For the first time ever, we are offering small group safaris led by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Join us for one of four signature departures in early 2026, where you will experience Kenya through our lens.
Ideal for solo travellers and long-time supporters who are ready to connect deeply with our mission, these intimate mixed-group safaris offer a rare opportunity to witness elephant conservation firsthand.
Reserve your place today — availability is limited.
EARLY
2026 DEPARTURES
departure i: March 1-10, 2026
departure ii: May 7-16, 2026
departure iii: May 17-26, 2026
departure iv: May 22-31, 2026
your stay supports conservation
Sheldrick Lodges don’t merely give back — they act as agents of change for the ecosystems in which they sit. As Kenya’s first non-profit properties established solely to support conservation, each guest leaves knowing their stay directly benefits one of Africa’s most respected wildlife organisations.
Sheldrick Signature Safaris
We designed this intimate, nine-night safari for a small group. Hosted directly by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, you will gain exclusive behind-the-scenes access to our conservation efforts — from meeting our orphaned elephants to visiting field projects across Kenya’s most stunning landscapes.
Four departures are available in the first half of 2026. Bookings are confirmed in order of receipt.
Each departure follows the same nine-night itinerary, beginning and ending in Nairobi, with stays at all three Sheldrick Lodge lodcations in the greater Tsavo ecosystem.
trip details:
These are fixed-date trips for small, mixed groups.
travel:
All scheduled travel and transfers within Kenya are included, with a 4x4 vehicle and guide for the duration of your trip. International flights are not included.
accommodation:
Guests will enjoy bed-and-breakfast in Nairobi and full-board accommodation at Umani Springs, Ithumba, and Galdessa Lodges, with all park fees included.
hosted by sheldrick wildlife trust: Guests will be accompanied by one of our senior guides, who will provide an insider’s experience not usually available to visitors.
Become Part of Our Conservation Story
Our signature safaris offer something truly distinctive: They are hosted and managed entirely by Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, giving you direct access to our conservation work from the inside.
Throughout your journey, you will have the opportunity to meet the people driving our conservation efforts — which may include field managers, veterinarians, anti-poaching rangers, and project coordinators — and experience our field operations firsthand.
The itinerary includes an exclusive visit to our Kaluku Field Headquarters, the operational heart of our conservation work across Kenya, where you will learn how we protect wildlife and habitats.
This is your opportunity to step behind the scenes and become part of the conservation story.
The following itinerary is subject to changes; final itinerary to be confirmed with our booking office.
Nairobi Nursery
Nairobi
Upon landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be greeted inside the terminal by your concierge, who will escort you through passport control and customs. Our driver will then transport you to a boutique hotel in Nairobi’s Karen neighbourhood.
The next two days are yours to spend as you wish. Depending on when you arrive, you may choose to visit nearby attractions such as Nairobi National Park, the Karen Blixen Museum, Karen Country Club, and the Giraffe Centre, or explore further afield in the city.
On your first full day in Nairobi, we will take you to our Nairobi Nursery for a private visit with the orphaned elephants. This exclusive experience is a very special way to begin your safari — only the orphans, the Keepers, and your group are present.
Our Head Keeper will personally guide you behind the scenes at the Nursery, introducing you to the orphans and showing you the place they call home. You will have the opportunity to meet the elephants face-to-face, take photographs with them, and learn from the team. Afterwards, enjoy refreshments on Daphne’s veranda, looking out upon Nairobi National Park.
Umani Springs
Kibwezi Forest
Leaving Nairobi, you will travel by Premium Class train to Kibwezi, where your guide will meet you. A short, scenic drive later, you will arrive at Umani Springs, tucked amidst the leafy trees of the Kibwezi Forest. This lodge offers the epitome of African comfort, where you can relax in the open-air spaces and watch bushbucks graze on the lawn while orphaned elephants enjoy the mud bath just beyond.
Guests are invited to join the orphans for sunrise and sunset at the Umani stockades, and for the midday mud bath, which takes place within view of the lodge. Take this special opportunity to experience elephants in their natural element and meet the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Keepers who are creating a future for generations of wildlife.
During your stay, you will have the opportunity to learn from the teams who are charged with protecting this remarkable ecosystem. Your days can be filled with game drives through the Kibwezi Forest, excursions to Chyulu Hills National Park, or hiking up Umani Hill to a scenic viewpoint. Bird enthusiasts will appreciate the vantage point overlooking Umani Springs, while sundowners offer sweeping views of the Kibwezi Forest and Chyulu Hills beyond.
Your group will be the only guests staying at Umani Springs during your visit. Our chef will prepare delicious meals throughout your stay, while our dedicated staff ensure you are well looked after.
Ithumba
Tsavo East National Park
From Umani, enjoy a scenic, 2.5-hour drive to the northern sector of Tsavo East National Park. This vast, untouched swathe of wilderness is a place seldom experienced by tourists. Set in the heart of Ithumba Hill, our Ithumba properties bring the Tsavo wilderness to life. Immerse yourself in the bush, where leopards stalk the undergrowth and wild dogs laze in the sun.
