Nairobi National Park

Not so far, but so good

I arrived in Kenya last December. I'm a country representative for a NGO working in Soweto slum, Kahawa West. There is no much time to travel and enjoy the beauty of this country. Still, being here I've been collecting a bunch of business cards from tourist agencies - just in case. At the beginning of July, with two volunteers and my best friend, we decided to take a Sunday off to the Nairobi National Park. After a long run of calls to the above-mentioned agencies, we found the one offering the best deal.
At 9 am, we were entering the main Park's gate and after few hundred meters the first hippo and a crowd of white big birds welcomed us nearby a pond. We had a minivan with an opening roof, the view was stunning with the skyscrapers contrasting with the wildlife around us. Plenty of giraffes, zebras, gnus, elands, gazelles and impalas are to be seen all around the park. The giraffes are incredibly elegant and charming while the zebras are covered with the most fashionable animal dresses: much better than a parade in Milan or Paris.
When the sun rose high in the sky, the animals were gathering around water basins. We approached a stunning black rhino and, at the sun peak, we saw three young lions (two females and a male) leaving the shadow of the tree and heading towards a fresher place.
The park is quite magical and seeing the capitol's skyscrapers in the background is such a rare contrast.
Tips: find a smart driver who knows the areas within the park and animals' behaviors.

We loved it.

Being so close to the city it was amazing to see so many wild creatures. The park does not have the numbers other parks do and there are no Elephants there at all. But it can only hold so much with the restricted landscape. They could use an infusion of some species though. And it turned out to be our best place to get close Vulture images.
Lions were seen on every trip in there and it was fun to hang at the waterhole for long periods as many animals come & go. After a three week safari in other parts of the country we did see our only Mamba here !
For anyone who does not have time to visit other parks, it is a great place to go.
It was kind of weird having a Giraffe image with large city building & landing planes in the background.

Interesting experience in short time

Nairobi National Park was an interesting surprise. Being located in Nairobi, I wasn't expecting too much, but the area, the scenary and the quantity of wildlife surprised by the positive side. Being able to see rhinos was a very positive one, and for a birder, the quantity of amazing birds was a must.
If one has short time and/or are limited in traveling, this park can give a very good wildlife safari experience.

Being the only Game Park within a capital city means you can start your day in a meeting, enjoy 5-star lunch in town and end the day watching lions roam the plains, with the city Skyline in the background. There's no other place in the world you can do this.

Rainy season safari trip

We visited the park during rainy season and it was very challenging to drive through the park due very wet tracks. On the positive side it was not warm and most animals where pretty active during the day. An other plus is wasn't busy in the park

Kenya's first national park opened in 1946 with much to see.

From Kenya's capital city, a wildlife safari is a mere 8 km ( 5 Miles) away at the Nairobi National Park. There are more than 80 mammals and 500 bird species within its boundaries And far more visitors than in the ever popular Masai Mara. With large numbers of residents coming from Nairobi. The park is located to the south of the capital and takes around 15 minutes to drive to the main entrance along the Langata Road, and inside the park's boundaries a good network of roads allows visitors to explore every habitat. Near the entrance is the headquarters of the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Nairobi Animal Orphanage. The best time to visit is in the dry seasons when 2 wheel-drive cars are possible - February and March, or August and September. During these periods, migratory herds of zebra and wildebeest enter the park through the Kitengela Corridor adjoining the unfenced southern boundary. The park offers a good introduction to safaris, and visitors can spend an entire day game-viewing and picnicking at the various sites provided. Overnight accommodation at the Masai Lodge situated on the southern boundary.
The parks higher western quarter is clothed in dense forest which is watered by several streams that have been dammed as they enter the broad grassy plains covering most of the park. Wildlife is abundant and from the lookout near the Narogoman Dam it is possible to watch herds of animals moving across the plains. Gazelle,kongoni,buffalo,zebra and Masai giraffe, and the Ngong Hills, of Out of Africa fame, form an impressive background. Buffalo, bush pig and bushbuck are encountered in the dense forests, while impala are found in the open woodland.Over 50 Rhino are protected but wild and I have seen one near the gate on the many times I have been. Lion are found through out the park over 20 have been counted and are frequently seen in the Hyrax Valley where they spend on average 16 of the 24 hours sleeping . Cheetah are common and often seen as are Leopards but only seen late afternoons. Other animals include leopards,baboon,hippo and a dozen antelope species. Unique in its location on the threshold of a major city, the park conserves an unspoilt tract of forest,woodland and grassland Along the southern border, visitors can explore a trail along the banks of the Athi River at the Hippo Pools. The trail and its succulent vegetation is a refreshing getaway from the bustle of nearby Nairobi, but do keep a look out for Hippo and crocodiles in that area. I think one of the highlights of this park is that animals like Zebra are very close And try to include a photo of the city skyline in the background whilst animals graze in the foreground, when using a telephoto lens it enables you to compress the distance making them appear closer..... But do remember these are wild animals you are not in a Western Safari park. Do not take chances.

