The Elephants in Voi

My visit with the Elephants in Voi

Do you love elephants?

Possibly foster one through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust?

Wonder how these little guys do, once they leave the orphanage in Nairobi?

I’m the proud foster-mom of two girls that were rescued and came into the orphanage with all sorts of wounds on their little bodies and disturbing stories.

After healing and bonding with the other elephant babies, human keepers and friends for two year, they 'graduated' and moved to the stockade in Voi.

© Siggi Hosenfeld

From here they will have the chance and opportunity to gradually, when they are ready, go back into the bush and live the life of an adult elephant, the way it is suppose to be.

© Siggi Hosenfeld

In September of 2010 I managed to go to the elephants in Voi and it was the most amazing thing to experience them all grown up (after seeing them both as babies at the orphanage) and have a chance to visit with them for a little while out in the bush!

© Siggi Hosenfeld

As it happened, without knowing, I ended up with a milk bottle in my hand and one of my girls came straight for me. With tears streaming down my face and a big huge smile, I marveled at the speed she emptied that big milk bottle and how special this all was.

© Siggi Hosenfeld

After everybody had its share, we all went off to a small water & mud bath area and were privileged to see these guys have the most amazing time & fun playing with each other, wallowing in the mud.

© Siggi Hosenfeld

Being so close to them we had a chance to touch them, which, of course, came with getting red mud all over, that I didn’t want to wash off afterward. Crazy, I know. What can I say?! One doesn’t get a chance to 'hang out' with baby/teenage elephants often enough, so, wanted to cherish all impressions, smells, mud and all, as long as I could!

© Siggi Hosenfeld

One hour went by way to fast, but I had a feeling I managed to split the time well between taking some photos, visiting and watching them. Can’t wait to go back though!!

© Siggi Hosenfeld

And maybe, in a few years, they will go off into the bush, meet a strapping wild male elephant, get pregnant and bring back the baby to show off; which happened just recently with another former orphan. I would be very proud!

With the wonderful, amazing keepers at the Voi stockade! These men are the most dedicated people you can find; they are with the elephants literally all day and keeping a close eye on them at night. (at the orphanage in Nairobi, one keeper sleeps in each stockade with the babies.)

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