There are many animal sanctuaries that you can visit and have a close or one-on-one interaction with wild animals especially in Kenya. Many if not all sanctuaries are purposely started to help orphaned, endangered or very young wild animals to get on their feet before being released back to the wild.
Have a look at some of the animal sanctuaries you should to visit in Kenya.
1.Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, based at the foothills of Mount Kenya, works as a model and catalyst for the conservation of wildlife and its habitat. It does this through the protection and management of species, the initiation and support of community conservation and development programmes, and the education of neighbouring areas in the value of wildlife. While here, you will see the endangered black and white rhino and the endangered Grevy’s zebras among many other wild animals.
2. Giraffe Centre
The Giraffe Center is located in Lang’ata, approximately 20 kilometres from Nairobi. The Giraffe Centre is the creation of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W. Kenya), a Kenyan non-profit organisation with the main purpose of educating Kenyan school children and youth on their country’s wildlife and environment, as well as give local and international visitors an opportunity to come into close contact with the world’s tallest species, the giraffe. The giraffe centre is the home to the Rothschild Giraffe which is endangered. You can visit it and have a chance to feed the giraffes.
Contact: +254-20-8070804 / +254-734-890952
info@giraffecentre.org
3. Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy
The animal orphanage at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy is a unique facility to give orphaned, injured, neglected, abused or frightened wild animals a second chance. The orphanage provides shelter and professional care with the goal to release these creatures back into the wild where they belong. Their breeding program has prevented extinction by breeding endangered species for release back to their ancestral homes in the wild like the bongo breeding program and the rare white zebras.
4. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Best known for their work to protect elephants, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) operates the most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world. They have raised more than 247 orphans up to date. You can adopt an orphan from $50 and can come to see it every evening as from 5:00 PM when they are back to their shelters.
Contact: +254 (0) 202 301 396
5. Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta is the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, and home to two of the world’s last remaining northern white rhino. It is the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees, in a Sanctuary established to rehabilitate animals rescued from the black market. It has some of the highest predator densities in Kenya and still manages a very successful livestock programme. Ol Pejeta also seeks to support the people living around its borders, to ensure wildlife conservation translates to better education, healthcare and infrastructure for the next generation of wildlife guardians.
6. Ol Jogi Private Wildlife Conservancy
Ol Jogi (named for a native shrub) comprises 58,000 acres of the Laikipia Plateau. Previously a cattle ranch, it was a family’s private compound and wildlife sanctuary for nearly 35 years, before opening to the public as an exclusive-use villa. It still offers wildlife conservancy services and you can visit exclusively to know all about their conservancy programmes. You will sweeping views of Mt. Kenya and many rare and endangered wild animals.
Contact: reservations@oljogi.org
7. Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
Set on the shore of Lake Victoria, Kisumu Impala Sanctuary is a peaceful, relaxing place to enjoy the natural beauty that abounds here. The sanctuary hosts impalas, the rare Sitatunga antelope as well as big cats, buffalos, giraffes, cheetahs and several primate species. The sanctuary is also home to five campsites all with spectacular views of Lake Victoria. Bird watching, nature walks and glass-bottomed boat rides compliment the activities availed at the sanctuary.
8. Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
Located in the remote Mathews Range, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is designed to Rescue and release orphaned and abandoned elephant calves, whilst creating much-needed benefits to the local people that live alongside them. The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is the representation of the communities standing up united for wildlife, in recognition of the value that they can cultivate.
