Visiting Ithumba Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: Mud Baths & Orphan Elephants

Under the scorching African sun in the remote, dusty sanctuary of Ithumba, elephants splash, slide and wallow in the cool mud bath. Anticipating blissful relief from the mid-day heat, the little orphans skid down the slippery mud banks with pure delight.

This isn’t just a playground for the nursery calves, though. Ex-orphans who are now fully wild often return, proudly introducing their newborn calves to the human keepers who saved them. Soon, massive wild elephant herds lumber in to greet old friends, eventually taking over the mud bath, spraying cool water over their massive backs and bathing alongside the next generation of rescues.

What is Ithumba? The Sanctuary Where Rescue Calves Return to the Wild

Tucked away in the vast wilderness of Tsavo East National Park, Ithumba serves as a dedicated rehabilitation and “soft-release” sanctuary operated by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Once the baby elephants graduate from the nursery in Nairobi, they are transferred here—or to nearby Voi—to take the next major step toward living free.

Over 150 orphaned elephants have successfully returned to the wild from this site. The transition is completely gradual and moves entirely at each calf’s individual pace. There is never any rush; the rewilding process can take up to ten years as they build confidence, bond with wild herds and slowly choose to spend more nights out in the bush.

Meeting Our Sponsored Orphan, Kandecha

Sponsors of orphaned elephants can visit Ithumba for an intimate, unforgettable insight into the calves’ daily lives. We sponsor two babies through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. After visiting Ngasha, one of our foster calves at the Nairobi Orphanage, we were thrilled to travel to Tsavo East to meet Kandecha, our other sponsored baby. Having graduated from the nursery, Kandecha is now at Ithumba, beginning the next exciting stage of his rehabilitation and journey back to the wild.

📖 Read more: Meeting Our Foster Babies: Inside Nairobi’s Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Kandecha’s Incredible Rescue Story

At just 14 months old, Kandecha was spotted from the air surrounded by a herd of wild elephant bulls who had taken him under their wing. What a breathtaking sight it must have been to see this tiny baby encircled and protected by such massive giants. While the bulls did their best to keep him safe, they obviously couldn’t provide the vital milk formula he desperately needed to survive.

To save his life, a complex rescue operation was launched by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to carefully capture the calf and transport him to the Nairobi nursery. To this day, the whereabouts of his mother remain a tragic mystery, but his story took a remarkable turn the moment he was brought into care.

A Day in the Life of a Growing Orphan

Now five years old, Kandecha starts his mornings at Ithumba eagerly awaiting two giant bottles of milk. With friendly rivalry, he and his friends stampede out of their stables toward the keepers holding the bottles. They greedily gulp down every drop, sometimes playfully wrapping their trunks around the bottle to hold it themselves!

Trumpeting and rumbling with delight, the calves mingle with visiting ex-orphans and wild elephants who stop by to drink water and eye off the fresh lucerne. After morning milk, the orphans head out “into the bush” with their dedicated keepers, spending hours learning to forage for natural food and gradually becoming accustomed to living in the wild.

The 11:00 AM Mud Bath Mayhem

Routine is everything for these calves. Right at 11:00 AM, the orphans return from their morning foraging in the bush to gulp down another two bottles of milk. Then, the real action begins.

The sheer joy and anticipation are electric as the babies trumpet, skid and slide head-first down the slippery clay banks into the mud bath. However, their peaceful playtime doesn’t last for long!

Wild elephants often wait nearby for their turn. They seem to prefer the water when the orphans are already there, slowly making their way towards the pool. Their presence is enough to send the smaller calves scrambling up the banks, often after a firm but gentle nudge from a wild bull.

Once the orphans are out, the wild elephants move in. Four Tsavo bulls fill the waterhole and suddenly no calf is in sight. The difference in scale is striking—the same pool that looked busy with the orphans now seems almost small beneath them.

Winding Down: Afternoon Bush Walks and Bedtime

After the mud bath excitement wraps up, the orphans head back into the bush with their keepers for the rest of the afternoon. They spend these quiet hours grazing, exploring, and building vital survival skills until late afternoon.

As the sun begins to set, casting a warm golden glow across the landscape, it’s time for one final treat: another two bottles of milk each! As the calves gather near their stables, wild adult elephants often pause at the edge of the bush in the fading light, quietly looking over the little ones.

Once fed, the calves are guided to their stables for the night, where they are grouped by size. Safe from predators, they cuddle up together in the warmth of the straw and sleep soundly through the night, resting up for another big day in the Tsavo wilderness.

