David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage tour in Nairobi

Watch baby elephants drink from giant bottles during their midday feeding.

A half-day tour in Nairobi to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where you watch orphaned elephants during their 11am–12pm feeding time. Hotel pickup is included. The visit runs roughly three hours total. You'll see the youngest calves drink milk from bottles, watch the older ones feed themselves, and learn why each elephant arrived at the orphanage. Most were rescued after their mothers were poached, they fell into wells, or they were caught in human-wildlife conflict.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

• Pick up from Nairobi hotel at 9:30AM
• Drive to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
• Walk through the center from 11:00 to 12:00
• Watch youngest elephants feed on milk
• Observe elephants playing and interacting with keepers
• Learn about elephants' rescue stories
• Watch 2-3 year olds feed themselves or with keepers

The experience

The tour picks you up from your Nairobi hotel at 9:30am and drives you to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Once there, you walk into an open space ringed by a rope fence where the youngest elephants come trotting out to greet their keepers. For the next 10–15 minutes you watch each calf slurp and gargle milk from giant bottles, their trunks working overtime. When they're done drinking, they play with water and nudge the keepers for hugs while you photograph them up close.

After the youngest are fed and led back into the bush, the 2–3 year olds come out. Some of them hold their own milk bottles in their trunks and close their eyes with joy as they drink. Others still need their keepers to help. Between feedings, the guide explains how old each elephant was when it arrived, where it was rescued from, and what led to its orphaning. The visit is strictly timed between 11:00 and 12:00, so the whole experience fits into a single morning or afternoon window.

The tour ends with a drive back to your hotel. One option includes park entrance fees. The other does not, so confirm which you're booking before checkout. Souvenir photos are available to purchase on-site.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Nairobi accommodation.
• professional guide in English.
• access to the orphanage during the 11:00–12:00 feeding time (park entrance fees included in one option, excluded in the other).

Options for this experience

2 options

Park entrance fees are not includedGuide in English · 09:30Nairobi National Park fee of USD 85 per person, payable at the park gate. Pickup is included.

Park fees includedGuide in English · 09:30Entrance fees for Nairobi National Park and the Elephant park are included. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gracepatt Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a half-day free in Nairobi and want to see orphaned elephants during their actual feeding time rather than at a different hour. The fixed 11:00–12:00 window is when the youngest calves come out, and the whole experience takes roughly three hours door-to-door.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3).

What time do the elephants come out to feed?

The feeding viewing window is strictly 11:00 to 12:00, when the youngest orphans come out first, followed by the 2–3 year olds.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the orphanage?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Nairobi accommodation are included in the tour, with pickup at 9:30am.

What happens if I arrive in Nairobi with just a free afternoon?

The tour is a half-day experience that fits into an afternoon. Confirm the exact start time when you book, as the feeding window is fixed at 11:00–12:00.

Why were these elephants brought to the orphanage?

Most were orphaned after their mothers were poached, they fell into wells, or they were caught in human-wildlife conflict. The guide explains each elephant's story during the visit.

Can I buy photos of the elephants I see?

Yes, souvenir photos are available to purchase on-site during your visit.