Sheldrick Elephant Nursery: Booking, Hours & Family Guide

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Nairobi Nursery rescues and raises orphaned baby elephants (and rhinos) before returning them to the wild. The public visit runs once a day for one hour, when the orphans charge in for giant bottles of milk, roll in the red mud and play football while keepers tell each elephant's rescue story.

A Place of Beginnings: Located inside Nairobi National Park, the Nursery is where an orphan's journey begins—a place that culminates, many years down the line, in their reintegration back into the wild. Founded in 1977 by Dame Daphne Sheldrick, the Nursery was originally created to raise infant orphans who were constantly being brought to the nearby park headquarters. Today, it is a world-renowned center for elephant and rhino conservation, currently home to over 20 orphaned elephants and several rhinos.

The Public Visit Experience: The daily public visit is strictly timed around the Nursery herd's midday milk feed and mud bath. At precisely 11:00 AM, the orphans charge in for their giant bottles of specialist formula milk. After feeding, they roll in the red mud (or take a dust bath on cooler days) and play football, while a senior Keeper introduces each elephant and explains why they came to need help. The Keepers are with the orphans 24 hours a day, offering unconditional love and emotional support; they even sleep with the youngest orphans in their stockades at night so they do not feel alone. This is a deeply emotional and educational experience, offering a rare glimpse into the individualized care each orphan receives.

Booking is Mandatory—And Strictly Enforced: Access to the Nursery is by advance booking only, and same-day bookings are not accepted. Slots open 90 days ahead and sell out fast; the Trust only accepts bookings for visits within the next three months. To book, you must email the Nairobi office directly at info@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org with your preferred date, the number of adult and child tickets, and the names and ages of everyone attending. A confirmation email will be sent to you, which must be brought in digital or printed form on the day of your visit. Only booking confirmations issued by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust are valid for entry; bookings through third-party platforms like Viator or GetYourGuide are not accepted for the official public visit.

Separate KWS Park Fees (Mandatory): The nursery sits inside Nairobi National Park, so KWS park entry fees are payable separately via eCitizen in addition to the SWT donation. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) requires that all visitors to the SWT Nursery must pay the Nairobi National Park entry fees, regardless of whether they venture further into the park or not. These fees are paid in advance via the eCitizen online platform (kws.ecitizen.go.ke) to minimize delays at the gate. The SWT Nursery entry donation is entirely separate from the KWS park fee and does not contribute to the Trust.

Entry Donations and Child Rates: The minimum entry donations for the 11:00 AM public visit are as follows: Adults (aged 12 and above) pay USD 20 (or the equivalent in Kenya Shillings), while Kenya residents pay KES 2,000 with proof of residency. Children under 12 pay USD 5 (or the equivalent in Kenya Shillings), and Kenya resident children pay KES 500 with proof of residency. Children under 12 pay the child donation rate. The entry donation is not pre-paid; it is collected in cash upon arrival at the Nursery, which is after the KWS Mbagathi Gate.

Arrival and Timing: Guests are strongly encouraged to arrive at the KWS gate by 10:15 AM to 10:30 AM to allow ample time to pass through the gate and drive to the nursery before the session begins. The public visit starts strictly at 11:00 AM and cannot be delayed or extended for late arrivals. The entire visit lasts one hour. Touching the elephants is not allowed for animal welfare reasons, but visitors can stand close to the rope barrier and watch the orphans interact with their Keepers.

Conservation Impact: Funds from your visit directly support the rescue and rehabilitation of the orphaned elephants in the Trust's care. The Trust has successfully raised over 320 orphaned elephants and rhinos, reintegrating them into protected wilderness. The Nursery is just the first step; once the orphans are older, they graduate to Reintegration Units where they learn to mix with wild herds before their eventual release into the wild. By visiting, you are directly contributing to one of Africa's most successful wildlife conservation programs

Founded by Dame Daphne Sheldrick in 1977 in memory of her husband David, the trust has raised over 200 orphaned elephants and returned most to the wild in Tsavo. It runs anti-poaching teams, mobile vet units and aerial patrols funded largely by the fostering programme and visit donations.

Book online up to 90 days ahead walk-ins are not accepted and pay KWS Nairobi National Park fees on eCitizen before arrival.

Enter via the Banda Gate on Magadi Road and drive through the park to the nursery clearing.

At 11am the baby elephants run in for milk feeding and mud play while keepers introduce each orphan's story. The session lasts one hour. Touching is not allowed, but elephants may approach the rope barrier.