Nairobi National Park: Destination Guide

Nairobi National Park is the world’s only national park on the edge of a capital city. It is about 7km from central Nairobi, and you can see lions or rhino with the city skyline behind them. It is the easiest way for UK visitors to fit a proper game drive into their first or last day in Kenya, sometimes within an hour of landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The park covers 117 square kilometres of open grass plains, acacia scrub and riverine forest. It is fenced on three sides, with the southern side open to the Kitengela plains, so animals can move in and out.

Why go to Nairobi National Park

It’s compact, easy to reach and surprisingly rich in wildlife. The park is one of Kenya’s most successful rhino sanctuaries and has been used to restock other parks across the country. Four of the Big Five can be spotted here: lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino. Elephants are the one missing, as they do not live in the park.

For UK travellers, it also solves a common problem. International flights from London tend to arrive early in the morning or depart late at night. Rather than spending that day in a hotel, you can head straight out on safari.

Wildlife highlights

• Black rhino: the park supports a high density of black rhino, and they are commonly seen, especially in the morning.
• White rhino: a smaller number, often grazing in the open areas.
• Lions: several prides roam the plains. Your guide will have a good idea of where they were last spotted.
• Cheetahs and leopards: both are present. Cheetahs use the open grasslands in the south, while leopards stay near the forest and rocky gorges.
• Masai giraffe: common and easy to photograph against the city skyline.
• Plains game: buffalo, zebra, eland, impala, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, hartebeest and warthog.
• Hippos and crocodiles: at the Hippo Pools on the Athi River.
• Birds: more than 500 species have been recorded, including secretary birds, ostriches, crowned cranes and many birds of prey.

From July to September, wildebeest and zebra from the Athi-Kapiti plains sometimes enter the park through the open southern boundary. Numbers are far smaller than in the Masai Mara, but it’s still a good sight.

Sights within the park

• Ivory Burning Site Monument: where President Daniel arap Moi burned 12 tonnes of ivory in 1989, a moment that helped bring about the global ivory trade ban. A second, larger burn of 105 tonnes took place nearby in 2016.
• Hippo Pools Nature Trail: a short guided walk along the Athi River with an armed KWS ranger. One of the few places in the park where you can get out of the vehicle.
• Impala Hill and the viewpoints: excellent spots for panoramic views over the plains.
• Nairobi Safari Walk: a raised boardwalk near the main gate with animals in large enclosures. Good for children or anyone short on time.
• Nairobi Animal Orphanage: also at the main gate, caring for rescued and injured animals.

Popular attractions next to the park

The park sits beside two green suburbs, Langata and Karen, which are home to some of Nairobi’s most popular visitor attractions. They pair easily with a morning game drive.

• Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery: the world-famous orphan elephant project. Visitors watch the baby elephants being fed and hear the keepers tell each elephant’s story. The public visit runs daily from 11am to 12pm and must be booked online in advance through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. You can also foster an orphan, which gives you access to a private evening visit.
• Giraffe Centre: run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. Feed endangered Rothschild’s giraffes from a raised platform. Popular with families. Opening times and prices are on the Giraffe Centre website.
• Karen Blixen Museum: the farmhouse of the Danish author of Out of Africa, set in gardens at the foot of the Ngong Hills.
• Kazuri Beads: a workshop employing single mothers to make ceramic beads and pottery. Great for gifts to take home.
• Bomas of Kenya: traditional dance performances and homesteads of Kenya’s different communities.

Where to stay

You don’t have to stay in the city centre to visit the park. These are the most popular places with our UK guests.

In the park or on its boundary

• Nairobi Tented Camp: the only camp inside the park itself, with nine tents in the woods. Just 30 minutes from the city, you fall asleep to the sound of hyenas and lions.
• The Emakoko: a small lodge on the southern edge of the park overlooking the Mbagathi River valley. Good food and early access to the park for morning drives.
• Ololo Safari Lodge: a farmhouse-style lodge on the park’s southern boundary, overlooking the plains and with a kitchen garden.

Langata and Karen

• Giraffe Manor: perhaps the most photographed hotel in Africa, where Rothschild’s giraffes put their heads through the windows at breakfast. It is very popular, so book 12 months or more in advance.
• Hemingways Nairobi: a boutique hotel in Karen with large suites and views to the Ngong Hills.
• House of Waine: a colonial-style boutique hotel in Karen with a large garden and pool.
• Macushla House: a small, friendly guesthouse in Langata near the Giraffe Centre.

Near the airport

• Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport and Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport: convenient for late-night arrivals and early-morning departures.

When to go

The park is open all year from 6am to 7pm.

• June to October: the dry season. The grass is short and animals are easier to find near the dams and rivers.
• January to February: also dry and a good time to visit.
• March to May and November to December: the rainy seasons. The park stays open, but some tracks become muddy and animals disperse.

Morning drives from 6am give you the best chance of seeing predators on the move and rhinos out in the open.

Getting there

• From central Nairobi: 20 to 40 minutes to the main gate on Langata Road, depending on traffic.
• From Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: around 30 minutes to the East Gate.
• From Karen or Langata: 10 to 20 minutes.

Most visitors explore the park on a half-day game drive with a guide in a pop-up roof safari vehicle. A full day with a picnic lunch is also available. Self-drive is permitted, but a guide will find far more wildlife.

Park fees

Nairobi National Park is managed by Kenya Wildlife Service. At the time of writing, non-resident adults pay US$80 (about £60) per day, and children pay less. Payment is cashless. All our safaris include park fees. Sterling figures are indicative and subject to exchange rate fluctuations.

Sample half-day itinerary

• 6:00am: pick-up from your hotel
• 6:30am to 10:30am: game drive in Nairobi National Park
• 11:00am to 12:00pm: Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery
• 12:30pm: lunch in Karen
• 2:00pm: Giraffe Centre
• 3:30pm: return to your hotel or the airport

Practical tips

• Pack a warm layer. Nairobi sits at 1,700 metres, and mornings can be as cool as 12°C.
• Book the Sheldrick visit and Giraffe Manor well in advance.
• Plan around Nairobi traffic, particularly during weekday morning and evening rush hours.
• A game drive here is a good start to a longer safari. It gives first-timers an idea of what to expect before heading to the Mara or Amboseli National Park.

How long to stay

A half day covers the park. A full day lets you combine the game drive with the Sheldrick nursery, the Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum.