Lupita Nyong'o travelled to her hometown of Nairobi, Kenya last week to announce her new role as one of the international conservation organisation WildAid global ambassadors and to promote women's issues, including acting and arts in Kenya.The Oscar-winning actress shared several moments from her adventure, which saw her snap a selfie with a baby elephant, glimpse giraffes at sunset and witness a pride of lions dining on a wildebeest.
Lupita pictured with a baby elephant in Kenya
During her trip, Lupita spent time in Amboseli National Park with the Amboseli Trust for Elephants and at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s elephant orphanage. While she was there, she filmed special messages for distribution in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, China, and the United States, to raise awareness of the elephant poaching crisis and reduce the demand for ivory consuming markets.
Alongside a photograph of herself embracing a little elephant, the 32-year-old wrote: "Elephants can hear more than 5km away. So my whisper must be like a shout at this distance...? #dubiouslogic. Tonight's gala at @villarosakempin is to raise funds and awareness to ensure that we get to hear from elephants for a long long time."
The actress enjoyed a safari-style glamping holiday in her home country
The actress-turned-director naturally has talent behind the lens, sharing a photograph she had taken herself of a giraffe set against the iconic safari sunset. "I took this photo," she wrote alongside the shot, before joking, "@natgeo consider this a job application submitted."
The actress-turned-director showed off her skills behind the camera with this stunning shot
While in Kenya, the Mexico-born actress also dedicated time to a press conference, in which she shared clips of herself singing to elephants as a little girl and spoke about her pride at being selected as an ambassador for a cause that means so much to her. "I have come to realise that when you know more, you do more. I want to encourage people all over the world to learn more about these incredible animals," said the 12 Years a Slave star.
Lupita is delighted to be one of the international conservation organisation WildAid global ambassadors
"I ask the world to end the current elephant poaching crisis by being 'Ivory Free'. It is time to ban the sales of ivory worldwide and to cosign the tragedy of the ivory trade to history. "She added: "Brave and dedicated people are giving their lives to protect our elephants. They need all of our support, from people in the United States and Asia by not buying ivory, and from Kenyans in supporting anti-poaching by reporting wildlife crime."
Don't miss HELLO! magazine on sale Monday 13th July for the full story of Lupita's trip to Kenya with Wild Aid.