We arrived at 10:30am and there’s already line outside the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Visiting hours are 11am to noon and right on the hour a parade of orphan elephants walks out alongside keepers dressed in bright green coats. One keeper introduces each and how they became orphans. For some, their moms were poached for ivory. Others fell down waterholes. Orphans stay for up to 8 years before being released into the wild.
The keeper reiterates that the best way to maintain and grow the elephant population is to avoid buying goods made of ivory. Basic supply and demand.
After a fifteen minute (and surprisingly inexpensive) Uber ride and we arrive at the Giraffe Centre. It’s a breeding center for 10 Rothschild giraffes, another endangered species. There’s only one male, Eddie, because these animals are territorial.
Visitors stand on the balcony to feed giraffes from their hands and mouths (no, thank you). Everyone knows this but I just want to say it outloud – giraffes are massive. Face one eye-to-eye. Their eyes are like as big as 3 of ours (I’m guessing). They can kill a lion with one kick because their bones are dense. MASSIVE.
Random info:
The Jam 