Introduction: Where Elephants and People Heal Together

In the rugged, sun-scorched landscapes of northern Kenya’s Namunyak Conservancy, nestled beneath the Mathews Range, lies a remarkable place where rescue, recovery, and reconciliation converge—the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Unlike traditional wildlife centers, Reteti stands apart as the first community-owned and run elephant sanctuary in Africa. It is a place where local Samburu people—not just conservationists from afar—lead the charge in caring for orphaned elephants, rebalancing ecosystems, and redefining what it means to coexist with wildlife. This is not just a sanctuary for elephants—it is a living testament to the power of local stewardship, trust, and hope.

The Story Behind the Sanctuary

Founded in 2016, Reteti was born out of a growing realization among the Samburu communities that orphaned or injured elephants—often victims of human-wildlife conflict, drought, or poaching—needed a place of safety and healing. Previously, such calves would be transported hundreds of kilometers south to Nairobi, effectively removing them from their native ecosystems and cutting communities out of the conservation story. With the support of the Northern Rangelands Trust and other partners, the people of Namunyak took the unprecedented step of creating their own sanctuary.

At its heart, Reteti is about empowerment. It is a place where former warriors have become elephant keepers, where women from pastoralist communities have taken up roles as caregivers, and where traditional knowledge blends with veterinary science. Every elephant calf rescued here is not only given a second chance at life but also becomes a symbol of what’s possible when conservation is led by the very communities who share their land with wildlife.

Life at Reteti: From Rescue to Rewilding

The journey of each elephant at Reteti begins with a rescue—sometimes after a mother has been lost to poaching or drought, or when a young calf becomes separated from the herd and is too weak to survive alone. A specialized team mobilizes quickly, often traveling for hours through the bush to safely transport the calf back to the sanctuary. Once there, the real work begins: intensive, round-the-clock care provided by trained local keepers who form close, nurturing bonds with their young charges.

Feeding schedules are rigorous and personalized. Elephant calves receive a specially formulated milk blend every few hours, administered with immense patience and precision. Keepers sleep beside them in hay-lined stables, offering warmth, companionship, and a sense of security. Over time, as the elephants regain strength and confidence, they are slowly integrated into a larger herd of orphans. Play becomes a form of therapy—mud baths, gentle trunk wrestling, and river splashes all help them build social bonds and emotional resilience.

But Reteti doesn’t just stop at care. The ultimate goal is rewilding. Once the elephants are healthy and confident enough, they are reintroduced into the wild, ideally joining wild herds in the Mathews Range. This natural reintegration process is gentle and carefully monitored, and there have already been several successful releases—proving that orphaned elephants can return to the wild, thrive, and even become mothers themselves.

A Model of Community Conservation

What makes Reteti truly revolutionary is its model. It’s not just an elephant sanctuary—it’s a community project, driven by local leadership, employment, and cultural pride. Over 90% of the sanctuary’s staff come from nearby Samburu villages, and their intimate understanding of the land, the elephants, and the rhythms of life in this arid region shapes every aspect of care.

Women, traditionally excluded from conservation and wildlife management roles, have found new opportunities at Reteti. Female elephant keepers—once unheard of in this part of Kenya—now play central roles in feeding, caregiving, and managing daily operations. Their presence represents a cultural shift, one that opens the door to broader gender equality and community empowerment.

Revenue generated from tourism and partnerships directly supports the local economy, funding schools, clinics, and water projects. And the sanctuary’s existence has fostered a shift in attitudes: elephants are no longer seen as threats or competitors for resources, but as vital, respected neighbors deserving of protection.

The Emotional Heartbeat of the Mathews Range

A visit to Reteti is deeply moving—not because of spectacle or performance, but because of the quiet dignity of the place. There’s no glass barrier, no artificial theatrics. Instead, you witness something far more powerful: the resilience of orphaned animals slowly regaining their place in the world, guided by the gentle hands of people who once might have seen them as adversaries.

Watching a keeper walk alongside a calf, speaking in soft Samburu tones; seeing a baby elephant nuzzle into a caretaker’s side after a bottle; hearing the muffled trumpets echoing through the acacia trees—these are the moments that stay with you. They reveal the emotional intelligence of elephants, the depth of their trauma, and the extraordinary compassion of those who care for them.