Situated just 7 miles from the center of Kenya’s Capital City – Nairobi, Nairobi National Park is a unique safari destination as it is the only protected area found within a capital City. Where else can you view lions and critically endangered rhinos against a backdrop of downtown skyscrapers or spot giraffes from your window seat as you land at the city’s international airport?
For travelers planning to embark on a tour to Kenya’s more famous safari destinations such as Amboseli National Park, Tsavo National Parks, Samburu National Park and the iconic Maasai Mara, Nairobi National Park offers a worthwhile introduction to Kenya’s wildlife and birdlife.
For those passing through Nairobi – The Capital, the park is an opportunity to get a taste of the wild without ever leaving the city limits.
Things to Do in Nairobi
Whether you choose to do a self-drive or join an organized tour, game drives are the main attraction of a visit to Nairobi National Park. Although the park is by no means the most authentic Safari experience in Kenya, but seeing wild animals in such an incongruously urban setting which is a major draw for many visitors.
Another highlight is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an orphanage for rescued elephants and rhinos. This sanctuary is located inside Nairobi National Park, it was founded by Dame Daphne Sheldrick in 1977. The Orphanage welcomes members of the public for one hour in the morning every day to watch the babies being bathed and fed.
For most part of a safari in Nairobi National Park, visitors are prohibited from exiting their vehicles while inside the park as there could be a lion hanging out nearby. However, there are a couple of marked spots where you can stretch your legs and walk around, including a scenic picnic area at Impala Observation Point for having lunch. One of the best walking trails takes you to the hippo pools where the largest concentration of these aquatic herbivores can be found.
As a symbol of Kenya’s Zero-tolerance policy on ivory trafficking, former president of Kenya Daniel Arap Moi ordered the burning of 12 tons of confiscated elephant ivory inside the park in 1989.
Safari
With a total area of just over 45 square miles, Nairobi National Park is one of the smallest national parks in Africa and yet it supports an astonishing variety of wildlife. The park is home to four of the Big Five animals with only elephants being absent, black and white rhinos are available. Nairobi National Park is one of the most successful rhino sanctuaries in Kenya and one of only few places left in the world where visitors are virtually guaranteed to sighting of the critically endangered eastern black rhino. Predators in Nairobi National Park include lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyena and herbivores range from the Maasai giraffes to Coke’s Hartebeests, eland, waterbucks and impalas.
Choosing the right safari tour operator such as Rowin Africa Safari, guarantees you an affordable and amazing Nairobi National Park Safari experience.
Where to stay
Camping
There are three public campsites within the park, all of which offer electricity, hot water showers and communal kitchens. If you don’t have a tent, you can rent one from the main gate.
For a camping experience that is a step up from just pitching a tent, the Nairobi Tented Camp is located within the park boundaries and is more of a glamorous camping experience. Nairobi Tented Camp is located on the west side of the reserve, it has nine luxurious permanent tents, all with en-suite bathrooms and solar lighting. Gourmet meals are served in the bush under the stars or in the dining tent, and water is head over log fires.
Where to Stay Nearby
Nairobi National Park is conveniently situated close to the affluent suburbs of Langata and Karen, both of which offer a wide range of accommodation options ranging from comfortable guesthouses to five-star hotels. These include
- Giraffe Manor
- Palacina Residential Hotel
- Emakoko
How to Get There
Nairobi National Park is within Nairobi City’s limits and just 6 miles from the city centre. If you have access to a car or plan on hiring one, you can self-drive around Nairobi National Park. it is also possible to hire a six-seater Land Cruiser (complete with a driver and a guide) from Us – Rowin Africa Safaris.
The cheapest way to experience Nairobi National Park on the Kenya Wildlife Service Shuttle Safari. This passenger coach runs on weekend and public holidays and departs from Development house in the city centre or from the main gate of the park.
Also, it is possible to get to the park using public transport, just hop on the bus-Matatu 125 or 126 from Nairobi Railway Station, both of which drop you at the main gate. The Journey from the station takes around 35 minutes.