Visit the Sheldrick elephant orphanage in Nairobi

Nairobi is often quickly swept away and often serves as a base for tourists to set off on safari and criss-cross the country in search of wildlife and encounters with Kenyan flora and fauna. The country certainly has a lot to offer and is full of natural treasures. Nevertheless, Nairobi is a young, dynamic capital that is growing from strength to strength and is multiplying its attractions. In fact, the capital even has its own national park! Against a backdrop of buildings, lions, buffalo, giraffes and elephants share a surprising reserve in the heart of the city.

Not far away is a sanctuary for baby elephants and rhinos, orphans and indirect victims of poaching. Combining your visit to Nairobi National Park with a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust centre is a great way to learn more about these rhinos and elephants while playing an active part in saving them. It's a good reason to extend your stopover in Nairobi a little further.

The SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST was founded in 1977 by Dr Daphne Sheldrick in honour and memory of her husband, the famous naturalist and founder of Tsavo East National Park, David William Sheldrick. The couple, passionate about Kenya's wildlife, soon became involved in animal protection throughout the country. David founded Tsavo Park and is one of Africa's most famous and skilled national park rangers.

His wife Daphne, a native of Kenya, worked with her husband for over 25 years on the rehabilitation and breeding of numerous wild species. When her husband died, Daphne decided to set up the centre to rehabilitate orphaned baby elephants, many of whose parents had been victims of poaching. The centre is located in Nairobi National Park, and admission is on a donation basis, costing a minimum of $7 (500 shillings). You are free to donate more if you wish.

Originally, the centre only took in baby elephants whose mothers had fallen victim to poaching. Drought or the destruction of their habitat by humans. Baby elephants depend on their mother's milk for the first 2 years of their lives and cannot survive without it. Without human intervention, these babies are condemned to the same fate as their mothers.

Daphné, the founder, who has been working with elephants for decades, finally found a formula close to the mother's milk that elephants need, after many trials and errors. This coconut oil-based substitute gives the baby elephants a chance of survival. The couple have in fact bottle-fed many elephants to ensure their survival.

Today, the park is also home to rhinos and giraffes. Over the years, the centre has successfully rehabilitated more than 240 orphans thanks to their tenacity and their hand-feeding programme, which requires round-the-clock care. Once rehabilitated and self-sufficient, the animals are reintegrated into Tsavo East National Park.

The orphanage is only open to the public for 1 hour a day. Between 11am and midday, you can watch the baby elephants being fed by hand throughout their rehabilitation. They then enjoy a thirst-quenching mud bath and dusting before the astonished eyes of visitors.

You'll have plenty to learn about the animals at the centre during your visit. In fact, the keepers give explanations throughout your encounter and explain the purpose and objectives of the centre. As well as the centre and the rehabilitation of the animals in Tsavo East, they are also working hard to combat poaching. They currently operate 25 anti-poaching teams across the country and in the various nature reserves, in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service.

The preservation work carried out by the keepers is titanic. Just as a human baby is absolutely dependent on an adult for nourishment during the first few years of its life, an elephant calf cannot survive without milk and needs numerous bottles every day. Every 3 hours, 24 hours a day, the keepers take it in turns to save the lives of these youngsters.

You can do your bit to help save these animals. For $40 a year (+- €33) you can "adopt" (or rather sponsor). You'll receive an adoption certificate and monthly e-mail updates on your little protégé. You'll also be entitled to a watercolour painting every month by Angela Sheldrick (the couple's daughter, who also works at the centre) and access to exclusive park content (photos, videos, newspapers, etc.). A great initiative!