Welcome to Nairobi National Park, "The World's Only Wildlife Capital," a unique sanctuary located just 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) south of Nairobi's city center. Established on December 16, 1946, it was the first national park to be gazetted in Kenya and East Africa.
What sets Nairobi National Park apart is its exceptional biodiversity and proximity to a major urban center. The park offers a remarkable juxtaposition of wildlife and urban landscapes, making it a convenient and accessible destination for both locals and international visitors.
A Unique Urban Wilderness
Nairobi National Park is world-famous for being the most urban national park anywhere around the globe. As Kenya’s first national park, Nairobi National Park has been a wild haven for the capital city since 1946. The park’s metropolitan setting really sets it apart! Nairobi is Kenya’s heartbeat and is considered by many to be the safari capital of Africa!
The park covers an area of 117 square kilometers (45 square miles) and lies about 1500-1800 meters (5000-6000 feet) above sea level. It is the only protected area in the world with such a huge variety of animals and birds close to a capital city.
Primarily, the park consists of open grasslands dotted with scrub and upland forests, making it an ideal habitat for many of Kenya’s native species. Size and barriers aside Nairobi National Park’s landscape hosts thousands of wild animals at home in various ecosystems. It is known for healthy populations of cape buffalo, Masai giraffe, plains zebra, impala, ostrich, and hippo. And where there is prey, there are often predators!
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Nairobi National Park consists partly of thick woods near the city outskirts, partly of rolling plains and valleys, and partly of wooded confluence of several rivers, its vegetation is of the dry transitional savanna type. Acacias and other thorny varieties, muhuhu, Cape chestnut, and Kenya olive are the most important trees that acts as habitat for the wildlife in the park.
The park is fenced on three sides, whereas the open southern boundary allows migrating wildlife to move between the park and the adjacent Kitengela plains. Herbivores gather in the park during the dry season.
Wildlife in Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park has a large and diverse wildlife population. The park boasts one of East Africa’s most successful black rhinoceros sanctuaries, playing a critical role in rhino conservation efforts.
Animals easily spotted in the park include:
- African buffalo
- Baboon
- Eastern black rhinoceros
- Gazelle
- Grant's zebra
- Cheetah
- Coke's hartebeest
- Hippopotamus
- African leopard
- Lion
- Common eland
- Impala
- Masai giraffe
- Ostrich
- Vultures
- Waterbuck
The park also has high diversity of bird species with over 400 endemic and migratory species. Nairobi National Park has a vast tracts of open grass plains with scattered acacia bush, there is a highly dry forest on the western side of the park and to the south there is riverine forest and a permanent river.
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The large predators in the park includes the lion, leopard, hyena and cheetah. Nairobi national park boasts 100 species of mammals, including 39 lions and 90 rhinos, 40 different amphibians and reptiles. The park has only four of the big five namely (buffalos, lions, leopards, rhinos) minus elephants.
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 the Ostriches, secretary birds and bustards. Many bird species in Nairobi National Park includes Abyssinian thrush, Corncrakes, Fischer’s lovebirds, Grey crowned crane, Hartlaub’s bustard, Jackson’s widowbird, Kori bustard, Lesser kestrel, Martial eagle, Pallid harrier, White-bellied bustard, White-headed vulture and many others.
Nairobi National Park is also home to a variety of other species, including:
- Black-backed jackal: A common scavenger and opportunistic predator.
- Cheetah: The fastest land animals, capable of reaching speeds up to 112 km/h.
- Leopard: Among the park’s most elusive residents, favouring dense riverine woodland.
- Serval cat: A medium-sized feline with long legs, large ears, and a spotted coat.
- Impala: One of the most common and graceful antelopes.
- African Cape buffalo: A formidable and powerful member of the “Big Five.”
- Coke’s hartebeest: An elongated, uniquely-shaped antelope with a sloping back.
- Masai giraffe: The tallest land mammal, identified by its jagged, irregular spots.
- Thomson’s gazelle: Small, sleek, and fast antelopes.
- Grant’s gazelle: An elegant species with long, slender horns.
- Eland: Africa’s largest antelope, with both males and females sporting spiral-shaped horns.
- Warthogs: Easily recognizable by their large tusks and warty facial protrusions.
- Waterbucks: Large, shaggy antelopes usually found near Nairobi National Park’s rivers and marshes.
- Common zebra: One of Nairobi National Park’s most iconic residents, easily recognized by its striking black-and-white stripes.
- Hippos: Found in Nairobi National Park’s rivers and waterholes, spending most of their time submerged to keep cool.
- Olive baboons: Highly adaptable primates commonly seen along Nairobi National Park’s roadsides and open areas.
- Sykes’ monkey: Found in Nairobi National Park’s forested areas.
- Vervet monkeys: Small, agile primates with a grayish coat, black face, and striking blue skin around their genitals.
Rhino Sanctuary
Nairobi National park is the major rhino sanctuary for breeding and restocking other parks, the park is a home of over 100 mammal species having four of the Big five (lion, Buffalo, leopard, rhino). Nairobi National park has the highest population of black rhinos, and a good population of the southern white rhinos and the Eastern Browse (Black) Rhino (Diceros bicorni micheali) in the wild these intelligent and affectionate creatures have inhabited the earth for 60 million years.
