Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park Tours & Tickets
“The World’s only Wildlife Capital”
Nairobi National Park is a popular national park in Kenya located about 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Nairobi, and from the city center; making it Kenya’s most accessible yet incongruous safari experience. Covering 117 sq km, Nairobi National Park is “The World’s only Wildlife Capital” with a variety of wildlife which can be viewed against a backdrop of city skyscrapers and planes coming in to land – it’s one of the only national parks on earth bordering a capital city.
Despite its proximity to the city and its relative small size, Nairobi National Park boasts a wide variety of wildlife, birdlife and the best scenic views from the park and beyond. Whether you visit the park first before taking a longer safari, or a final goodbye to Kenya, Nairobi Park fits well on that last minute safari checklist. The park is among the best places in Kenya to see rhinos, and there’s a good chance that you’ll spot lions and an extensive selection of other safari animals.
Nairobi Safari Packages
4 Days Masai Mara Private Safari
Discover the big five wildlife in style with our exclusive …
9 Days Luxury Kenya Safari
Join us on this luxury safari, visiting some of the most epic wildlife locations…
5 Days Private Kenya Safari
Discover Kenya’s iconic destinations in this epic adventure…
6 Days Kenya Safari Tour
An unchartered wilderness journey on a 4×4 in Kenya’s intimate…
Nairobi Park Landscape & Scenery
Truly, there’s nowhere quite like Nairobi National Park, with incredible animals roaming free and wild against the backdrop of towering Nairobi skyscrapers; a good setting for some unusual wildlife photography tour.
The park’s predominant environment is open grass plain with scattered Acacia and Euphorbia bushes. The western region of the park have highland dry forest characteristics, and as you move along to the south of the park, there is riverine forest and a permanent river. The park also features stretches of broken bush and deep rocky valleys and gorges with scrub and long grass. Further environments have been created by man-made dams and these have attracted certain species of birds and aquatic life. During the dry season the dams also attract water-dependent herbivores.
The Top Things To Do In Nairobi National Park
Discover some of the best things to do in Nairobi National Park. The setting and climate of Nairobi City allows for quality wildlife viewing all-round the year; from game drives, historic sightseeing, and guided nature walks. Let’s have a look at the notable activities that Nairobi National Park offers.
1. Game Drives Safari In Nairobi National Park
The main activity in Nairobi Park is the guided game drive. The drives, which will take you around the park in search of wildlife and bird watching. Therefore, you can decide on the early morning or late afternoon game drive providing an ideal opportunity to explore the park. Also, the game viewing drives normally start as early as 6:00am.when the gates open, and involve the use of a 4X4 Land Cruiser Jeep with an open roof-top.
The Land Cruiser safari vehicles accommodate 6 seat passengers (everyone with their own spacious window seat) but can additionally seat up to 8 adults with an extra seat included and with one person sitting beside the Driver. The vehicle has a spacious game viewing roof, is more reliable, strong and spacious enough while also being marginally more comfortable than the only other option.
2. Birdwatching In Nairobi National Park
Nairobi Park plays host to a notable number of birdlife species, recording over 400 bird species (some are seasonal) whose numbers tend to swell up between March and May when a host of European migrants make the park their home. The birding lovers can use this opportunity to explore the park on game drives at the same time ticking off their birding checklist.
3. Ivory-burning Site In Nairobi National Park
This is one the most important landmarks in the records of conservation in East Africa.
Nairobi National Park holds a special place in the global fight against poaching and wildlife trafficking.
In between 1989 and 2016 ivory burnings at Nairobi National took place; the amount of Ivory burned include 12 tons (from 2,000 elephants) and 105 tons (from 8,000 elephants) respectively.
Ivory-burning site, is one of the most significant landmarks within the park, a symbol of Kenya’s long-term commitment to wildlife conservation.
4. Visit The Elephant Orphanage
Within Nairobi National Park, find out about the raising of orphaned black rhinos and elephants before re-introducing them back into the wild. Together with feeding giraffes at giraffe center, this animal orphanage is one of Nairobi’s most popular attractions, and with reason. Watch in excitement about a dozen or so baby elephants joyfully playing on a muddy watering hole, and as part of the viewing, watch the handlers bottle-feed the baby elephants – a sight to behold.
5. Walking Safari In Nairobi National Park
Available at Nairobi National Park’s Nature Trail near Animal Orphanage. Just inside the main gate to Nairobi Park, this animal orphanage houses formerly wild animals that have been recovered by park rangers. The orphanage does protect animals that would have died without human intervention, and also serves as an education centre for locals and schoolchildren wishing to interact with wildlife. Head out on foot on a guided walking safaris; perfect opportunity to experience the unique flora & fauna on foot.
Also, just outside the main entrance to Nairobi National Park, off Langata Rd, is the Nairobi Safari Walk, is a kind of zoo and nature-trail-walk, featuring lots of birds as well as other wildlife, including a pygmy hippo, a bongo, an albino zebra and a white rhino, as well as primates and big cats.
6. Picnic Sites In Nairobi National Park
The picnic and event sites include Impala observation point (offering elevated views of the landscape), Ivory burning site, Kingfisher picnic site (overlooking open plains), the club house and Mokoyiet picnic site which in addition offer perfect grounds for, bush dinners, & team building.
