Elephant wonderland

Nairobi | amboseli | Samburu | reteti sanctuary

Enormous, intelligent, sociable, and full of personality, elephants hold a special place in many travelers’ hearts. Visit two of Kenya’s most unique elephant havens.

Complete the experience with a visit to the community-run Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, where orphaned calves are rescued, rehabilitated, and eventually returned to the wild.

NAIROBI

Baby elephant Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi

Arrive in Nairobi, where you will begin and end your safari.

Named the world’s best city to visit in 2024 by Lonely Planet, Nairobi is Kenya’s bustling, dynamic, cosmopolitan capital.

Elephant Toddlers – Step into the enchanting world of elephants with a side serving of pure cuteness. Spend a day visiting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, located in Nairobi National Park.

The Trust runs the most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world, offering a wonderful opportunity to get up close to these incredible animals and learn about their conservation and behavior from the keepers who care for them.

Activities Include
Visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust - Nairobi Elephant Orphanage.

 

amboseli

A herd of elephants walking across a grassy plain with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background, shrouded in mist.

NAIROBI - AMBOSELI 3.5H (ROAD)

Depart by road for Amboseli National Park, located in the southern part of Kenya. Wide savanna expanses and a stunning backdrop await.

Iconic views - The snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, offer a dramatic backdrop, making it a popular destination for photographers.

Elephant Haven - Amboseli, known as the “Land of Giants,” is famous for its large elephant population, the most studied in Africa. Spend three days exploring this remarkable park, home to some of the continent’s greatest herds, where elephants roam freely across vast landscapes of acacia woodland, dusty plains, and marshland, offering wonderful opportunities to observe their complex social interactions up close.

Dirt road winding through a grassy plain with Mount Kilimanjaro, partly obscured by clouds, in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Activities Include
Morning and evening game drives; bush sundowners; Maasai village cultural experience
ADD-ONS: Hot air balloon ride

 

SAMBURU

Group of elephants standing under tall trees in a savanna landscape.

AMBOSELI - SAMBURU 1.5 (AIR)

Travel away from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi and venture toward the gateway of northern Kenya. Lush greenery gradually gives way to an arid, less forgiving landscape — a region of stark contrasts, dramatic scenery, and staggering views.

Elephant Wonderland - The reserve is a true haven for elephants, many of which are known by name thanks to a long-running research study. Watch these gentle giants follow well-worn paths to the Ewaso Nyiro River, where they gather to drink, bathe, and cool off in the heat of the day.

With close to a thousand elephants living in Samburu National Reserve and the surrounding conservancies, large herds are often seen, offering wonderful opportunities to observe these magnificent animals up close in their natural habitat.

Unique Northern Species - Samburu is also home to several animals rarely seen elsewhere in Kenya, often called the “Samburu Special Five.” Look out for Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, and the elegant Beisa oryx, along with lion, leopard, and a wide variety of birdlife that thrive in this dry northern landscape.

Wild Camps - Stay in camps where elephants are your bedfellows — not literally, but close enough to feel fully immersed in the wild. Here, the sights and sounds of the bush are never far away, creating an unforgettable safari experience in one of Kenya’s most striking landscapes.

Two people sitting on a red couch indoors with a large elephant outside behind a glass window.

Activities Include
Morning and evening game drives: unparalleled elephant viewing; scenic sundowners; Samburu village visit

 

RETETI ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

A man feeding elephants at a zoo or wildlife park in a dry, arid landscape with sparse trees and mountains in the background.

SAMBURU NR - RETETI 4.5H (ROAD)

Travel deeper into the northern wilderness to the remote and rugged Mathews Range, a region of stark contrasts and staggering views that stretch as far as the eye can see. This stunning and rarely visited landscape offers a true sense of adventure, far from the busier safari routes of southern Kenya.

Community Sanctuary - Visit the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, the first community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa. Located in the Namunyak Conservancy, the sanctuary rescues orphaned and abandoned elephant calves to reintegrate them into the wild herds that roam the surrounding wilderness.

With The Keepers - During your visit, you will be paired with one of the sanctuary’s keepers, all of whom are recruited from the local Samburu community, whose people have lived alongside wildlife for thousands of years. You will learn about the daily care, rehabilitation, and eventual release of the young elephants, as well as the sanctuary’s ongoing conservation and anti-poaching efforts, gaining a rare insight into one of Africa’s most inspiring wildlife projects.

African savanna landscape with scattered acacia trees, golden grass, distant mountains, and a partly cloudy sky.

Activities Include
Observe the daily feeding program of the different herds. Be paired with a keeper and learn about their work.

 

CUSTOM PRICING INCLUDES:

  • Airport transfers

  • Accommodation

  • Activities

  • Domestic Transportation

  • Entrance fees to National Parks, National Reserves, and Community/Private Conservancies

  • Expert Sacred Savanna private driver guide for your entire trip

  • Fully equipped 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser

  • Supplemental medical emergency insurance (evacuation cover)

  • Accommodation comes in a wide range of options depending on location. We source the best and have options to suit most budgets.

  • Add-ons are optional activities offered at an extra cost.