The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery is open to pre-booked visitors daily from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, with a separate SWT entry donation and Nairobi National Park fee payable for the visit.
The Nairobi Nursery, located inside Nairobi National Park, is where the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) cares for orphaned elephants during the early stages of their rehabilitation. Visitors can watch the elephants during their midday mud bath and milk feed while learning about their rescue, care and eventual return to the wild.
If you’re planning a visit in 2026, the most important thing to know is that this is not a walk-in attraction. Visits must be booked in advance, capacity is limited, and the one-hour public session starts promptly at 11:00 a.m.If you’re planning a visit in 2026, the most important thing to know is that this is not a walk-in attraction. Visits must be booked in advance, capacity is limited, and the one-hour public session starts promptly at 11:00 a.m.
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery: Quick Facts
- Location: Nairobi National Park, Nairobi, Kenya
- Public visiting time: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 noon
- Days: Daily, except 25 December
- Advance booking: Required
- Same-day bookings: Not accepted
- Booking window: Within three months of the intended visit
- Recommended arrival: By 10:30 a.m.
- SWT adult donation: From USD 20 or KES 2,000 for Kenya residents
- SWT child donation: From USD 5 or KES 500 for Kenya resident children
- Additional fee: Nairobi National Park entry fee charged separately by KWS
How to Book the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery
The Nairobi Nursery requires an advance booking directly through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Same-day visits are not accepted, and SWT recommends reserving early because daily visitor capacity is limited.
Bookings can only be made for dates within the following three months. If your trip is further away, you’ll need to wait until your preferred date falls within that booking window.
When contacting SWT to make a booking, provide:
- Your preferred visit date
- Number of adults
- Number of children
- Full name of each adult
- Name and age of each child
SWT asks visitors to allow at least two business days for a response to booking enquiries. Once confirmed, bring the booking confirmation with you, either digitally or in printed form.
Can you book the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust through a third-party website?
SWT states that only booking confirmations issued by the Trust are valid for entry. Third-party platforms such as Viator, GetYourGuide and Tripadvisor do not provide valid Nursery bookings.
If you’re visiting as part of a tour arranged by a tour operator or local guide, make sure they provide you with the official SWT booking confirmation.
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery Fees in 2026
The SWT Nursery donation and Nairobi National Park entrance fee are separate charges. Visitors need to account for both when budgeting for a visit.
SWT Nairobi Nursery donation
For the 11:00 a.m. public visit, SWT currently lists the following minimum donations:
| Visitor | 2026 minimum donation |
| Adult, age 12+ | USD 20 or KES equivalent |
| Kenya resident adult | KES 2,000 |
| Child, under 12 | USD 5 or KES equivalent |
The SWT donation is paid on the day of the visit, rather than being prepaid as part of the booking. Kenya residents need to provide proof of residency to access the resident rate. For USD-priced tickets paid in Kenya shillings, SWT uses the exchange rate applicable on the day.
Nairobi National Park entrance fees
KWS requires all visitors to the Nairobi Nursery to pay the Nairobi National Park entrance fee because the Nursery is located inside the park. This fee applies even if you are not planning to explore the rest of the park.
The current KWS Nairobi National Park rates are:
| Visitor | Adult | Child / Student |
| East African citizen | KES 1,000 | KES 500 |
| Kenya resident | KES 1,350 | KES 675 |
| Non-resident | USD 80 | USD 40 |
| African citizen | USD 40 | USD 20 |
These rates come from KWS’s conservation fees introduced from 1 October 2025 and currently listed for Nairobi National Park.
Important: The SWT donation and KWS park fee are separate. They do not have one all-inclusive entrance price.
When Does the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Public Visit Start?
The public visit runs from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon every day except 25 December. SWT does not delay or extend the session for visitors who arrive late.
SWT recommends arriving at or before 10:30 a.m. to allow enough time to enter Nairobi National Park through the KWS gate and complete the required park entry process.
