Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
On my second day in Nairobi, I was schedule to get picked up from the hotel and taken to the Sheldrick Whildlife Trust. I’ve been interested in visiting this organization ever since I saw the 2011 movie, Born To Be Wild. I love elephants and adopted an orphaned baby that year (who is now back in the wild).
The trust is located in Nairobi National Park, which is just a few miles outside the city. Visiting hours are only from 11am-noon, so we had some time to kill before entering the park. My driver took me to Kobe Tough where products support single mothers, orphans and widows in Kenya. They work to upskill the artistic skills of these women providing them an opportunity to earn a fair wage for their art. They showed me how they make the beads, paint them and create jewelry. They as danced and sang a welcoming song for me.
After the Kobe tour, we headed into the park. We were one of the first to arrive and my driver lead me to the gate where we had to wait about 30 minutes for it to open and admit guests. Once inside, my driver took me to the best viewing spot to get photos with the sun to my back.
The handlers of the orphaned elephants brought them out in three groups of 10-11 babies. The elephants hurried into the enclosure to get their bottles of formula (they drink it for about three years). Some would try to sneak back and get a second bottle, but the handlers were wise to their tricks. They also ate acacia leaves and got close enough to touch in some instances. I was surprised that they weren’t strict about not touching them since their goal was to eventually return them to the wild. I could have stayed there all day watching those babies, but the hour went by quickly and it was time to leave.
Back at the hotel, I rested in my room for a bit before it was time to meet the others joining my G Adventures tour. There were only seven of us, which is about half the size of their usual groups. There was a newlywed couple from New Zealand (Sarah and Callum), a newlywed couple from the UK (Antonia who is Italian and Abdillahi from Djibuti), Roberta from Switzerland and Corbin from British Columbia (Canada). After going over the tour details, our tour guide, George, had dinner with us at the hotel’s restaurant buffet.
Tomorrow we will leave early in order to drive a long distance to our bush camp in Samburu National Reserve.
