Nairobi National Park

Introducing

Nairobi National Park

Situated just 7 miles from the center of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi National Park is a pretty special phenomenon. Where else can you view 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 those about to embark on a tour of Kenya’s more famous safari destinations (think Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu, and the mighty Maasai Mara), Nairobi National Park offers a worthwhile introduction to the country’s animal and birdlife. For those passing through the capital, the park is an opportunity to get a taste of the wild without ever leaving the city limits.

This iconic park is the only national park within the limits of a capital city. It is home to a diverse array of wildlife including lions, leopards, buffalos, zebra, antelopes, giraffe and over 400 species of birds. Once inside the park, it really does feel like you have left the city behind. Sunset over the Ngong Hills and vast vistas stretching down over acacia-dotted plains are evocative of the spirit of Africa.

Experience the Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park ranks among Africa’s most accessible wildlife experiences, offering the chance to spot some of the continent’s most iconic species in as little as a half-day trip from downtown Nairobi. Explore on a safari tour, enjoy picnic sites and campsites, and hike an assortment of walking trails in this nature escape. Half-day and full-day tours allow visitors to drive through the park’s grass plains with the capital’s skyscrapers as a backdrop, spotting endangered animal species in their natural habitat. It’s also possible to visit on a more comprehensive Nairobi tour to also see nearby highlights such as the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, the Giraffe Center, the Karen Blixen Museum, and the Nairobi National Museum.

The endangered black rhinoceros is protected here and the park supplies black rhinos to other national parks. Take a game drive to see four of the “Big Five”- lions, leopards, buffalo and rhinos, but no elephants. Walking trailscan be enjoyed, along with five picnic sites. Bird watchingis popular here, with 400 species recorded.Turtle and tortoise watching can also be enjoyed. With over 500 bird species recorded, Nairobi National Park probably gives Kenya’s capital the longest bird list of all cities in the world. The park’s substantial area of undisturbed grassland is of great importance for species such as the restricted-range Jackson’s widowbird, which breeds here regularly after good rains. Other grassland birds include ostriches, secretary birds and bustards. Nairobi NP is a popular birding destination and it’s easy to book a full or half day guided birding trip at short notice.

Locate the Nairobi National Park

Discover: Nairobi National Park

As you drive into the park for the first time, it’s hard not to fall in love with the dramatic scenery: distant hills rise from the horizon with tall doum palms silhouetted against the sky. The Rojewero and Tana Rivers are lined with lush vegetation, and the palms, baobab trees and red soil provide a striking background for the park’s many animals. Guided game drives are the main activities in Nairobi National Park. These are an opportunity to enjoy the wildlife (including birds) and scenery, and to learn about them from an expert guide. The only place where you’re allowed out of your vehicle in the park is at one of the campsites, or at the viewing platforms overlooking the Rojewero River.

Getting There

Nairobi National Park is 9km/6mi south of Nairobi. The park is usually visited as a half- or full-day trip from a hotel in the city. Getting to the city of Nairobi is easy because it’s one of the biggest and busiest transport hubs on the continent. International flights arrive in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 15km/9mi southeast of Nairobi.

By Air: Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport.
By Road: You can access the park by car, approximately 10 km from the city centre.

Best time to visit

The park is visited all year round. The Dry season months from June to October are generally the best time for seeing wildlife. During the wettest periods of the year (March to May, and to a lesser extent November and December), visitors will be treated to dust-free skies and an abundance of baby animals and migratory birds. However, the wildlife will be harder to track down and driving conditions can be testing, to say the least.

Wildlife Experience

Nairobi National Park has a kaleidoscope of wildlife population, making it one of the best spots for wildlife viewing in Kenya if you are on a short trip in Kenya and maybe travelling with young children and do not wish to go on long safaris. Some wildlife includes The four of the Big Five (leopards, lions, black rhinoceros & African buffalos). Other animals are cheetahs, spotted hyenas, black-backed-jackal, zebras, giraffes, Thomson's gazelle, impala, hartebeest, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, common eland Grant’s gazelle, hippos, Nile crocodiles, olive baboons and common ostriches.

Birdlife

Nairobi National Park is a paradise for birdwatching. If you are an avid bird watcher, the park should be on your list. Over 500 bird species are in the park, with magnificent colours supported by the park's ecosystem, ranging from acacia trees to undistributed grasslands. Some of the birds include Ostriches, bustards,gabar goshawk, bateleur Masai Ostrich, lesser kestrel, sooty falcon, African finfoot, white bellied-bustard, kori bustard, Fischer’s lovebird, augur buzzard, Martial eagle, lappet-faced vultures, Abyssinian thrush, Jackson’s widow, long-tailed fiscal, black-headed heron & secretary bird among others.

Where to go in Kenya