Nairobi National Park

A short drive out of Nairobi’s central business district is the Nairobi National Park. Wide open grass plains and backdrop of the city scrapers, scattered acacia bush play host to a wide variety of wildlife including the endangered black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and diverse birdlife with over 400 species recorded. Visitors can enjoy the park’s picnic sites, three campsites and the walking trails for hikers.

Located just south of the city, Nairobi National Park is Kenya’s first game reserve and the only protected area in the world that sits so close to a nation’s capital. Visitors to the vast wildlife park are likely to spot black rhinos, lions, giraffe, and zebra, as well as some 400 bird species.

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.

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.