Nairobi National Park is 117 sq. km, making it one of Africa’s smallest national parks, but the park has an abundance of wildlife that can even be viewed against a backdrop of city skyscrapers and planes coming in to land. It is the only national park in the world located next to a capital city, making it one of Kenya’s most unique wildlife attractions. Remarkably, the animals seem utterly unperturbed by it all.
The combination of wildlife, open grasslands, wetlands, birdlife, scenic viewpoints, picnic sites and historic conservation landmarks makes Nairobi National Park an important attraction for visitors looking for a safari close to Nairobi city. Game viewing, scenic viewing, bird watching, and picnicking are among the main activities available in the park.
Attractions of Nairobi National Park
Wildlife and Game Viewing
One of the main attractions in Nairobi National Park is its wildlife. Despite being located only a short distance from the centre of Nairobi, the park supports a remarkable variety of wildlife in its open savannah grasslands, wetlands and other habitats.
Nairobi National Park boasts numerous species of mammals, including lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, wildebeest, cheetahs, hippos, hyenas, jackals, antelopes and other wildlife.
The animal species in the park include the leopard, giraffe, hippopotamus, spotted hyena, blue wildebeest, plains zebra, cheetah, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, common eland, impala, hartebeest, waterbuck, common warthog, olive baboon and black-backed jackal.
Giraffes, leopard, zebra, buffalo, antelope, lion, black and white rhino, hippo, hyena, jackal, pythons and crocodiles are also among the wildlife found in the park.
Nairobi National Park is a small park in Africa, but you can have great spotting opportunities during your visit, which makes your safari a unique one.
Game drives provide opportunities to see wildlife in its natural habitat while enjoying the unusual experience of viewing animals against Nairobi’s city skyline.
Nairobi National Park is particularly important for rhinoceros conservation. The park is a successful rhino sanctuary for both black and white rhinos and has played an important role in supporting rhino conservation in Kenya. Rhinos bred and protected in the park have also contributed to conservation efforts in other areas.
Nairobi Animal Orphanage
Nairobi Animal Orphanage is one of the famous attractions in Nairobi city, situated within the Nairobi National Park area. From the city, the orphanage can be reached in a short drive.
The Nairobi Animal Orphanage is a treatment, rehabilitation, and conservation education facility for wild animals and is one of the Kenya Wildlife Service’s conservation and education hubs.
The orphanage can form part of a Nairobi city wildlife experience and can be visited by tourists who are interested in experiencing wildlife and learning about conservation. Nairobi Animal Orphanage primarily serves as a low-cost attraction for Kenyans, including school children who may not be able to visit Kenya parks and reserves.
Nairobi Animal Orphanage was established in September 1963 for several reasons, including providing care and temporary sanctuary to young wild animals that had been found deserted, whose mothers had been killed, or whose owners wanted to give them to the National Parks. This makes it the oldest orphanage of its kind in Kenya.
The orphanage has various species of animals, including lions, rare Sokoke cats, leopards, baboons, buffaloes, various monkeys, ostriches, cheetahs, hyenas, warthogs and many more. Bird species such as guinea fowl, crowned cranes, ostriches, parrots and many others are rehabilitated back to health after being abandoned and injured.
Nairobi Safari Walk
The Nairobi Safari Walk is another important attraction associated with Nairobi National Park and the Kenya Wildlife Service conservation facilities. It provides visitors with an opportunity to experience Kenya’s wildlife and different ecosystems through a raised wooden boardwalk.
The Nairobi Safari Walk features three simulated major ecosystems: wetland, savannah and forest. Visitors can view wildlife from the boardwalk while also learning about Kenya’s flora and fauna. It is also home to around 150 indigenous tree species.
The Nairobi Safari Walk also serves as a conservation education hub for schools, universities and the general public. Visitors can enjoy walking, picnicking, game viewing and bird watching, while the facility also includes a children’s museum and opportunities to learn more about wildlife conservation.
Bird Species
Nairobi National Park has an exceptional variety of bird species. Kenya Wildlife Service records more than 400 bird species in the park, including resident and migratory species.
The bird species in Nairobi National Park are beautiful, colourful and attractive. Notable bird species in the park include the black-headed heron, blacksmith lapwing, common moorhen, long-tailed fiscal, ostriches and many others.
