Reteti Elephant Sanctuary

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary sits deep in Namunyak Community Conservancy, in the wild, mountain fringed landscapes of Samburu, Northern Kenya. Opened in 2016, it is Africa's first community owned and run elephant sanctuary, established by the Samburu people to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and abandoned elephant calves before releasing them back into the wild. Each year 10 to 15 calves, separated from their herds or orphaned by natural causes, are brought here by local scouts who now see elephants as allies rather than threats.

Reteti is staffed entirely by Samburu keepers from the surrounding conservancy, including Africa's first all female elephant keeping team, who provide round the clock milk feeds, bush walks and nurturing care. Visitors can watch scheduled milk feeds from a viewing platform, learning about each orphan's story and the wider conservation model. Beyond elephants, Reteti channels tourism revenue directly into community development, from schools and healthcare to rangeland restoration, while its keepers embody generations of Samburu pastoralist wisdom applied to conservation.