Animals & Wildlife In Nairobi National Park
In addition to the breathtaking landscapes and views against the backdrop of Nairobi City, the game viewing experience includes the giraffe, possible leopard sightings, zebra’s, African buffalos, antelope, lion, black and white rhino, hippo, common ostrich, common warthog, olive baboon, and crocodile, including a high diversity of birdlife species, up to 500 permanent and migratory species in the park. Additionally, the park is one of Kenya’s most successful rhino sanctuaries.
With that in mind, the Lion, Rhino, Masai giraffe, zebra and buffalo are just some of the animals you can encounter on a half-day trip in Nairobi Park. It’s also an excellent place to see a wide range of antelope species.
Best Time For Wildlife Viewing In Nairobi National Park
While the Nairobi National Park is beautiful all year round, the best time to visit Nairobi Park for wildlife watching is in the dry months of (June to October) when the vegetation thins out and animals gather around remaining water sources. Still – the dry months from January to February also makes up a great time for wildlife viewing. The wettest months are April and November.
Birds & Birdlife In Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park features a high variety of birdlife species, recording up to 500 both permanent and migratory species. Nearby dams play a key role having created a man-made habitat for both the birds and aquatic species.
As for travelers planning on either a full- or half-day guided birding trip; some of the notable birds you will encounter include; include ostriches, secretary birds and bustards, among other water birds.
Popular Birds In Nairobi National Park
Black-headed heron, Blacksmith lapwing, Common moorhen, Long-tailed fiscal & Ostrich.
List Of Birds In Nairobi National Park
Abyssinian thrush, Corncrake, Fischer’s lovebird, Grey crowned crane, Hartlaub’s bustard, Jackson’s widowbird, Kori bustard, Lappet-faced vulture, Lesser kestrel, Martial eagle, Pallid harrier, Secretary bird, Sharpe’s longclaw (NE), Sooty falcon, White-bellied bustard, and White-headed vulture.
The Best Time To Visit Nairobi National Park
Given the Kenyan climate, the dry season months from June to October are generally the best time for seeing wildlife in Nairobi Park,and again from January to March; during this time there is little to no rainfall, and climate conditions in the park are favorable for wildlife watching. The animals can be spotted around the nearby water holes as they quench their thirst. Now this is a good time to plan a trip to Nairobi Park.
Nairobi National Park’s wet safari seasons comprise November and April. During these months, wildlife (with water and food more widely available they will spread out) and is more challenging to spot in the long grass. However, if you are a bird lover, and would love to experience the lush green vegetation, then a visit during the wet season is perfect to enjoy a birdwatching safari as many migratory birds come here during this season; – getting wet is not an issue because it doesn’t rain daily.
The Weather & Climate At Nairobi National Park
Together with other popular Kenya safari parks, while planning safaris to Nairobi National Park and the whole of Nairobi be ready to for a hot, dry climate. For the morning game drives, we recommend you bring with you warm clothing. As with elsewhere in Kenya, the rainfall will be experienced in late April and November, bringing both the long and short rains, respectively. Though the rain tends to fall as short, heavy showers.
Generally, the conditions tend to stay hot and dry throughout the year at the Nairobi Park. The wet seasons in Nairobi National Park (November to May) can get particularly hot, especially during the break.
Dry Season In Nairobi National Park – June to October
These are the dry seasons characterized by sunny days – there is no rainfall.
June & July – Days are typically hot and sunny with pleasant temperatures of around 29°C/84°F.
August & September – Both months of August & September are characterized by a rise in daytime temperatures on an average of 29°C/84°F.
October – come October, expect a hot and humid climate, with temperatures increasing prior to the arrival of short November rains.
Wet Season In Nairobi National Park – November to May
Tsavo East’s wetter season is marked by short rains followed by the long rains. Remember, January and February are part of the dry months in between.
November & December – these months signals the start of the short rains in Tsavo East National Park. During this period, expect short afternoon storms with daytime temperatures at an average of 33°C/84°F, which can rise. In addition, the skies tend to be clearer & sunny days possible.
January & February – with the exact timing a little challenging to predict. These months break the rains and welcomes a dry season; – making it good for game viewing, with February labelled as the hottest month, temperatures peaking to an average of 30°C/86°F or even higher.
March, April & May – call it the long rainy season, usually kicks off late in March. Remember, it hardly ever rains all day, just surprising afternoon showers; – still pleasant temperatures characterized by sunshine & clear skies is experienced. Late April can receive the most of rainfall, with an estimated temperatures of around 30°C/86°F.
Safari Tours To Nairobi Park
Want to visit Nairobi National Park? This is one of the most rewarding safari destinations in southern Kenya that you can easily add on a safari package to Masai Mara. Being close to Nairobi, you can easily start off with short Nairobi daytrip tours then proceed to Masai Mara making it easy to visit in a short time frame, and combine it with other parks as well.
You have plenty of choices to pick from, Nairobi midrange safaris to Nairobi luxury safaris depending on your travel style.
Ready To Plan A Private Kenya Safari?
Browse our selection of private all Kenya safari packages in Kenya above, or get in touch with one of our African safari experts to help tailor-make the best itinerary for you.