Inspired by the growing community-based conservation efforts in Northern Kenya, the people of Samburu County pushed for an elephant sanctuary focused on environmental and species protection that was finally opened in 2016. Reteti Elephant Sanctuary was the first community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa, started and run by a community motivated to protect and preserve the environment around them. It provides jobs and education for members of the Samburu Community while rescuing and releasing orphaned baby elephants in the area. A core belief of Reteti is that nature and conservation can also contribute to economic growth and improve livelihoods.
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary rescues orphaned, abandoned, and injured elephant calves and welcomes them into the company of other elephants. The sanctuary’s calves are abandoned for several reasons, including drought, natural mortality, poaching, and human conflict. The sanctuary was made possible many organizations who saw the need to care for baby elephants in Kenya and enabled Reteti’s construction.
The goal of every rescue is to return the elephant calf to its herd in the wild as soon as possible, avoiding hand raising individuals. Reteti is also home to several other types of orphaned animals, including giraffes.
Guests at nearby Sarara and Reteti House can visit for the sunrise feed (5:30am-7:00am) and the evening feed (5:30pm-7:00pm). Public viewing is open at noon, but space is limited to only 15-20 guests. Larger groups can book an exclusive private viewing starting at 8:00am. If there is no exclusive group, the public viewing extends to this time as well. The sanctuary can be accessed by road but also has a private airstrip for chartered flights from larger airports. Guests view feeding from a raised platform and can ask keepers any questions they may have about caring for the elephants.
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/destination-divider.png)
![](https://piperandheath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/kenya-explore-more.png)
- Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
- Basecamp Masai Mara
- Bateleur Camp
- Campi ya Kanzi
- Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp
- Deloraine House
- Eagle View
- Elephant Bedroom Camp
- Elephant Pepper Camp
- Elsa’s Kopje
- Encounter Mara
- Governors’ Camp
- Governors’ Private Camp
- Hemingways Ol Seki Mara Camp
- Il Moran Camp
- Il Ngwesi
- Joy’s Camp
- Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
- Kifaru House Lewa
- Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
- Kinondo Kwetu
- Kitich Camp
- Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp
- Leopard Hill
- Lewa House
- Lewa Safari Camp
- Lewa Wilderness Lodge
- Little Governors’ Camp
- Loisaba Lodo Springs
- Loisaba Tented Camp
- Loldia House
- Mahali Mzuri
- Mara Expedition Camp
- Mara Nyika
- Mara Plains Camp
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge
- Mara Toto Tree Camp
- Mfangano Island Camp
- Naboisho Camp
- Ngare Serian
- Offbeat Mara Camp
- Ol Donyo Lodge
- Ol Jogi
- Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
- Ol Pejeta House
- Olare Mara
- Ololo Safari Lodge
- Olonana
- Olonana – Geoffrey Kent Suite
- Rekero Camp
- Reteti House
- Sabuk Lodge
- Sala’s Camp
- Sand River Masai Mara
- Sarara Camp
- Sarara Treehouses
- Saruni Mara
- Saruni Rhino
- Saruni Samburu
- Saruni Wild
- Sasaab Camp
- Segera Retreat
- Serian The Original
- Serian’s Nkorombo
- Sirikoi
- Solio Lodge
- Sosian Lodge
- Speke’s Camp
- Sweetwaters Serena Camp
- Tambarare
- Tangulia Mara
- Tawi Lodge
- Tortilis Camp
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/tab-icon-camp.png)
- Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
- Basecamp Masai Mara
- Bateleur Camp
- Campi ya Kanzi
- Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp
- Deloraine House
- Eagle View
- Elephant Bedroom Camp
- Elephant Pepper Camp
- Elsa’s Kopje
- Encounter Mara
- Governors’ Camp
- Governors’ Private Camp
- Hemingways Ol Seki Mara Camp
- Il Moran Camp
- Il Ngwesi
- Joy’s Camp
- Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
- Kifaru House Lewa
- Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
- Kinondo Kwetu
- Kitich Camp
- Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp
- Leopard Hill
- Lewa House
- Lewa Safari Camp
- Lewa Wilderness Lodge
- Little Governors’ Camp
- Loisaba Lodo Springs
- Loisaba Tented Camp
- Loldia House
- Mahali Mzuri
- Mara Expedition Camp
- Mara Nyika
- Mara Plains Camp
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge
- Mara Toto Tree Camp
- Mfangano Island Camp
- Naboisho Camp
- Ngare Serian
- Offbeat Mara Camp
- Ol Donyo Lodge
- Ol Jogi
- Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
- Ol Pejeta House
- Olare Mara
- Ololo Safari Lodge
- Olonana
- Olonana – Geoffrey Kent Suite
- Rekero Camp
- Reteti House
- Sabuk Lodge
- Sala’s Camp
- Sand River Masai Mara
- Sarara Camp
- Sarara Treehouses
- Saruni Mara
- Saruni Rhino
- Saruni Samburu
- Saruni Wild
- Sasaab Camp
- Segera Retreat
- Serian The Original
- Serian’s Nkorombo
- Sirikoi
- Solio Lodge
- Sosian Lodge
- Speke’s Camp
- Sweetwaters Serena Camp
- Tambarare
- Tangulia Mara
- Tawi Lodge
- Tortilis Camp
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/tab-icon-point.png)
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/tab-icon-lodge.png)
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/tab-icon-journey.png)
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/country-more-countries.png)
Inspired by the growing community-based conservation efforts in Northern Kenya, the people of Samburu County pushed for an elephant sanctuary focused on environmental and species protection that was finally opened in 2016. Reteti Elephant Sanctuary was the first community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa, started and run by a community motivated to protect and preserve the environment around them. It provides jobs and education for members of the Samburu Community while rescuing and releasing orphaned baby elephants in the area. A core belief of Reteti is that nature and conservation can also contribute to economic growth and improve livelihoods.
