RETETI
ELEPHANT SANCTUARY
Orphaned elephants find refuge, nurtured with hope.
Amid northern Kenya’s mountains, Reteti, Africa’s first community-owned elephant sanctuary, tells a story of unity, where wildlife and people thrive together. Beyond elephant conservation, it empowers young Samburu women to become pioneering elephant keepers, forging a path where the destinies of both humans and elephants are deeply intertwined.
Arriving at the sanctuary under the midday heat, one can’t help but feel the intensity of Samburu’s sun. As I step in, the sound of baby elephants fills the air. When it’s milk time, they rush like schoolchildren, bumping into one another, their playful chaos met by the deep rumblings of the other elephants, as if in debate. You can hear the babies gulping their milk, racing against time.
During bottle feeding, the keepers lift their voices in a gentle melody, a song as light as birdsong. These are not just any songs, but age-old family tunes, passed down through generations. At the first familiar note, the baby elephants rush forward, drawn by the voices they trust, knowing nourishment and love await. It is a bond woven in devotion—each offering love, each finding comfort in the other. A timeless rhythm of care, where tradition and nature sing as one.
25+
RESCUED CALVES EVERY YEAR
ORPHANS RECEIVE A MILK BOTTLE EVERY THREE HOURS. With each bottle of milk, the elephants grow strong, and the Samburu Milk Mamas find new strength, too. Their first steady income means education for their children, savings for tomorrow, and support for their community—a cycle of care, nourishing both wildlife and people.
ELEPHANT ROCK
Once a haunting ground for poachers, Elephant Rock bore witness to the suffering of wildlife. But change is rising, led by the resilient Samburu community. Through tourism and a thriving local economy, they are restoring balance, welcoming elephants back to their ancestral land.
Now, a colossal painting emerges—a tribute to the past, a symbol of remembrance. Infused with ancient energy, it honors lost lives and the ongoing struggle of these majestic beings.
In just one day, self-taught artist Mantra breathed life onto the rock. Though the painting will fade, the spirit of the elephant endures.
