h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Has anyone been there? Master of Complete Tosh and Keeper of the Tea Money, have you been???

*Makes plans for Kenyan visit*

Ste

I would love to hear from anyone who's been there, too. I absolutely adore elephants, and will have to make plans to get there, myself.

I sponsor two of the orphans so I go along and say "Jambo" to them every time I am in Kenya. It's the thing I enjoy doing the most have done in Kenya as bored relatives who have had to wade through hundereds of pictures will testify.

I sent this link to my wife who is now insisting we go to Kenya. I tend to agree with her . We were considering sponsoring one of the baby elephants actually, can you adopt one? Not literally, you know what I mean.

So you go to Kenya often? *jealous*. Do you live nearby or something? That is the place I most want to visit. I'm just in love with biology, ecology and genetics especially. I just wanna safari. Do you have those pictures online anywhere? I'd love to see.



Ste

i would like to make you all jealous as a newcomer i am actually going to kenya next year with my wife



dd

I read that you often visit the 2 elephants you adopt at Daphne Sheldricks orhpange - I have adopted an elephant there for over 10 years and really want to go and vistn this year (i'm amazed I haven't done this sooner but have promised myself this is the year). Please could you recommend the best way to visit the orhpange and some good places to stay in Kenya that are ideally located for reaching the orphange? Basically any useful hints and tips would be fantastic.

Thanks

Laura

I read that you often visit the 2 elephants you adopt at Daphne Sheldricks orphanage - I have adopted an elephant there for over 10 years and really want to go and visit this year (i'm amazed I haven't done this sooner but have promised myself this is the year). It would be great to know about some good places to stay in Kenya that are ideally located for reaching the orphange and any tour guides that you would recommend to get you there. Basically any useful hints and tips would be fantastic. Also have you been to any other wildlife places within that area - I heard the Giraffe Centre is good?

Thanks

Laura

In answer to your query, The orphange is on Langata road, in Nairobi National Park, in the Karen area of Nairobi. The most expensive way to get their is to go by an organised party, they normally charge about $50 per head. It's much cheaper to hire a cab (the ones outside hotels are not too bad (relatively speaking)). The great thing about cabs is that they will wait for you as well, and they won't leave the meter running. If you speak nicely to the people at the orphange, you can arrange a private visit and they will take you out in the park with the elephants.

Whilst you are in the vicinity, just up the road is Giraffe Manor and the animal orphanage, and you can easily see all three in one day. If you go to the orphange at a quiet time, they might take you into the cages with the animals (who are pretty tame anyway), last time I was there I played tag with a cheetah.

I wouldn't know about tour guides, my wife has family out there so we always stay with them. However I strongly recommend you take a safari out to the Masai Mara, late August is the best time as you can see the wildebeest migration, but there is always lots of animals to see. The highlight for me, was a cheetah sat on the bonnet of my landrover whilst her cubs played in the shade of the wheelarch.

Treetops is one of those places you have to go too, just to say you have been there, but personally I (as well as several people I know who have been there) found it to be overpriced and a bit of a disappointment.

If you are thinking of going to Kenya, make sure you are sensible. Nairobi is relatively safe during daylight, but don't wear flashy jewelry, keep your windows wound up at traffic lights and never go out walking at night. (Bear in mind I would say the same about several parts of London).

If I think of anything else I will let you know.

Hello all! Im in love with elephants after seeing the documentry about the orphanage. I love all animals but those elephants are fantastic. anyone who has been, can you tell me all about it? is it wonderful?