Half Day David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Center and Karen Brixen
Overview
Spend a wonderful half day with giraffes, baby elephants and explore the historical Karen Blixen museum.
This tour take you to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: A Haven for Elephants and Rhinos to visit the Elephant Orphanage. Also on this tour, you will visit the Giraffe Center and the Karen Blixen museum, dedicated to the writer of the book "Out of Africa."
Your half-day tour begins with a Nairobi city airport or hotel pick-up. First, you will drive to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage where you will meet elephant calves. Daphne Sheldrick, as part of the David Sheldrick Conservation Foundation, rehabilitates baby elephants and other wildlife here at her home just outside of Nairobi National Park.
These babies have lost their mothers to poaching, death, injuries, or getting lost in the wild or other tragedies. Learn how Daphne and her dedicated staff raise the elephants and the process of releasing them back into the wild when they are ready.
During your visit, you will understand the humanitarian efforts, dedication and heart put into this endeavour.
Next, visit Giraffe Manor where Daisy, a baby giraffe rescued by Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville from a heavily-poached area of western Kenya in 1974, has made their home — and Daisy — famous among wildlife lovers worldwide.
Today, Daisy's home has been opened to the world and you will have the opportunity to not only meet giraffes but feed them from your own hands.
Finally, take a short tour of the home of pioneer coffee farmer Karen Blixen, known for her memoir "Out of Africa." Her home is preserved as a museum and contains many pieces of furniture she sold upon her departure. Here, you will have the opportunity to step back in time and gain insight into this remarkable woman's life as well as the chronology of the house from its construction in 1912.
Enjoy the views of the Ngong Hills which can be admired from the beautifully landscaped museum gardens.
Upon completion of the tour, return to your original departure point or another location in central Nairobi.
Please note: There is a nominal entrance fee to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage or you may purchase a souvenir or make a donation to their conservation efforts.
Highlights
- Karen Blixen Museum
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
- Giraffe Center
- Learn how the animals are rescued before being released into the wild
- Hand-feed the Giraffes
- Enjoy the views of the Ngong Hills
Good to Know
Scheduling: Shared Tour
Languages offered on the Activity / Tour: English
Duration: 4 to 7 hours
Skip the Line
Printed Voucher Accepted
Live GuideEnglish, German, French, Italian, Abkhazian, Armenian, Chinese, Japanese, Malagasy, Russian, Spanish
Pick-up serviceGuests can be picked up from either airport and or your place of stay
Disability ServicesThis activity is wheelchair accessible and can cater for people with disabilities or special needs
Easy CancellationThere is no cancellation fee once Customers Cancel at least 7 day(s) prior to the date of the activity or tour.
There is 50% cancellation fee for Customers to Cancel 3 and 6 day(s) prior to the date of the activity or tour.
There is 100% cancellation fee for Customers to Cancel 2 day(s) prior to the date of the activity or tour.
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Inclusions
- Information about attractions
- English speaking guide
- Park entry fees
- Transport
- Government taxes
- Airport or hotel pick-up drop-off
Exclusions
- Tips Gratuities
- Lunch
What To Expect
Stop 1: David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
Daphne Sheldrick Animal Orphanage, located in a secluded area of the Nairobi National Park, where orphaned baby elephants amongst other animals are taken care of by a dedicated team of conservationists.
The orphanage is run by Daphne Sheldrick, the wife of the late famous Naturalist, David William Sheldrick who was the founder Warden of Tsavo East National Park in Kenya from its inception in 1948 to 1976.
At 1100 Hours, the baby animals are brought from the National Park for a mud-bath at the orphanage, where for an hour you can get close to them and sometimes touch them.
Stop 2: Karen Blixen museum
Leave Sheldrick orphanage for the Karen Blixen museum at around 12:20 pm
Enjoy the views of Nairobi city as you drive up towards the foot of the ngong hills.
At the museum, you get to learn of both the Danish ways as well as the African ways portrayed by Karen Blixen.
Go through the coffee farms and see the old machinery and tools used to farm the coffee and which are in the museum. The museum also has artefacts used during the movie “Out of Africa”.
Have picnic lunch (not included in price) at the museum grounds, then leave for kazuri bead workshop.
This is actually a business success story it’s a pottery ceramic and bead factory that employs all single mothers. You get to visit the gift shop and the work shop and see the beautiful talents of the women.
Stop 3: The Giraffe Center
The Giraffe Center was first opened in response to the endangered status of the Rothschild giraffe, the population of which had declined, reaching a low of 130 animals in the wild as a result of agricultural practices in their native habitat.
Successful fundraising efforts secured monies to move four herds of these graceful animals to Lake Nakuru National Park, Nasalot Game Reserve, Mwea Game Reserve and Ruma National Park, and the success of these efforts has increased the population to over 500 individual giraffes in Kenya alone.
The most exciting part of your tour visit to the Giraffe Center is the experience of seeing these animals up close and even feeding them.
To raise awareness, the centre provides free environmental education to young Kenyans and promotes conservation efforts of endangered species in Kenya.
The Giraffe Center is open daily and the majority of your entrance fee goes toward supporting the important efforts of the organization.
Enjoy an up, close and personal wildlife experience with Rothschild giraffes
Pickup and Drop-off / Meeting Point
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Know Before You Go
- We are flexible
- Our guides are professional and friendly
- When in Kenya, this is a
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