Nairobi: Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre Tour with Pickup

Summary

Meet rescued elephants, hand-feed giraffes, and connect with Nairobi’s wildlife stories

You’ll stand just feet from rescued baby elephants at Nairobi’s orphanage, feed Rothschild giraffes by hand at the Giraffe Centre, and watch local women create beautiful beads from scratch. With hotel pickup included and a local guide sharing stories along the way, every stop feels personal—leaving you with more than just photos.

What’s the experience like?

“You have to see this,” our guide Joseph grinned as he nudged us through the little crowd at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. I could smell the red earth—kind of sweet, kind of dusty—and then suddenly there were these baby elephants barreling out for their bottles. One of them flapped its ears so hard I thought it might take off. The keepers told us each elephant’s story—some sadder than I expected—and it hit me how much goes into saving them. I didn’t expect to feel so protective over a calf named Kiasa (I hope I spelled that right). The main keyword here is day trip Nairobi elephant orphanage; if you’re in town even half a day, just go.

Afterwards we drove over to the Giraffe Centre—windows down, city noise fading into birdsong. The Rothschild giraffes are even taller up close than you’d think. You get these little food pellets and suddenly there’s a giant head swooping down, tongue like a purple ribbon. I tried saying “giraffe” in Swahili (twiga) and Li laughed at my accent—probably deserved it. The guides explained how they’re trying to bring the numbers up again; you can tell they care. There’s this moment when you look up and see nothing but sky and eyelashes.

The last stop was Kobe Beads—optional but honestly worth it if you like seeing real work with your own eyes. The women showed us how they roll clay beads by hand, chatting in bursts of Swahili and English while the kilns glowed in one corner. It smelled like wet earth and soap inside. Some of these women support whole families with their craft—it’s not just souvenirs here. We didn’t make it to the Karen Blixen Museum (next time maybe), but lunch nearby was simple and good, ugali with stew, eaten outside while kids played under jacaranda trees.

I still think about those elephant ears flapping around and the quiet pride on Joseph’s face when he talked about conservation in Nairobi. Not everything went smoothly (traffic is real), but that made it feel more honest somehow—you know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit elephant orphanage and giraffe centre

• Meet guide and travel to elephant orphanage
• Enjoy guided session with baby elephants
• Watch elephants drink milk and play
• Drive to Giraffe Centre
• Learn about Rothschild giraffe conservation
• Visit Kobe Beads Centre and see bead making
• Optionally drive to lunch and hotel or airport

Top questions

How long does the Nairobi elephant orphanage & giraffe centre tour take?

The tour is a half-day experience, typically lasting around 4–5 hours including transfers between sites.

Is hotel pickup included in this Nairobi wildlife tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off at your place of stay are included in the tour.

What animals will I see during this day trip from Nairobi?

You’ll see rescued baby elephants at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Rothschild giraffes at the Giraffe Centre.

Can I adopt an elephant during the visit?

Yes, you have an opportunity to adopt or sponsor an orphaned baby elephant during your visit to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Is there an option to visit a local bead factory?

Yes, there’s an optional complimentary tour of Kobe Beads women’s factory where you can learn about jewelry pottery from clay.

Are entry fees included for all attractions?

The donation fee for the elephant orphanage is included; however, a mandatory conservation park fee must be paid online via E-citizen before entry.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible according to provided information.

Can infants join this Nairobi animal sanctuary tour?

Infants are welcome but must sit on an adult’s lap during transport.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off at your hotel or apartment in Nairobi, entry fees for both Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (elephant orphanage) and Giraffe Centre covered (except for the required online park fee), plus a complimentary visit to Kobe Beads where you’ll see jewelry pottery made by local women artisans. Lunch can be arranged nearby before returning or heading to your next destination.