This is particularly important because the Nursery visit itself is only one hour. Arriving late can mean missing part of the experience.
Where Is the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery?
The Nairobi Nursery is located inside Nairobi National Park. Visitors access it through the KWS Mbagathi Gate, also known as the Workshop Gate, on Magadi Road. Because you need to pass through the KWS gate before reaching the Nursery, allow extra time for park entry rather than planning to arrive at exactly 11:00 a.m.
What Happens During the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Visit?
The public visit lasts approximately one hour and centres around the orphaned elephants’ midday routine. Visitors can watch the elephants during their mud bath and milk feed, while SWT keepers explain the stories of the individual orphans and the Trust’s wider conservation work.
The experience offers an introduction to the wider process of rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned elephants. The Nursery is the first stage of that journey before elephants eventually move to one of SWT’s Reintegration Units and, ultimately, back into the wild.
Is the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust good for families?
Yes. The Nursery is particularly well suited to families because the visit is relatively short, easy to fit into a Nairobi itinerary, and provides children with a close look at elephant conservation. It also works well for first-time visitors to Kenya who want to include a meaningful conservation experience without committing an entire day to it.
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Visitor Tips for 2026
- Book as soon as your dates open
The Nursery has limited daily capacity and only accepts bookings within three months of the visit. Don’t leave the booking until the day before your trip. - Arrive before 10:30 a.m.
The 11:00 a.m. session does not wait for late arrivals. Give yourself time for traffic, finding the gate and completing the KWS entry process. - Arrive before 10:30 a.m.
Your total cost includes both:- The SWT Nursery donation
- The KWS Nairobi National Park entrance fee
- Don’t assume a third-party booking is valid
SWT specifically warns that third-party bookings are not accepted. If a tour operator is arranging the visit, ask for the official SWT confirmation. - Keep the visit focused
The Nursery session is only one hour, so avoid combining it with activities that require you to rush across Nairobi immediately beforehand. - Consider adding a Nairobi National Park game drive
Since KWS park entry is required for the Nursery visit, adding a game drive can make particularly good sense for visitors who have enough time.
A morning game drive followed by the 11:00 a.m. Nursery visit is possible with careful timing, but the schedule needs to account for the fixed Nursery start time.
For a more seamless option, pair the Nursery with a dedicated Nairobi full-day wildlife and conservation tour that combines Nairobi National Park, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Giraffe Centre.
How to Plan the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Into a Nairobi Day
The biggest planning mistake is treating the Nursery like a flexible stop that can be added whenever convenient. Its fixed 11:00 a.m.–12:00 noon visiting window should determine the rest of your morning.
A practical sequence is:
Morning → Nairobi National Park → 11:00 a.m. SWT Nursery → Lunch → Giraffe Centre or another Nairobi experience
Alternatively, you can make the Nursery the main morning activity and use the afternoon for Nairobi’s other attractions. The right sequence depends on your accommodation, traffic conditions and whether you want a full game drive or simply a short Nairobi National Park experience.
Is the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Worth Visiting?
Yes, particularly if you’re looking for a conservation-focused experience in Nairobi.
The Nursery offers a rare opportunity to see rescued elephant calves at close range while learning about the long-term process of rehabilitation and reintroduction. It is also easy to incorporate into a wider Nairobi itinerary because the public visit takes only one hour.
The main consideration is timing: you need a confirmed booking, you need to pay the separate KWS park fee, and you need to arrive early enough to be ready for the 11:00 a.m. start.
Planning a Visit to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust?
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery is one of Nairobi’s most memorable conservation experiences, but it works best when planned around its fixed visiting schedule.
Book your Nursery visit in advance, arrive early, budget separately for SWT and KWS fees, and build the rest of your Nairobi itinerary around the 11:00 a.m. session. If you’d rather have the timing, park entry and Nairobi attractions handled as one itinerary, explore our Nairobi Full-Day Tour, combining Nairobi National Park with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Giraffe Centre.