Nairobi National Park offers exceptional wildlife safaris with a backdrop of the city skyline. It is the world’s only wildlife park, situated just outside a capital city. The park offers short drives out of Nairobi’s central business district to experience Kenya’s wildlife and sweeping landscape consisting of marshy wetlands, lush forests, rugged valleys, wide open grass plains, scattered acacia bush, and the backdrop of the city scrapers.
Nairobi National Park is one of only a few parks where travelers can observe a black rhinoceros in the wild. Visitors can also enjoy the park’s picnic sites, three campsites, walking trails for hikers, and a host of wildlife, mainly the endangered black rhino (a rhino sanctuary). Therefore, in this guide, we have shared information that will help you plan a memorable Kenya safari in one of Africa’s exceptional wildlife parks.
Nairobi National Park at a Glance
Nairobi National Park is nestled in central Kenya, 8 kilometres (5 miles) south of the capital, Nairobi. It is Kenya’s first wildlife park, established in 1946, and spans an area of 45 square miles (117 square km) at elevations 5,000–6,000 feet (1,500–1,800 metres) above sea level.
The park is an example of success in rhino conservation and is often referred to as Kifaru Ark (Kifaru means rhino in Swahili). With a population of approximately 50 rhinos, it presents the densest concentration of black rhinos in Africa and is a testament to their anti-poaching measures.
Its picturesque landscape is made up of partly dry transitional savanna vegetation types, with acacias and other thorny varieties like muhuhu, Cape chestnut, and Kenya olive being the most important trees. There are rolling plains and valleys and a wooded confluence of several rivers and thick woods near the city outskirts.
Wildlife in Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park offers an abundance of fascinating mammals alongside rhinos, with four of the big five being present in the park. You can spot hippos and crocodiles submerged in pristine river pools, surreptitiously surveying the scenery.
Other wildlife species to see in Nairobi National Park are lions, leopards, cheetahs, ostriches, hyenas, warthogs, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and gazelles, as well as hundreds of beautiful birds letting out a variety of fascinating calls and cheeky monkeys in the lush riverine forest swinging through leafy branches.
The park’s magnificent terrain is set against the gleaming high-rises of Nairobi as a backdrop. Establishing migration routes into nearby Ngong Reserve has made it possible to maintain wildlife in this area at its present levels. The Nairobi Animal Orphanage, founded in 1963, is also located inside the park.
Things to Do in Nairobi National Park
1. Game Drives
Visitors can embark on an early-morning game drive to spot the variety of wildlife species hosted in this remarkable park. It is a perfect destination for avid birders, with over 400 recorded migratory and endemic species. A number of designated picnic spots have been created, and the savannah and wildlife juxtaposed with the city skyline in the background is a surreal sight.
2. Walking Safaris
The 2.5-kilometre circuit, which follows a raised wooden platform, allows you to access simulated forest, wetland, and savannah habitats while passing plenty of wildlife en route, such as the rare forest-dwelling bongo, albino zebra, primates, and big cats. It presents a great opportunity to stretch your legs and learn more about Kenya’s ecosystems from the local guides. You can do this half-day excursion after a game drive or visiting the animal orphanage.
3. Nairobi Animal Orphanage
Nairobi Animal Orphanage serves as a treatment and rehabilitation centre for abandoned and injured wild animals and helps rehabilitate them before being released back into the wild. It hosts a variety of animals, such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, serval cats, rare Sokoke cats, warthogs, leopards, various monkeys, baboons, buffalo, and different birds. You have the opportunity to have a close-up look at wildlife, which is usually only spotted from a distance.
Best Time to Visit Nairobi National Park
Although Nairobi National Park promises an all-year-round game viewing, the best time to visit is during the long, dry months from June to October, as well as January and February. The further into the dry season you go, the better the game viewing gets.
These months experience the lowest rainfall all year, and therefore wildlife viewing is at its finest. Animals can easily be seen since they congregate around waterholes and creeks, and the clear air offers particularly spectacular views of the city skyline.
The months of March to May are associated with heavy rainfall and muddy trails, and October to December come with short rains, which altogether might restrict game viewing. The abundance of grazing also makes wildlife viewing more challenging since the animals will be scattered.
However, the rainy season is the perfect time for avid birders to visit; the park is especially beautiful at this time of year, as the vegetation is lush and there are many migratory birds present.
Getting to Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is located 7 km/4 mi south of Nairobi city centre. The park is usually visited as a half-day or full-day trip from a hotel in the city on a 20-minute drive. You’ll be negotiating the park’s network of paved and all-weather dirt roads. Getting to the city of Nairobi is easy; it’s one of the biggest and busiest transport hubs on the continent, with international flights arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 15 km/9 mi southeast of Nairobi.
Accommodation at Nairobi National Park
1. Giraffe Manor: Price from $965
The iconic luxury Giraffe Manor is famous for its resident herd of Rothschild giraffes that casually roam its spectacular grounds. This idyllic property sits on 12 acres of private land and is surrounded by 140 acres of indigenous forest. It is a peaceful spot to unwind in the fast-expanding Kenyan capital and offers guests the opportunity to interact with visiting wildlife on its grounds.
2. Hemingways Nairobi: Price from $385
This elegant boutique hotel is located a mere 40 minutes from Nairobi’s international airport, where it is spread across flourishing grounds in the tranquil and upscale neighbourhood of Karen. It is strikingly beautiful in its decor and flooded with natural light, while the ensuite rooms each have a private balcony overlooking the iconic silhouette of the Ngong Hills.
3. Ololo Safari Lodge: Price from $250
Ololo’s proximity to the park and service levels justify it as a great option in this remarkable park. Staying in this initially traditional family farmhouse, beautifully converted into a lodge, allows you to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre without being completely cut off.
4. Nairobi Tented Camp: Price from $120
Nairobi Tented Camp is a pioneer accommodation of any sort to be allowed and one of the best in this unique safari destination. Tucked away within a riverine forest minutes from Jomo Kenyatta Airport, Wilson Airport, and Nairobi City, it offers a striking balance between wilderness and luxury experience. comfortable beds, furniture, and thatched roofing.
Combining Nairobi National Park with other Destinations
Nairobi National Park is a great option if you are on a half-day, full-day, or two-day trip in Nairobi. It is also perfect to start or end a wider tour of the country or in transit to larger safari destinations like Masai Mara or Amboseli National Park. You can also combine a trip to Nairobi National Park with a stop-off at the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage located along the edge of the park or the Giraffe Centre.