Admittedly I am prone to exaggeration at times, but I truly had one of THE BEST afternoons of my life in Nairobi visiting the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.

It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear the stories of these adorable orphaned elephants. The are cared for in the elephant nursery by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust until they are 3 years old, when they are released back into the wild. It was fascinating to hear about the bond that exists between the baby elephants and the keepers – it would have been my ideal job until I saw the sleeping quarters, which are shared with the elephants! Not sure I’m quite cut out for that. During the visit you’ll watch the baby elephants playing and being fed; there is also lots of opportunity for those all-important elephant selfies.

The easiest way to visit the elephants (especially if you have limited time) is to book a tour with hotel pick-up and drop-off. There are lots of options available, some of which also include a visit to the Giraffe Centre. The one I used was: https://www.viator.com/tours/Nairobi/Nairobi-Day-Tour-David-Sheldrick-Wildlife-Trust-and-Giraffe-Center/d5280-21143P10

If you have some additional time in Nairobi then the city market is also well worth a visit. Word of warning – be prepared to haggle (you should be paying maximum half of the initial price they give you). This place is perfect for buying gifts and cool stuff for your home – after all, can you ever really have too many straw bags and wooden bowls!?