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary rescues orphaned, abandoned, and injured elephant calves and welcomes them into the company of other elephants. The sanctuary’s calves are abandoned for several reasons, including drought, natural mortality, poaching, and human conflict. The sanctuary was made possible many organizations who saw the need to care for baby elephants in Kenya and enabled Reteti’s construction.
The goal of every rescue is to return the elephant calf to its herd in the wild as soon as possible, avoiding hand raising individuals. Reteti is also home to several other types of orphaned animals, including giraffes.
Guests at nearby Sarara and Reteti House can visit for the sunrise feed (5:30am-7:00am) and the evening feed (5:30pm-7:00pm). Public viewing is open at noon, but space is limited to only 15-20 guests. Larger groups can book an exclusive private viewing starting at 8:00am. If there is no exclusive group, the public viewing extends to this time as well. The sanctuary can be accessed by road but also has a private airstrip for chartered flights from larger airports. Guests view feeding from a raised platform and can ask keepers any questions they may have about caring for the elephants.
![](https://piperandheath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/kenya-explore-more.png)
- Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
- Basecamp Masai Mara
- Bateleur Camp
- Campi ya Kanzi
- Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp
- Deloraine House
- Eagle View
- Elephant Bedroom Camp
- Elephant Pepper Camp
- Elsa’s Kopje
- Encounter Mara
- Governors’ Camp
- Governors’ Private Camp
- Hemingways Ol Seki Mara Camp
- Il Moran Camp
- Il Ngwesi
- Joy’s Camp
- Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
- Kifaru House Lewa
- Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
- Kinondo Kwetu
- Kitich Camp
- Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp
- Leopard Hill
- Lewa House
- Lewa Safari Camp
- Lewa Wilderness Lodge
- Little Governors’ Camp
- Loisaba Lodo Springs
- Loisaba Tented Camp
- Loldia House
- Mahali Mzuri
- Mara Expedition Camp
- Mara Nyika
- Mara Plains Camp
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge
- Mara Toto Tree Camp
- Mfangano Island Camp
- Naboisho Camp
- Ngare Serian
- Offbeat Mara Camp
- Ol Donyo Lodge
- Ol Jogi
- Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
- Ol Pejeta House
- Olare Mara
- Ololo Safari Lodge
- Olonana
- Olonana – Geoffrey Kent Suite
- Rekero Camp
- Reteti House
- Sabuk Lodge
- Sala’s Camp
- Sand River Masai Mara
- Sarara Camp
- Sarara Treehouses
- Saruni Mara
- Saruni Rhino
- Saruni Samburu
- Saruni Wild
- Sasaab Camp
- Segera Retreat
- Serian The Original
- Serian’s Nkorombo
- Sirikoi
- Solio Lodge
- Sosian Lodge
- Speke’s Camp
- Sweetwaters Serena Camp
- Tambarare
- Tangulia Mara
- Tawi Lodge
- Tortilis Camp
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/tab-icon-camp.png)
- Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
- Basecamp Masai Mara
- Bateleur Camp
- Campi ya Kanzi
- Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp
- Deloraine House
- Eagle View
- Elephant Bedroom Camp
- Elephant Pepper Camp
- Elsa’s Kopje
- Encounter Mara
- Governors’ Camp
- Governors’ Private Camp
- Hemingways Ol Seki Mara Camp
- Il Moran Camp
- Il Ngwesi
- Joy’s Camp
- Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
- Kifaru House Lewa
- Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
- Kinondo Kwetu
- Kitich Camp
- Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp
- Leopard Hill
- Lewa House
- Lewa Safari Camp
- Lewa Wilderness Lodge
- Little Governors’ Camp
- Loisaba Lodo Springs
- Loisaba Tented Camp
- Loldia House
- Mahali Mzuri
- Mara Expedition Camp
- Mara Nyika
- Mara Plains Camp
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge
- Mara Toto Tree Camp
- Mfangano Island Camp
- Naboisho Camp
- Ngare Serian
- Offbeat Mara Camp
- Ol Donyo Lodge
- Ol Jogi
- Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
- Ol Pejeta House
- Olare Mara
- Ololo Safari Lodge
- Olonana
- Olonana – Geoffrey Kent Suite
- Rekero Camp
- Reteti House
- Sabuk Lodge
- Sala’s Camp
- Sand River Masai Mara
- Sarara Camp
- Sarara Treehouses
- Saruni Mara
- Saruni Rhino
- Saruni Samburu
- Saruni Wild
- Sasaab Camp
- Segera Retreat
- Serian The Original
- Serian’s Nkorombo
- Sirikoi
- Solio Lodge
- Sosian Lodge
- Speke’s Camp
- Sweetwaters Serena Camp
- Tambarare
- Tangulia Mara
- Tawi Lodge
- Tortilis Camp
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/tab-icon-point.png)
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/tab-icon-lodge.png)
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/tab-icon-journey.png)
![](/wp-content/themes/piper-heath/assets/img/country-more-countries.png)