I love animals. Love them to the core! I was really excited about visiting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) about a fortnight ago. I couldn’t stop admiring the shots I took that day. Baby elephants (calves) are just the cutest!
The DSWT was founded in 1977 in memory of the late David Sheldrick by his widow, Dame Daphne Sheldrick. Mr. Sheldrick was a naturalist and the founding park warden for Tsavo National Park in Kenya. The trust is mainly known for the Orphan’s Project (raising and rehabilitating orphaned elephants and rhinos) but also focuses on anti-poaching units, aerial surveillance units, wildlife support, mobile veterinary units and community outreach.
The visiting hours are strictly from 11 a.m – 12 noon as this is the feeding time for the calves. I’d advise you to go there earlier because tourists usually come in large numbers.
The calves ran towards the feeding/viewing area with so much enthusiasm to get their milk. The milk is not ordinary milk but is made from a special formula created by Dame Daphne Sheldrick.
As the calves are being fed, a member of staff gives a brief history of the DSWT, the names of each of the calves and their character traits. The calves are 32 in number and come in two sets during the one hour feeding time.
The calves get so close to you that you can actually touch them!
It was really a day of good luck because a giraffe made an appearance! (it was mentioned that this rarely happens (#blessed!)
I would encourage you to visit this place if you haven’t. You can also foster an elephant for yourself or as a gift to a friend for only Ksh. 5000/ $50. (more details here)
Additionally, you can share a post of the image below with the hashtag #BeKindToElephants and Ellen DeGeneres will donate an undisclosed amount for every tweet/post shared.
I look forward to bumping into you when I visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust next!
How to get there
The DSWT is located at the KWS Central Workshop Gate, off, Magadi Rd, Nairobi Directions are available here.
Salome Ayugi 