Sheldrick Wildlife Trust : Dame Daphne Marjorie Sheldrick was a Kenyan of British decent born 4 June 1934 and died 12 April 2018. She was the founder of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust located in Nairobi County, Kenya 17 km from Nairobi City centre. It is one of the most unique things to do in Nairobi. She was an author, conservationist and a expert in animal husbandry especially raising orphaned Elephants and releasing them into the wild. She was born in kenya to a British parents in 1934 ,her parents were operating a timber business in Gilgil Kenya. During the world war II ,her father a naturalist was sent to a game reserve and ordered to kill zebras and wildebeest to feed the British and Kenyan troops.She went to school at Nakuru primary school and Kenya High school she was to join University but opted for marriage.
She married Bill Woodley in 1953 who battled poaching in kenya game reserves and later divorced. She later married David Sheldrick on 20th Oct 1960 who together were co-wardens at Tsavo national park from 1955 to 1976.It is here where they began caring for orphaned wild animals majority of them being Elephants,she began milk hand feeding formula.Some of the animals she raised ,rehabilitated and released them back into the wild were:elephants, black rhinos, buffalo, zebras, elands, kudus, impalas, duikers, reedbuck, dikdiks, warthogs, civets, mongooses and birds. Sheldrick was the first person to perfect the milk hand feeding formula to the infant milk dependant Elephants and Rhinos.
If you love Wildlife Kenya Safari Tours, or would wish to have a half a day safari experience in Nairobi.David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a must place to visit in Nairobi it became an independent Non profit organisation in 1987 dealing with conservation, preservation and protection of wildlife in kenya making it the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world. It works in collaboration with Anti-Poaching Teams, Mobile Veterinary Units, Aerial Surveillance, and a Sky Vet initiative in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service.Sheldrick wildlife Trust has successfully rescued over 262 orphaned elephants and reintegrated over 160 back into the wild.
Sheldrick received many honours for her conservation in 1989 she was awarded MBE by Queen Elizabeth II, UNEP’s Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1992, she was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery by Glasgow University in June 2000.In December 2001 her work was honoured by the Kenyan Government with the prestigious Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) decoration. 2002, the BBC recognised Sheldrick with their Lifetime Achievement Award. November 2005 she was featured in the issue of the Smithsonian magazine, Daphne Sheldrick was named as one of 35 people worldwide who have made a difference in terms of animal husbandry and wildlife conservation. Queen Elizabeth II promoted Daphne Sheldrick a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2006 New Year’s Honours List, for services to the conservation of wildlife, in particular elephants, and to the local community in Kenya. She is the first dame hood to be awarded in Kenya since the country received its Independence in 1963.In 2011 she appeared as herself in the documentary Born to be wild.
Attractions of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
There are several breath-taking rescue stories at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust of elephants , who were rescued in their vulnerable state after being abandoned to being resuscitated back into the wild.Some include Madiba was born September 2003 in the Southern African country Botswana who was flown to Kenya nursed and released into the wild now growing up in the Northern Area of Tsavo National Park. Wendi which was rescued from the Imenti Forest close to Mount Kenya on September 2002 was a new born with a moist umbilical cord not having had her mother’s colostrum. Plasma from an adult Elephant Thoma was transfused into Wendi’s ear veins recovered and grew and today she is thriving at the Ithumba Unit.Tomboi arrived at the Nursery on December 15th 2002 from the Samburu National Reserve. He was found abandoned after gunshots had been heard the previous night, and it is suspected that this is the reason this calf was separated from his family as they stampeded across the swollen Ewaso Nyiro River.He arrived only days old, still pink behind the ears with a deep gash right through his cheek caused probably by another member in the herd as a result of the panic that ensured when trying to reunite him. Years on he is now growing up to live a wild life in the Northern Area of Tsavo East National Park and many more wonderful rescue stories. One of the advantages of the place is that you can get close to baby elephants and even touch them.
Entrance fee
The public visit takes place every day, except the 25th of December, from 11am to 12 noon. To ensure the safety of the orphans, staff, and guests, entry is strictly by advance booking only.
The minimum donation for entry is Ksh 1,500 / US$15 per person 12 years and above, and Ksh 500 / US$5 for those under 12 years of age. This is collected upon entry, in Cash or via M pesa, on the day of your visit.
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust adoption plan
When setting up an adoption you can choose to adopt for a minimum of 1 year, up to a maximum of 10 years. Please be aware that you will be charged the full amount of your adoption when you set this up, so if you choose to adopt for 10 years at the minimum US$50 per year, your initial donation would be US$500.
When your adoption approaches its anniversary, you will receive an email from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust inviting you to renew your adoption for another year, so that you may continue to support and follow your orphan’s progress.
Activities are Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Your visit begins as the orphaned elephants converge for their midday milk feed. Afterwards, watch them enjoy a playful frolic in the dust or, if the mood suits them, a full mud bath. Our Keepers are on-hand to introduce you to each of the orphans, sharing their unique rescue stories and explaining the threats facing elephants. Funds from your visit help support the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants in our care.
Accommodation available
Being just at the heart of the city ,there are plenty of accommodation facilities available depending one one’s choice , prestige and luxury. They range from economy, midrange to the most luxurious of international standards. Some of these are: the Boma Inn hotel, Trademark hotel, Leon villa guesthouse, Eka Hotel Nairobi, Lesiolo hills Hotel,Ole sereni Hotel, Monarch Hotel among others.