You will visit the orphaned elephants at our Ithumba Reintegration Unit and speak with the Keepers who are raising them. Not only will you meet the orphans, but also likely wild elephants, ex-orphans, and possibly their babies, too. This part of the park is a favourite gathering place for Tsavo’s elephants, offering an extraordinary opportunity to witness the full circle of our rehabilitation work.
Your days at Ithumba can be filled with game drives through the remote wilderness, exploring the Tiva sand river and the craggy Ithumba Hill. Back at camp, you can relax in the airy central gathering area, take a refreshing dip in the pool overlooking the vast Tsavo landscape, or retreat to your well-appointed sleeping tent.
Your group will have the camp entirely to yourselves. Our chef and team will take care of everything during your time here. Spend the evening with the elephants and enjoy dinner under the stars.
Departures I, II, and III will stay at Ithumba Hill; Departure IV will stay at Ithumba Camp.
Galdessa
Tsavo East National Park
From Ithumba, your journey will continue with a three-hour game drive through Tsavo East National Park to Galdessa. Nestled on the banks of the Galana River, this exquisite camp offers a front-row seat to watch Kenya’s wild world unfold. At any given moment, you might see hippos wallowing in the mud, crocodiles soaking up the sun’s rays, or elephants strolling down the shore.
You will visit our Voi Reintegration Unit and meet the orphaned elephants who currently call it home. The game drive to Voi is an experience in its own right, affording some of the best wildlife viewing in the park. Guests are invited to join the orphans for their midday mud bath, joining elephants in their natural element and meeting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Keepers who care for them.
Your days at Galdessa will feature game drives through the spectacular plains and riverbeds of Tsavo East, bush breakfasts as morning unfolds, and sundowners in enchanted, undiscovered corners of the park. You can watch wildlife from the camp itself, swim in the pool overlooking the Galana River, stroll along the property’s protected scenic path, or exercise in the on-site gym.
Your group will have the camp entirely to yourselves. Our chef and team will ensure your every comfort throughout your stay. Watch the sun set from our secret sundowner spots before returning to camp for the night.
From Galdessa, you will travel by Premium Class train to Nairobi. Our driver will collect you at the station and take you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight home.
Your private retreat in the wilds of Kenya
Unlike many lodges, ours are booked on an exclusive basis. Your group will have sole use of each camp, offering a private home away from home in the heart of the bush. You are invited to tailor each day to your liking, with the full support of our staff to bring your wishes to life.
Experience Kenya alongside one of our senior guides, who brings decades of bush experience to every excursion. You will travel in a comfortable 4x4 vehicle throughout your journey.
The individual difference
Hospitality is at the heart of the Sheldrick experience. Each property is staffed with a dedicated team to ensure your comfort and make your stay exceptional.
Catering:
Every meal will be prepared by our resident chefs. Expect a mix of cuisines, with an individual flair at each lodge. All dietary restrictions and preferences will be accommodated.
A unique opportunity to experience pioneering elephant conservation
Each property offers exclusive access to visit the orphaned elephants at the nearby Reintegration Unit. Take this special opportunity to experience elephants in their natural element and meet the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Keepers who are creating a future for generations of wildlife.
Morning Visit – Stockades: The orphans emerge from their bedrooms and are bottle-fed by the Keepers. They generally spend time outside the stockades, mingling with friends, before heading into the bush for the day with their Keepers. This visit is not available at Voi.
Midday Visit – Mud Bath: The Keepers feed the milk-dependent orphans their midday bottles, while the older orphans drink from the waterhole. Weather permitting, the herd may swim, wallow, or dust bathe. Occasionally, they are joined by ex-orphans and their babies, along with visiting wild elephants.
Evening Visit – Stockades: After a day spent exploring the wilderness, the orphans return home for bed. The Keepers feed the milk-dependent elephants their dinnertime bottles, while the older orphans drink from the water trough. Sometimes ex-orphans and wild elephants also visit the stockades.
* At Ithumba and Galdessa, you may be joined by guests from other Sheldrick Lodges during orphan visits.
Price Upon Request
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Signature Safari includes all scheduled travel and transfers within Kenya, with a dedicated vehicle and guide for the duration of your trip; assistance at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport; bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Nairobi; one private visit at the Nairobi Nursery; full-board accommodation at Umani Springs, Ithumba, and Galdessa Lodges; all park fees; and catering and limited alcohol throughout your stay at the lodges.
It does not include international flights, any off-itinerary activities, or gratuities.
bookings
Our Signature Safaris welcome individual travellers and small groups. To enquire about price and availability, please contact us:
email:
lodges@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
call:
+254 (0) 111 044 200
This trip supports conservation: All proceeds benefit Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s field projects