A substantial area of Nairobi National Park consists of undisturbed grassland, which is of great importance for grassland bird species. The park’s open habitats support species such as ostriches, secretary birds and bustards.
Other bird species in the park include the kori bustard, lesser kestrel, martial eagle, sooty falcon, white-bellied bustard, African darter, African finfoot, gabar goshawk, augur buzzard, bateleur, bronze-winged courser, Masai ostrich, Abyssinian thrush, Fischer’s lovebird, lappet-faced vulture and many more.
Nairobi National Park offers good bird watching throughout the year. Migratory birds from Europe and North Africa add to the park’s bird diversity during the migration season, while breeding activity also makes certain periods particularly interesting for bird watchers. Bird numbers tend to increase between March and May when European migrants are present.
Rhino Sanctuary
The rhino sanctuary is one of the most important wildlife attractions and conservation features of Nairobi National Park. Nairobi National Park is a successful sanctuary for both threatened black rhinos and white rhinos, giving visitors an opportunity to see these animals in their natural habitat.
Nairobi National Park is an important rhino sanctuary forming a nucleus for supporting other rhino populations. Conservation work in the park has contributed to efforts to restore rhino populations in other areas of Kenya.
The park’s importance as a rhino sanctuary adds another dimension to a Nairobi safari because visitors are not simply viewing wildlife; they are visiting one of Kenya’s significant centres for rhino conservation. KWS describes Nairobi National Park as one of Kenya’s most successful and thriving rhino sanctuaries.
Hippo Pools and Wetlands
The wetlands and Hippo Pools are among the attractions that add variety to wildlife viewing in Nairobi National Park. These areas provide opportunities to observe hippos and other wildlife while also supporting the park’s birdlife.
The wetland habitats are particularly valuable for bird watching and nature observation. They form part of the diverse habitats that allow Nairobi National Park to support wildlife so close to the city.
Walking trails around the Hippo Pools also provide opportunities for visitors to experience parts of the park’s natural environment away from the main game-viewing routes.
Scenic Views and Picnic Sites
Scenic viewing and picnicking are among the activities available in Nairobi National Park. The park provides a distinctive setting where visitors can enjoy open savannah landscapes and wildlife with Nairobi’s skyline in the background.
The park has several picnic and event sites, including Impala Observation Point, the Ivory Burning Site, Kingfisher Picnic Site and Mokoyiet Picnic Site. These locations provide opportunities for picnics, photography, nature viewing, team-building activities, bush dinners and other outdoor experiences.
Ivory Burning Monument
The Ivory Burning Monument is a historic location within Nairobi National Park and one of the most significant conservation landmarks in the park. In 1989, 12 tonnes of confiscated elephant ivory were burnt at the site by former Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi.
Most of the ivory had been intercepted before entering the market, stored and then burnt to demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to elephant conservation and opposition to the illegal ivory trade. The event became an important moment in Kenya’s conservation history.
The Ivory Burning Site remains a major attraction in Nairobi National Park. The ashes are still preserved at the site as a reminder of Kenya’s commitment to wildlife conservation.
The site is a big attraction in Nairobi National Park, where one can witness the remains of the ivory burning site, which makes your Kenya safari a memorable experience in Kenya.
Activities at Nairobi National Park
The attractions in Nairobi National Park can be experienced through several activities. Game viewing is the main attraction, with visitors exploring the park by vehicle in search of lions, rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, cheetahs and other wildlife.
Bird watching is another major activity because of the park’s diverse birdlife and mix of habitats. Visitors can also enjoy scenic viewing, photography, picnicking and nature experiences.
You can explore the park through self-drive game viewing, VIP tour vans, and bus shuttles on selected days.
How to Get to Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park can be accessed from Nairobi city to the park by either road transport or air transport.
By Road Transport
The driving distance between Nairobi and Nairobi National Park is approximately 15 km, depending on the starting point in Nairobi.
The park is easily accessible by road from the city, making it one of the most convenient wildlife destinations for visitors staying in Nairobi.
The short distance between the city and the park is one of the major reasons Nairobi National Park is a popular attraction for visitors with limited time in Nairobi.
By Air Transport
The easiest way to get from Nairobi to Nairobi National Park is generally by road because of the park’s close proximity to the city. Helicopter transfers can also be arranged, taking only a few minutes to reach the park, although this is a specialized option rather than the usual way visitors access the park.