Bridging the Gap: How Orphaned and Wild Elephants Communicate

Known as the “Elephant Whisperer,” head keeper Benjamin plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the rescue calves and the wild. He explained that the orphans communicate with the wild elephants, letting them know it is completely safe to be around the keepers.

Having worked with these animals for over 13 years, Benjamin possesses an unbelievable depth of knowledge. He knows every single elephant by name and they respond to his gentle commands. We truly cannot praise the dedicated keepers enough for their tireless hard work and 24-hour commitment to these magnificent animals.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Being so close and out in the open with wild elephants is humbling and unforgettable. No fences or barriers separate us from the wild elephants during their mud bath. The closer they approach, the more majestic they become.

If you love elephants, this is one trip worth saving for, or the ultimate add-on to your Kenya safari. Nowhere else in the world will you find an experience quite like this.

Accommodation & Dining at Ithumba Camp

The rustic tents sit beneath traditional thatched roofs and feature attached outdoor bathrooms, so you shower under a blanket of twinkling stars. All four tents share a central two-story thatched hub with a lounge, dining space and an upper deck boasting panoramic views across the wilderness.

Because Ithumba is completely self-catering, our guide, Martin, coordinated with our resident chef, Njagi, to build a customised shopping list. We picked up our groceries in Nairobi and Njagi turned them into vegetarian feasts every day.

Typical Daily Menu at Ithumba

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, toast, fresh fruit, juice and hot coffee

Lunch: Hearty vegetable or bean stew served with fresh chapati bread

Dinner: Vegetarian pasta accompanied by cold beers

Camp Wildlife: You’ll see more than elephants here; the camp grounds themselves are alive with smaller encounters. By day, Kenya’s tiny Dik-diks seek refuge around the thatched tents and a rich array of birdlife—including eye-catching hornbills—forages in the surrounding trees. Sitting on the deck between game drives offers a front-row seat to it all and the show doesn’t stop at sunset, when resident Genet cats occasionally make an appearance under the stars.

Essential Visitor Guide: Planning Your Stay

Feature	Details & Logistics
Eligibility	Exclusive to foster parents with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Location & Access	Situated in Tsavo East National Park (~8-hour dusty drive from Nairobi).
Booking Style	Exclusive-use booking for one group at a time (up to 8 guests across 4 tents).
Staffing	Comes fully staffed, including resident chef Njagi and house steward Isaac.
Catering	Strictly self-catering; purchase all groceries, drinking water and alcohol in Nairobi beforehand.
Transport	You must arrange a 4WD vehicle and driver/guide (we highly recommend Martin Maina from Nairobi Specialist).
Recommended Stay	3 to 4 nights is ideal (2 minimum nights). If staying 2 nights, visit the mud bath on your final morning.
Camp Wildlife	Dik-diks, birds and resident genet cats frequent the camp; wild dogs and baboons are often spotted nearby.
Connectivity	No Wi-Fi available—bring a good book and enjoy the off-grid serenity.

Tip for Luxury Seekers:

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust also offers Ithumba Hill Camp, a newer, upscale option featuring elevated views and a private swimming pool, also booked on an exclusive group basis.

How to Foster an Elephant with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Fostering an orphaned elephant is one of the most rewarding ways to support wildlife conservation. Your sponsorship directly funds the 24-hour veterinary care, milk formula and keeper support needed to raise these rescue calves. It also opens the door to visiting them in person at the sanctuaries in Nairobi, Ithumba and Kibwezi.

How the Fostering Process Works

Choose Your Foster Baby: Browse the rescue profiles on the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust website and select an orphan calf, rhino, or giraffe to support.

Minimum Contribution: Sponsorship starts at just $50 USD per year, making it accessible for individuals, families, or as a thoughtful gift.

Foster Updates: As a foster parent, you receive a digital adoption certificate, a monthly keeper profile update and access to a monthly keeper diary detailing your orphan’s progress and antics.

Exclusive Visiting Access: Fostering grants you the opportunity to book exclusive foster-parent visits at the Nairobi Nursery 5:00 PM feeding time, as well as eligibility to book overnight stays at Ithumba Camp or Ithumba Hill.

🌿 Continue Exploring Africa

If you’re planning your own trip to Kenya, check out our blog on spotting rare Rothschild giraffes in Lake Nakuru and dive into our first-timer Kenya travel tips to help you prepare for the wild.

🐾 Where to Next?

🦒 Lake Nakuru National Park: Falling in Love with Rothschild Giraffes
🦁 Practical Tips for Visiting Kenya: Guide for First-Time Visitors