Reteti Elephant Sanctuary

Reteti opened in 2016 in the Namunyak conservancy and is owned and run by the Samburu community, which makes it the first elephant orphanage in Africa of that kind. Calves come in from wells they have fallen into, from separations and from human-wildlife conflict, and are hand-reared by local keepers before being released back into the surrounding conservancy landscape, where wild herds pass close by. The sanctuary employs Samburu women as keepers, a break with local convention that has drawn attention in its own right, and it buys goat milk from the community as part of the feeding programme, which puts money into surrounding households. Visits are arranged through the conservancy or nearby camps and are limited, with viewing from a platform at feeding times.

What you actually see

• Feeding times - calves coming in for milk with their keepers.
• Samburu keepers - the community team, including women keepers.
• The conservancy setting - Namunyak's hills and bush around the sanctuary.
• Community ownership - a rescue operation run by the landowners themselves.

When to go

Dry seasons for the roads, which are rough at any time. Visits are timed to feeds and must be booked; drop-ins are not accommodated. Mornings are cooler for the drive in.

Honest expectations

Access is difficult: a long drive from Nairobi and rough tracks in the conservancy, usually done as part of a stay at one of the camps. Viewing is from a platform at set times, not a hands-on encounter. Numbers of orphans vary. Booking well ahead is necessary.

Nearby

The Matthews Range rises nearby; Samburu reserve lies south.