Next to Nairobi National Park is the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a sanctuary dedicated to caring for orphaned baby elephants rescued from poaching and human-wildlife conflict.
Many of these young elephants are victims of the ivory trade and have lost their mothers. The Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage rescues and rehabilitates elephants from different parts of Kenya, with the aim of releasing them back into the wild.
Every day at 11:00 am, visitors can watch the baby elephants come out of the acacia forest to a mud waterhole where they meet their keepers for feeding. After eating, the elephants often roll in the mud, spray muddy water into the air, and play with one another.
This public session lasts for about an hour, giving guests the chance to see the calves up close while learning about their care. Rangers and keepers explain the work of the orphanage and the importance of elephant conservation in Kenya.
For those who choose to adopt an elephant, a special visit can be arranged between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. During this private session, visitors can go to the stalls, see the elephants being fed and prepared for the night, and witness the strong bonds they share with their keepers.
The Tsavo Conservation Area, where many of these rescued elephants are eventually released, holds the largest elephant population in the region and possibly in Africa. About 40 percent of Kenya’s elephants live here.
The area also protects over 18 percent of Kenya’s rare and endangered black rhinos, most of them in the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary inside Tsavo National Park.
Although poaching is banned, wildlife trafficking still occurs, with 2011 being one of the worst years in recent times. The conservation area is also home to the critically endangered Hirola antelope and the endangered Grevy’s zebra. Conservation programs are ongoing to protect these species and improve their numbers.
The Tsavo Conservation Area is one of the most visited wildlife regions in Kenya, with most travelers exploring Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, and Amboseli National Park.
