Overview

The David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage was founded in 1977 by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick in honor of her late husband, David Sheldrick, a renowned naturalist and the first warden of Tsavo East National Park. David Sheldrick was also the father of the Tsavo East National Park. Elephants that have been orphaned due to poaching or other human-wildlife conflicts are the focus of the orphanage, which also tries to care for and preserve them.

Tour Highlights

• Elephant Viewing and Feeding: The opportunity to watch the elephants while they are being fed is the main draw of the orphanage tour. When enough people have gathered at the designated viewing area, the baby elephants emerge to sip from enormous milk bottles. You may watch their amusing interactions and hear the devoted keepers’ personal accounts of each animal.
• Educational Presentation: Before the feeding session, the keepers provide an educational talk on the work done at the orphanage, conservation efforts for elephants, and difficulties these magnificent animals face. You’ll learn about the rescue and rehabilitation procedures used at the orphanage as well as the ongoing initiatives to return the elephants to the wild.
• Gift Shop: The orphanage includes a gift shop where you can buy apparel, artwork, and souvenirs with elephant themes. The earnings from these sales go toward funding the operations of the orphanage and environmental conservation programs.
• Adopt an Elephant Program: “Adopt an Elephant” program enables guests to fund the care of a particular elephant while also supporting the mission of the orphanage. When you adopt an elephant, you get frequent information on its development and the chance to go to the orphanage for a closer encounter.
• Foster Parent’s Visit: Through the DSWT’s fostering program, foster parents who have adopted elephants have the option to arrange a private visit with their adopted elephant outside of the center’s usual visiting hours. This offers a closer-knit and more private encounter with the elephants.