Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park is located in the southern part of Nairobi which is Kenya’s capital city. Nairobi national park is the only wildlife park in the world that is so close to the city. This national park was the first national park to be gazetted among all Kenya National Parks. The proximity of Nairobi National Park and the urban environment of Nairobi city itself is a unique factor about the park and it eases the movement of tourists from the airport to the national park to view its attractions and participate in different tourist activities.

The park is a sanctuary for Rhinos an endangered species that are relocated from the park and taken to other national parks in Kenya. Nairobi national park is also home to four of the big 5 i.e. the lion, buffalo, leopard, and rhino as well as a variety of wildlife and bird species.

Boundaries of the park found in the north, east and west parts have electric fences to keep the wildlife species from causing destruction to people and their property. Mbagathi River forms the southern boundary of the park allowing the animals to freely roam and go in and out of the park.

Kenya wildlife service runs the park and regulates, manages and promotes conservation of flora and fauna in Nairobi national park as well as other national parks in Kenya except for Maasai Mara National Park. Kenya wildlife service headquarters are found at one of the main entrances of this park.

The park is visited by locals/ Kenyans and tourists. Students in Kenya visit this park for study purposes on school field trips. This park’s wildlife education center has video shows and lectures about wildlife, guided tours and the animal orphanage in the park. This park also has a children’s museum which contains stuffed animals that are found within the park. The park also has different picnic spots for nature lovers to dine in the wild. Cooperate and special events also take place in the park.

Accessing the park can be by road or by flight as seen below;

By road; 10 km from Nairobi
By flight; from Jomo Kenyatta international airport and Wilson airport.

Entry gates to Nairobi national park include KWS headquarters, Langata gate, Maasai gate, Mbagathi gate and Banda gate.

Park entry fees for adults at Nairobi national park are as follows in Kenyan shillings and US dollars

Citizen: KSH 430
Resident: KSH1030
Nonresident: USD 43

The park offers great photographic opportunities with a blend of the wild and Nairobi city in the background and it can be visited all year round.

Attractions in Nairobi National Park

Attractions that can be seen in Nairobi national park include the following;

Wildlife and bird species are of various species and the wildlife species in Nairobi national park include; Cape buffalo, baboon, black rhino, gazelle, zebras, cheetah, coke’s hartebeest, hippos, elands, impala, giraffes, waterbucks. Bird species in Nairobi national park include; black-headed heron, ostrich, blacksmith lapwing, common moorhen, long-tailed fiscal, secretary bird, martial eagle, pallid harrier, and many other birds.
Nairobi Animal orphanage found within Nairobi national park serves as a treatment and rehabilitation center for wild animals such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, serval cats, rare Sokoke cats, leopards, monkeys, baboons, buffalo, and warthogs. Nairobi animal orphanage also takes care of injured birds such as the ostrich, parrot, guinea fowl and crown crane. The animal orphanage attracts many people including Kenyans, school children and tourists for an educational trip and chance to view the wildlife species creating an alternative for a game drive which is also a rewarding experience. Nairobi animal orphanage provides a medical examination and necessary treatment for the wildlife species before rehabilitation basing on the individual needs of the animals.
Impala observation point is one of the highest points in Nairobi national park offering a view of the impalas in the open plains in Nairobi national park filled with impalas. Impala observation point is also a picnic/ event site that allows tourists to dine while watching the wildlife around Nairobi national park.
The ivory burning site monument is a landmark for the conservation of wildlife marking the place where the former president of Kenya, President Daniel Arap Moi burnt ivory as a way of sending a message to poachers to stop their acts and to show Kenya’s commitment to conservation and zero tolerance to the ivory trade. This site is found in the northwestern end of Nairobi national park.
David and Daphne Sheldrick Elephant orphanage is a rescue center for elephants as well as other wildlife species such as rhinos. The elephants are taken care of from this orphanage and later taken to Tsavo national park. The Sheldrick elephant orphanage is the best place to learn about elephants and their conservation.

Activities in the Park

Game drives take place at different times of day in the park that is in the morning and in the evening. During the morning game drives chances of viewing the wildlife is bigger compared since the wildlife species are more active at this time of the day compared to evening game drives where the wildlife species take shelter in hidden locations to avoid heat from the sun and to avoid predators.
Walking safaris/ boardwalk. This takes place along a raised wooden walkway with a good view of the wildlife species in the park. These walking safaris allow visitors to see what to expect when in the wild also providing an experience with wildlife species as close as the visitors as they can get to them during the walking safaris. The wildlife species move around in their enclosures which allow visitors to view them from a safe place.
Birding. the park is home to a variety of bird species both endemic and migratory species. Bird species include; ostriches, secretary birds, corncrake, white-headed vulture, pallid harrier, grey crowned crane and many other bird species.

Accommodation

Accommodation is available around the park and is classified as follows;

Luxury accommodation; Ololo safari lodge, Nairobi tented camp, Ole sereni hotel, African heritage house.
Midrange accommodation; Bush house and camp, Stardom hotel, Anga Afrika luxury boutique camp Nairobi, Tawala homes.
Budget accommodation; Royal tulip Canaan Nairobi, Town lodge uphill, Fairview hotel, After 40 hotel, Lotos inns and suites Nairobi, Double tree by Hilton Nairobi, Saab royale hotel, Radisson Blu hotel Nairobi.

Enjoy a memorable journey to the wild at Nairobi national park for an accessible safari experience close to Nairobi city.