I PLAYED WITH BABY ELEPHANTS TODAY

GUYS, I PLAYED WITH 24 BABY ELEPHANTS TODAY!
This is a real thing that happened. Look!!!

 This morning we visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which currently cares for 28 orphaned elephants.



They require 2 bottles of formula every 3 hours "because it's quite hard to milk a wild elephant" said the head Keeper (sorry, not a Quidditch reference).

They came right up to us at the ropes and let us pet them 😍😍😍

The Keepers are chosen by the elephants themselves (talk about a job interview!). Within 5-9 years the babies will be reintroduced to a wild herd (it takes time to find a herd that will accept them).

They also have 2 black rhinos at the Trust but they are not as personable and they are free to come and go, so we didn't see them.

Then we went to the giraffe conservatory and I kissed a giraffe. No big deal. 

Except it was, so I did it like 6 times! Giraffe kisses are awesome!!!

feeding one of the babies

Kelly, my giraffe girlfriend ☺

It was a fabulous day! But anyway, rewind to yesterday, aka the factory tours. I had arrived at my friends' house around 3am so after letting me sleep in ☺ we went to Kazuri beads which employs over 300 artisans to make ceramic beads and pottery.

the painting/glazing room

wearing a new necklace...

Then we visited the Ocean Sole workshop, which repurposes old flipflops into toys, furniture, art, keychains, etc!

 carving rhinos

Kevin says, "Recycling is cool!"

But also, here are more elephants and giraffes to brighten your day:

I've got just over 25 hours left in Africa and I'd say that I've done everything that I set out to do. I can't wait to share the hundreds more pictures and the stories that go with them, when I see you in person.

 This is only the start of the journey! Thanks for joining me!