The most convenient safari in Kenya

If you are in Nairobi and have a free morning, there's no excuse not to visit this great park.

Just a few minutes from downtown Nairobi, this park offers sightings of lions, black rhino, zebras, giraffes, cape buffalo, wildebeest, hippos, ostrich, and more. The park is small when compared to other destinations in Kenya, so you won't see elephants roaming around (co-located with the park is an elephant orphanage that is highly recommended). Purchase your ticket at the front gate off of Langata Road. When I visited, the non-resident rate was USD 60 per person. There is a minor charge for your vehicle if you self-drive.

Many companies offer guided tours around the park, and this might be your best bet to maximize your chances of seeing lots of animals. I opted to skip the guide and driver and drove myself around the park. It is easy to get around and there are plenty of signs. With Nairobi's skyline to the north of the park visible from much of the area, it's easy to keep your bearings. The park is fenced on the north side to keep the animals from roaming into downtown. The roads can be very rough far into the park -- I would highly recommend a high clearance vehicle if you opt to drive yourself, and do so slowly. Make sure you have a good condition spare tire, jack, and tire iron just in case those rough roads result in a flat tire. I was glad I had mine handy.

Wildlife density in this park may not be what it is in some other Kenyan parks, but I was satisfied with my morning game drive. I saw two lions right away after entering on the western side of the park. On the day I visited, the eastern part of the park seemed to have more zebra and giraffes than the western part. Wildebeest, cape buffalo, various kinds of deer, impala, eland, and ostrich were plentiful throughout the park. I had a brief sighting of a black rhino before it moved out of sight. Even without a guide, I was happy with my experience and animal sightings.

Bring snacks, plenty of water, and most importantly your camera - you'll need it.

Kenya has a ton of safari opportunities that will beat Nairobi National Park when it comes to wildlife, scenic beauty, and bush vibe. However, the close proximity of this park to Nairobi and the ease of access make it a great option for anyone spending a day or two (or even a few hours) in the city. As a new resident of Nairobi, I see myself returning to this park monthly.

A lot of safari in not a lot of time.

I have to admit to being surprised at finding such a diverse safari experience in the middle of the city. The animal sightings started off slowly but increased in variety and density as the journey continued. The highlight was spotting an adult Lion sleeping under a tree. Visiting the ivory burn site was particularly moving when you realize how many lives have been lost. I also visited Amboseli and the Masai Mara while in Kenya and the National Park was almost as rich in wildlife but alas, no elephants. It was a day well spent.

Nice, easy game drive right in the city

Nairobi National Park provides a great game drive experience, at an affordable price, without leaving Nairobi city. The park is much smaller than other, more famous East African parks, like the Maasai Mara or the Serengeti or even Nakuru National Park. It's big advantage lies in it accessibility.

There are plenty of safari companies that do tours of the park in the standard pop-top vans or Land Rovers. You can also drive into the park yourself, which plenty of people do. The roads are all dirt and can be rough and dusty in some places, but a small SUV can handle most of it without too much trouble. This is how I experienced the park on my one visit, and we didn't feel like we missed anything. If fact, we even beat the professional safari vehicles to a couple of lion sightings.

The density of animal life in the park is fantastic. On one two hour tour we saw lions, giraffe, ostriches, warthogs, baboons and other monkeys, more birds than I could identify, and more. The scenery is beautiful, but you can see the city at the periphery from most places in the park. For some, that will ruin the ambiance, but it's not so hard to block that out and enjoy this park for what it is: a beautiful, wild, and somehow also very accessible and affordable mini-safari destination right at the edge of one of Africa's greatest cities.

Great national park close to the city. Well worth the time and cost to enjoy nature near the city

Nairobi National Park is a wonderful place to take a day trip Safari. There is a great deal of wildlife and during our time there we were able to spot everything we were looking for. This is a unique opportunity to explore nature, but not have to go a long distance of your way. The costs are very reasonable and the park staff were excellent. I highly recommend a trip to this national park when you are in Nairobi. It is a great escape from the urban environment.