

Anytime there is a human with a stick around an elephant playing tricks or interacting you have to question how ethical it is.  Why can’t we be happy observing them in nature, seeing them in their natural habitat – they would rather interact with their kind than play tricks for humans. 

A few photos from our visit to DSWT

Each little elephant has a keeper who stays with them, sleeps inside the nursery and feeds them every 3 hours

The special bond! A Keeper feeding a little elephant a special milk formulated by DWST (Photo by DWST)

We bought this bracelet that says Protect the Elephant in Swahili from a Masai at the Kenya Park gate for $6 each, not much if you think of the dollar value, but the money goes towards protecting the elephants in the park.  Don’t wait to do the big things, do the little things!!

Do your research before you participate in any animal encounters.  Here are a couple of genuine sanctuaries you can volunteer or visit to see Elephants

Elephant Freedom Project in Srilanka
Elephant Conservation and Care Center in Mathura in India
Elephant Nature Park and Burm and Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary near Chiang Mai, Thailand

Do you know other wildlife sanctuaries?  Let me know in the comments and I will add to this list.

Support animal activist groups and organizations

From World Elephant Day(12 August) established by World Elephant Society, that asks elephant-lovers around the world to share their appreciation of these endangered animals to grassroots organization, many are dedicated to raising awareness about the ivory trade and the fate of elephants.

Here is an in-depth article about how you can help support and protect the elephants. 

A few more organizations listed below help orphaned elephants, poaching victims and do amazing work in keeping this keystone species healthy. Look them up!

@dswt @knysnatrunkcall @savetheelephants @maraelephantproject @elephantcrisisfund 

Do the little things – spread the word, show your support 

I believe that there is goodness in people, especially our younger generation. If people, especially kids knew the reality behind the inhumane handling of the animals – the exploitation and cruelty, they will not want to participate in unethical animal tourism.

If this post educated 100 people and stops them from riding an elephant in India, posing with a drugged tiger in Thailand or swimming with captive dolphins in Mexico I’m happy.  Heck. even if it stops my friends and family from participating in unethical animal encounters my job is done. 

While not everyone can go work in Africa and help protect the animals directly, we can all help protect them in our small ways. We can spread the word, show our support and stand against poaching and other cruelty against animals and become ambassadors for the conservation of the wildlife that we share this planet with.  

Don’t wait to do the big things, start NOW, do the small things with a BIG HEART!

See this article by ATTA, Tourism’s Role in Protecting Animals

Final Thoughts

Seeing elephants roaming freely across the Maasai Mara was unforgettable. But meeting the orphaned calves in Nairobi gave those safari sightings a much deeper meaning.

Travel has the power to inspire wonder, but it also has the power to inspire action. Visiting the elephant orphanage reminded us that every journey is an opportunity to support conservation, learn from dedicated wildlife caretakers, and leave a destination better than we found it.

If you’re planning a safari in Kenya, make time for this remarkable experience. It may become the most meaningful part of your trip, just as it was ours.

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