Today Nairobi National Park is home to approximately 111 black rhinos and 24 white rhinos. The success of this program is no simple feat. In fact, Kenya Wildlife Service deploys 80 dedicated rhino rangers into the park for 24-hour surveillance and monitoring of the wild rhinos.
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Nairobi National Park is a principal attraction for visitors to Nairobi and also serves many residents, as well as a successful rhino sanctuary, the park has an excellent record for supporting the species and nurturing them until they are re-located to their former range and to other upcoming sanctuaries.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Inside the park there is a sanctuary run by David Sheldrick Trust, that hand-rears orphaned elephant and rhinoceros calves, and later releases them back into secure sanctuaries. Orphaned and sick animals are brought to the sanctuary from all over Kenya. The sanctuary is located close to the park's main entrance. It was opened in 1963.
The David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage is a treatment and rehabilitation center for wild animals like the cheetahs, lions, monkeys, and others once they are hurt say by poachers.
Best Time to Visit
Nairobi National Park is open all year round and can be visited any time, but the dry season from June to September is generally the best time for wildlife watching, when animals can easily be seen around water sources.
Wildlife watching is usually difficult during the raining season ( between March and May and October to November ). July has the lowest rainfall among all the months of the year.
Nairobi has a cool and temperate climate. Temperatures are reasonably constant year-round, and it cools off considerably at night. There is very little rain in the Dry season between June and October. November to May, the Wet season, has two periods of rain.
Here is a breakdown of the seasons:
- June, July, August & September - Lots of sunshine with very little rain.
- October - It is warming up a bit with afternoon temperatures of about 26°C/79°F.
- November & December - ‘Short rains’: October or November sees the start of the short rains, which normally peak in November.
- January & February - The rains dry up in these months, separating the two rainy seasons.
- March, April & May - ‘Long rains’: April is the wettest month and rain might interfere with your game drives.
Kenya Safari in the City! (Nairobi National Park)
Nairobi National Park Rules
Various National Park Rules are in place to ensure that tourists are able to enjoy their visit without endangering themselves or the wildlife in the park:
- The speed limit in the parks is 50km/h and 25km/h in the Nyerere Park.
- Animals always have the right of way.
- Never feed animals.
- Keep to the authorized tracks only.
- Do not pick, cut or destroy any vegetation or remove any object of biological interest, including eggs, bones and trophies.
- Camping is allowed only in designated sites.
- Picnicking is allowed only at designated sites.
- Do not disturb or harass the wildlife in any way.
- Radios and music players are forbidden.
- Please do not imitate animal’s sounds, clap or pound on vehicle or hoot.
- Do not throw objects to attract animal’s attention.
- Do not litter.
- Do not smoke while on game drive and always dispose cigarettes carefully.
- Do not light or cause fire to be lit.
- All visitors must remain in their vehicle within 200 meters of any game animal.
- Leaving the vehicle in the parks is forbidden except in designated places.
- Discourage your driver from approaching the animals too close (25 meters).
- Domestic pets are forbidden in the parks.
- It’s is not allowed to use/operate drones in any park.
Attractions and Activities
Nairobi National Park is amazed with other Kenya wildlife attractions like the Ivory burning Site Monument, Walking trails at hippo pools, Nairobi Safari Walk and the Orphanage, Spacious accommodating picnic, which makes Kenya safaris and Kenya Tours to experience a number of tourists to visit Nairobi National Park due to various activities in the park.
Here are some of the key attractions and activities:
- Ivory Burning Site Monument: This historic space marks the significance of Kenya’s destruction of seized elephant ivory and rhino horn.
- Walking trails at hippo pools: Walking trails in Nairobi National Park that starts from a picnic area, following the Athi river banks.
- Nairobi Safari Walk and the Orphanage
- Spacious accommodating picnic
Accommodation Options
Nairobi National Park has several high quality accommodation options, located both inside and outside the park at distinct areas to suit every budget. Nairobi Tented Camp is the only camp located inside the park.
Accommodation in Nairobi national park is got a wide range of safari lodges, safari hotels and camps which are categorized as luxury accommodation, midrange accommodation and budget accommodation. The park has three public campsites. They all provide electricity, hot water showers and kitchens.
Nairobi Tented Camp is the only Official accommodation in Nairobi National Park. It is located in the west of the park, including nine luxurious permanent tents. Meals are served in the bush, under the stars, or in the dining tent. Water is heated over log fires.
The park is also close to the suburbs of Langata and Karen. For nature lovers, Giraffe Manor is recommended. It is located on the grounds of the Giraffe Centre in Langata. Besides 12 double rooms of grand colonial style, this option is extra special by the Rothschild’s giraffes that walk freely around the grounds.
Is it Worth Visiting Nairobi National Park?
From my experience, I can confidently say that yes, Nairobi National Park is well worth a visit! Even compared to Kenya’s other iconic parks, Nairobi has a unique charm that sets it apart from other destinations. Proximity alone makes this park an easy addition to anyone’s travel plans. No detours needed!
Between the low park entrance fees, plenty of guide options, and of course location - Nairobi National Park is easily the most accessible safari destination in Africa. During our journeys into the park, Mother Nature was on our side. We were lucky enough to see numerous lions, hippos, giraffes, zebras, iconic bird species, and many large herbivores.
Just 15 minutes from the city center of Nairobi this park should not be missed! Regardless of if you are planning on visiting Kenya’s other famous national parks like Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, or Tsavo - I still recommend a visit to Nairobi National Park.
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