The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Kenya or Africa for that matter is Safari. However, here at Shishi Style, we take things one step further.
How does personally touching some of these animals in person sound to you? I know the adventurous folks will dive right into this blog, but if you aren’t as adventurous, hold on and read some more because this can be done safely and enjoyably.
📍First Stop: Elephants and Rhinos
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is an elephant sanctuary that works to rescue baby elephants and baby rhinos who lost their mothers due to poaching or other reasons. They work with the baby elephants and rhinos to rehabilitate them and slowly introduce them into the wild.
Anyone can visit the elephants daily from 11am – 12pm to join the orphaned elephants at their midday mud bath and milk feed at the orphanage at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
The elephants are very playful and will come within arms reach to you. It is a magical moment and one that we surely will not forget.
👉Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is located in the Nairobi National Park and it is managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). KWS requires that all visitors to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery must pay the Nairobi National Park entry fees, regardless of whether they will venture further into Nairobi National Park or not.
👉We recommend planning your day where you complete a game drive in the early morning and then head to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to see the elephants. This way you have the opportunity to experience the Nairobi National Park and hopefully see some Lions, Cheetahs and Buffaloes before heading to see the elephants.
👉Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) park fees are paid via the eCitizen online platform: kws.ecitizen.go.ke. Purchasing the tickets in advance will help minimize any delays you might otherwise encounter on the day of your visit.
👉The ticket for the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is purchased separately via their direct website. Pre-book your ticket due to limited availability. You cannot enter without a ticket.
👉Make sure to carry your passport for entry.
Let us take this one step further! You can adopt your own elephant or rhino and support them to ensure their needs are met. Not only that, you can meet them at earlier or later times that are not permitted to the general public.
Check out this link to adopt the cutest little elephant: Adopt an Elephant
📍Second Stop: Giraffes
If getting up close and personal wasn’t cool enough for you, then I have one other option to top it off. Did you ever imagine having the chance to feed Giraffes? The majestic beings with the perfect coats are gentle giants that are such a joy to interact with.
Once you complete your adventure at the Sheldricks Wildlife Trust, head down the road to the Giraffe Center. This space was created in 1979 with a goal to help save the Rothschild Giraffe and help prevent them from becoming extinct. In this space you can learn more about their conservancy efforts and more about the concerns that impact these beautiful giraffes.
You can also feed the giraffes!!! You will receive a bowl of pellets and will be guided on how to feed them and interact with them. There may be lots of ways to express the experience, but I’m still stuck on: it’s soooo freaking cool!
Your experience will be about 30 minutes at most depending on how busy it is at the time. Soak in the moment, because it’s truly once it’s a lifetime.
👉To beat the lines, pre-book your tickets in advance on their Giraffe Center Website
📍Third Stop: A sleepover with Giraffes
The Giraffe Manor is a boutique hotel near the Giraffe Center that is an exclusive hotel with a resident herd of wild giraffes. It is an exquisite experience where you get to interact with the giraffes more directly and get to be surrounded by them while staying at this gorgeous hotel.
Check out their Giraffe Manor Website for more details.
These experiences are nothing short of extraordinary and truly unforgettable moments that you’ll carry with you forever, just as we have. They offer a powerful reminder of the vital importance of wildlife conservation and the role each of us plays in protecting these majestic creatures. Enjoy every step of planning your adventure, the ShiShi Style way!
