David Sheldrick elephant nursery entry fee
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery opens to the public for one hour a day, commonly 11:00 to 12:00. Non-resident adults donate $20. Kenyan citizens and residents pay KSh 2,000. Book the slot ahead.
| Visitor | Adult | Child under 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident | $20 (about KSh 2,600) | $5 (about KSh 650) |
| Kenyan citizen or resident | KSh 2,000 | KSh 500 |
Closed on 25 December. Confirm the current hour and booking rules with the Trust before you lock your day around it.
Book the nursery slot directly with the Trust
Only booking confirmations issued by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust are valid for entry. The Trust says it does not accept bookings made through third-party platforms such as Viator, GetYourGuide or Tripadvisor. Book by email with the Trust's Nairobi office, giving the date, the number of adult and child tickets, and each guest's name (and each child's age). Bookings open up to three months ahead, same-day bookings are not possible, and you bring the confirmation email, printed or on your phone. The donation is paid in cash on the day.
The nursery is reached through the KWS Mbagathi Gate, also called the Workshop Gate, on Magadi Road. Since 19 September 2023 KWS requires every nursery visitor to hold a Nairobi National Park entry ticket, and the vehicle and driver pay a gate fee too. The Trust asks guests to arrive by 10:30 so the gate does not make them late.
Park, Sheldrick and Giraffe Centre in one weekday
You book the Sheldrick slot with the Trust. We drive: 05:00 hotel pickup, a game drive timed to reach Mbagathi Gate for the 11:00 hour, then the Giraffe Centre. $75 non-resident or KSh 6,000 resident per person, Monday to Friday, entry fees extra.
Other Nairobi fees: Sheldrick entry fee, Giraffe Centre entry fee, Safari Walk entrance fee, park safari charges and how to pay on KWSPay.
What you see
Keepers walk the orphaned elephants out for the milk feed and the mud bath, then talk about each calf's rescue. These are rescued orphans, not the park's wildlife. Nairobi National Park has no wild elephants, which makes the nursery the place to see elephants in Nairobi.
The park ticket question
The nursery is inside the national park boundary, so KWS requires a park ticket on top of the Sheldrick donation. Pair it with a game drive and, on the weekday tour, the one park ticket covers both. Our weekday park, Sheldrick and Giraffe Centre tour times the game drive to arrive for the 11:00 hour, from $75 or KSh 6,000 per person with hotel pickup.
Quick answers
How much does it cost to visit the Sheldrick elephant orphanage?
A non-resident adult donates 20 US dollars, a child under 12 pays 5 US dollars. Kenyan citizens and residents pay KSh 2,000 per adult.
When can I visit?
The public visiting hour is commonly 11:00 to 12:00, daily except 25 December. Book ahead directly with the Trust; third-party bookings are not accepted.
Do I also need a park ticket?
Yes. The nursery sits inside the national park, and since September 2023 KWS requires a park ticket for every nursery visitor. On our weekday tour you already hold one for the game drive.
Related pages
Book this safari
Send the date, the group, and the pickup. We confirm availability on WhatsApp or email, with the tour price and the park fees to budget. See our deposit and cancellation policy.