We’re building an open-air Visitor Centre at Reteti!
Thanks to the help of Save the Elephants, The Sarara Foundation, and Mass Design Group, our dream to create a centre highlighting the value of elephant conservation is being realised!
As the first community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa, we understand the importance of educating as many people and communities here in Northern Kenya, as well as around the world, about the pivotal role of elephants in our ecosystem. Reteti is the result of a widely recognised and expanding grassroots conservation movement that works tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned elephants in Kenya’s north, before releasing them back into the wild.
Featuring innovative displays and a wide range of information, the centre will be an immersive education hub for visitors to discover more about elephants, how rescues work, stories of hope, and the role of the Samburu community – Reteti’s heart and soul. After three years of intensive planning, we’ve finally broken ground and construction is now well underway! With all hands on deck, it’s incredibly exciting to be part of it all and see this dream unfold.
Homegrown floors
We love how even the floors of the Visitor Centre are homegrown, and that a solution was here at Reteti all along!
In the arid area where we are located, a specific mixture is needed to lay earthen floors, otherwise it will be filled with cracks. But we had a tricky time as every floor sample we created ended up damaged and cracked. Something was missing… But what?
Then Rotich, Reteti’s quick-thinking foreman, had the brilliant idea to add elephant dung to the mix – and it worked! We’re starting to think that elephants are the answer to most of life’s big questions
Quality Control
One of our resident giraffes has taken on the role of an unofficial inspector - regularly wandering the construction site with a keen eye, to ensure that no detail is overlooked. Alongside the diligent kudu, they form an adorable duo of quality control experts
We’re so proud of everyone who is part of this wonderful project – and want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Save the Elephants, The Sarara Foundation, and Mass Design Group! Well share more updates as the project develops - keep an eye on our blog and our social media.
