Bird watching in Nairobi National Park

Bird watching in Nairobi National Park : Nairobi National Park is a national park in Kenya that was established in 1946, in south-central Kenya, 5 miles about 7km south of Nairobi. It is fenced on the three sides, whereas the open southern boundary allows migrating wildlife to move between the park and the adjacent Kitengela plains. The park covers an area of 45 square-miles (117 square km) and lies about 5000 to 6000 feet (1500 to 1800 meters) above the sea level.

Bird Watching in Nairobi National Park.

Nairobi National Park is one of the pre-eminent birding safari destination in Kenya and also the entire of East Africa region, Nairobi National Park is one of the elite Kenya national parks that the travelers can visit all the year through various activities and among the activities, bird watching is a major one done in the park. There are over 500 bird species recorded, Nairobi national park probably gives Kenya’s capital longest bird list of all cities in the world, this is due to the park’s substantial area of the undisturbed grassland which is of the great importance for various bird species in Nairobi National Park.

Nairobi National Park is made up of the vegetation which is dry transitional savanna type. Acacias and other thorny varieties, muhuhu, Cape chestnut, and Kenya olive are the most vegetation in the park which act as good habitats for various bird species, the Nairobi National Park is located in the Nyiri desert which is also called the Nyika, Taru desert which is a desert in the southern Kenya, as it is located in the west of Nairobi National Park which also brings different birds species. The birds in Nairobi National Park have been evenly spread that wherever you go for bird watching in the park, you be able to spot quite number of bird species in the park.

The bird species in Nairobi National Park includes the restricted-range Jackson’s widowbird, which breeds in the park regularly after the good rains, the grassland birds include the ostriches, secretary birds, bustards. Other bird species in Nairobi National Park includes the Abyssinian thrush, Corncrake, Fischer’s lovebird, Grey crowned crane, Hartlaub’s bustard, Kori bustard, Lappet-faced vulture, Lesser kestrel, Martial eagle, Pallid harrier, Sooty falcon, White-bellied bustard, White-headed vulture, and among many others. On the other hand the park has got the Non Endemic bird species that includes the Sharpe’s longclaw. Nairobi National Park is a popular birding destination and it is easy to book full or half day guided birding trip at short notice. From the months of November and April that’s when the migrant birds from Europe and North Africa arrive in the park, as well this can be breeding season and many bird species can be found in the park. Which makes Nairobi National park to be the excellent bird watching destination in Kenya.

Requirements to carry during the bird watching in Nairobi National Park.

Requirements are carried with a bird watcher during the bird watching to Nairobi National Park as they include the binoculars, first aid box, water bottle, insect repellent, a field guide, hat/cap, rubber shoes, spotting scopes, camouflage clothing, fanny pack/waist bag, clear cameras with enough batteries, journal and pen and many others.

Best time for bird watching in Nairobi National Park.

It can be done throughout the year because the majority of the birds are permanent in the park and residents, the best time is from November to April when the migrants from Europe and north Africa are present, that’s the period when many bird species are nesting at this time as it coincides with breeding season. The spectacular Jackson’s widowbird displays from March to May.

Where to stay in Nairobi National Park.

Nairobi National Park has got various accommodation facilities for the guests who come to visit the park, some of the accommodations are located inside the park and others located outside the park, the accommodation facilities can be comfortable and suitable for the guests as they are arranged in Budget, Mid-range and Luxury that includes the Ololo safari lodge and farm, Ole Sereni Hotel, Nairobi Tented Camp, The Emakoko, Kozi JKIA,Pink Roses Garden Hotel, Masai lodge, Nyati Hill Cottages and many others.

How to get to Nairobi National Park.

There are 3 ways to get from Nairobi to Nairobi National Park that is by the taxi, car or the foot; that is it takes approximately 32 minutes to drive 15.3 km from Nairobi to National Park.

Nairobi National Park makes a great destinations for the birders, as the park has more than 500 species of birds that have been recorded in the park, that is the park has got the Non endemic, residents, migratory birds from November to April making the park to be the unique one it terms of bird watching in the park, minus the bird watching activity in the park, Nairobi National Park offers various amazing activities like game drive, walking safari an many more.