Photos by Muguettte Goufrani, Africa Travel Magazine

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Nairobi, Kenya: The Orphans' Project

Nairobi is indeed fortunate to have a National Park on its very doorstep. We visited the area often and took several hour one afternoon to visit an Elephant Orphanage inside the park and a Giraffe sanctuary nearby. Naturally, we had a camera handy, and the following page is an example

The rearing of the orphaned elephants, even though we have been at it for a very long time, for us remains an ongoing learning experience and a source of wonder, filled with moments of joy and sadness, plus surprises on an almost daily basis. This animal duplication of a Big Brother series is recorded in the Keepers' Diary which is posted on the Trust's website monthly and keeps the elephants many foster-parents involved. Following the daily life of a newborn baby as it passes through its fully milk dependent infancy, watching it gradually grow through childhood, one gets to know each one intimately as one follows its daily activities and adventures. Friendships blossom and hit glitches, just as in human society, joy and happiness as well as sadness and grief at the loss of a loved one is evident, and one its amazed by the outpouring of compassion and caring for those younger or the less fortunate.
Just like human children, elephants feel shameful when reprimanded for misbehavior; they take themselves off to sulk; they harbor grudges and feel the need to settle scores, they can be deliberately mischievous, and the little bulls are especially competitive, always striving for one-upmanship. We know that elephants possess mysterious abilities alien to us, such as the programming of a genetic memory within the womb to endow them with elements important to survival; the ability to communicate over distance in mysterious ways and an unerring and uncanny ability to traverse alien terrain surely and accurately, despite the fact that they may never have set foot there before. There's much more to come regarding Nairobi National Park and other attractions.

Elephant Orphanage, Nairobi National Park

Details and many more photos to come

Guests relaxing at Giraffe Village

Happy spectators at Elephant Orphanage

Class learning the rules at Giraffe Village

Photos by Muguettte Goufrani, Africa Travel Magazine