Full Day Nairobi Tour – Karen Blixen, Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Center

Full Day Nairobi Tour – Karen Blixen, Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Center.

This full day tour is an excellent way to begin or end your East Africa safari. Search out wildlife at Nairobi National Park, on the outskirts of Nairobi. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and visit the Karen Blixen Museum. Stop by the Giraffe Center for a close up look at the endangered Rothschild giraffe.

Karen Blixen – Museum

Made famous by the hit movie “Out of Africa” starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, this plantation homestead is where that story began. We’ll start our tour visiting this expansive farmhouse and grounds where Karen Blixen established a coffee plantation and spent time with her lover, the English hunter, Denys Finch-Hatton.
Set at the foot of the Ngong Hills, the plantation was where Blixen chronicled her time in colonial Africa in her renowned literary works. We’ll visit the rooms where she lived and worked. On display – relics from her life as well as props from the legendary movie. We’ll also learn more about Kenya’s colonial history.

David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

The David & Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Animal Orphanage plays a significant role in both local and international conservation efforts. Established in 1977, the trust is entirely supported by donations and memorializes the work of David Sheldrick, a renowned naturalist who served as the founder warden of the Tsavo East National Park in south-eastern Kenya from 1948 to 1976. When you visit the orphanage during your sightseeing trip to Nairobi with African Mecca, you will see orphan elephants and rhinos nurturing and learn about the trust’s two major programs – Orphan’s Project and Fostering Program. The Orphan’s Project is a globally recognized program that rescues and rehabilitates elephants and rhinos that have been orphaned due to poaching and habitat loss, and hundreds of infant elephants have been hand-raised and reintroduced to the wild at Tsavo East. The Fostering Program, in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service, supports an elephant nursery in Nairobi National Park that is overseen by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick who is credited with developing a complex milk formulary, as well as an in-depth understanding of husbandry. Since 1999, the trust has been involved in anti-poaching efforts by operating and funding many successful de-snaring teams and aerial support personnel who work with wildlife authorities deep within the boundaries of protected areas to stop the activities of illegal meat hunters. Another important facet of the trust’s work is the mobile veterinary units that work in Tsavo West and East Parks, as well as surrounding ranches and dispersal areas. The David & Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Animal Orphanage spearheads local educational programs to raise awareness, shares information on both local and international fronts and publishes articles for the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, press outlets and many other sources. The trust has been the key to the struggle to not only protect elephants, but to also uncover the complex communication and social behavior used by these incredible pachyderms. This tour is offered in the morning for non-sponsors while orphan sponsors have access on an afternoon visit.

Kazuri Beads

Kazuri means “small and beautiful” in Swahili and the many beads and other ornamentation produced here are indeed very beautiful. This handiwork is the creation of hundreds of determined and skilled women who craft these ceramic beads, making artistic jewelry that’s seen and sold all over the world. Begun in 1975 with just two single mothers, the center quickly grew as an enterprise for disadvantaged women where they could better themselves and their life opportunities. Here, we’ll be able to view the artists at work and visit the gift shop for souvenirs to support this very special business.

ITINERARY

You are met at JKIA airport / your hotel in Nairobi briefed thereafter. Pick up by 9.30am

1100hrs-1200hrs: Visit the David Sheldrick Elephant orphanage, where young orphaned elephants are brought after being rescued and fed till they are mature to be released to the wild.

1200 -1300hrs: Visit the Giraffe Centre where you feed the friendly Rothchilds Giraffe. They accept a kiss as they pick their food from your palms! Stop over at some shopping areas enroute.

1300-1400 hrs: You break for lunch at the restaurant (paid direct as per the client’s choice of menu.

1400-1500hrs: Visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the house in the movie out of Africa. Visit the kazuri beads enroute.

1630hrs: drop at airport for onward flight / your hotel for a deserved rest.

Inclusions

Entrance fees at the Karen Blixen

Entrance fees at the David sheldrick elephant orphanage

Entry fess the the Giraffe Centre

pick up and drop off at your hotel.

Exclusions

Airport transfers (USD 20 per vehicle)

Meals and Drinks

Tips