Guide to visiting Nairobi National Park

Guide to visiting Nairobi National Park : Nairobi national park is a unique safari destination and the only The World’s only wildlife capital situated in a short drive of just 7 miles from the center of Nairobi the capital city of Nairobi. Nairobi national park covers an area of 117 square kilometers making it one of the small protected areas in Kenya, the park is landscape is dominated by wide open grass plains, scattered acacia bush play and a backdrop of the city scrapers. Three sides of Nairobi national park are fenced whereas the southern boundary is open to allow the migrating wildlife to move between the park and the adjacent Kitengela plains.

Nairobi national park is a must visit destination during Kenya wildlife safaris, the park is a very classic destination for wildlife viewing and below is the guide to visiting Nairobi national park.

History of Nairobi national park

Nairobi national park was the first national park established in Kenya and it was officially opened as a national park in 1946, before the established the land was used by the Maasai pastoralists as grazing land and following the establishment of the park they were removed from the park.

Wildlife in Nairobi national park

Nairobi national park is a home to a variety of wildlife including 4 of the Big 5 that is leopards, lions, buffaloes and rhinos (black and white rhinos), the park is one of the most successful rhino sanctuaries in Kenya and one of the few in the world where visitors are guaranteed sighting of the endangered eastern black rhino.

Guide to visiting Nairobi National Park
Guide to visiting Nairobi National Park

Other wildlife species found in Nairobi national park include lion, leopard, African buffalo, black rhinoceros, giraffe, hippopotamus, spotted hyena, blue wildebeest, plains zebra, cheetah, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, common eland, impala, hartebeest, waterbuck, common warthog, olive baboon, black-backed jackal and Nile crocodile.

Birdlife in Nairobi national park

Nairobi national park is a notable home for a huge population of bird species recorded to be living in the park, these bird include restricted range species, grassland species and the migratory bird species. Birds in Nairobi national park include Abyssinian thrush, Corncrake, Fischer’s lovebird, Grey crowned crane, Hartlaub’s bustard, Jackson’s widowbird, Kori bustard, Lappet-faced vulture, Lesser kestrel, Martial eagle, Pallid harrier, Secretary bird, Sharpe’s longclaw, Sooty falcon, White-bellied bustard, White-headed vulture and many more

The Ivory Burning Site Monument

The Ivory Burning Site Monument is a site where the then president of Kenya Daniel Arap Moi ordered the burning of 12 tons of confiscated elephant ivory inside the park in 1989 as a symbol of Kenya’s Zero-tolerance policy on ivory trafficking. This site is a must visit during your Kenya safari in Nairobi national park.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is an orphanage for rescued elephants and a rhino founded by Dame Daphne Sheldrick in 1977, this orphanage is located inside Nairobi national park. While visiting Sheldrick Wildlife Trust you get to watch baby rhinos and elephants being bathed and fed.

Guide to visiting Nairobi National Park
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Things to do in Nairobi national park

  • Game drives
  • Bird watching
  • Visiting Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
  • Guided walking safaris taking you to the hippo pools
  • Scenic picnic experience offered at Impala Observation point

Where to Camp in Nairobi national park

For travelers looking for a camping experience  while on a Kenya safari in Nairobi national park, in the park there are 3 public campsites with electricity, hot water showers and communal kitchens and tent hire services bat the main gate for those who don’t have their own tents.

For travelers who want a more camping experience other than pitching your own tent, this experience can be got from Nairobi Tented camp located within the boundaries of the park on the west side. Nairobi Tented camp is a luxury tented camp with 9 luxurious permanent tents with en-suite bathrooms and solar lighting, the camp serves gourmet meals in the bush under the stars or in the dining tent.

Where to stay while on a Kenya safari in Nairobi national park

In Nairobi National Park there is a number of hotels situated around the park where you can stay, these include

  • The Giraffe Manor
  • Palacina Residental Hotel
  • Emakoko lodge and many more.
Guide to visiting Nairobi National Park
The Emakoko

How to Get to Nairobi national park

Nairobi national park is situated within Nairobi city in just 6 miles from the city center, to get to the park it is possible park means of transport and private means of transport. Kenya wildlife Tours always offers pick up from Nairobi city to the park as part of the safari package, one can also use a bus, a matatu or Kenya wildlife service shuttle safari dropping you at the park’s main entrance gate. From the Railway Station it is a drive of about 35 minutes to the park.

Accessibility of Nairobi national park

Nairobi National Park is generally explored on a 4X4 wheel vehicle thus making the park a more accessible destination even to travelers with mobility challenges, the park has many trails running through the park which are in good condition.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust which is located inside Nairobi national park can also be accessed by visitors in wheelchairs.

TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT IN NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK

While visiting Nairobi national park here are the few tips recommended

  • A tour guided Kenya safari in Nairobi national park is recommended, the safari guide is very essential during your Kenya safari in Nairobi national park as the guide helps communicate about various species of the animals in the park and guide on the best location to find these animals.
  • Pot for a 4X4 wheel vehicle with an open roof, an open roof vehicle offers unobstructed views during the game drives in Nairobi national park.
  • Animals in Nairobi national park are mostly active in the morning and in the evening most especially the big cats, because of this the best time to go for wildlife viewing is either morning or afternoon game drive.
  • Wet seasons should be avoided, the reason to why you should avoid visiting the park in wet season experienced from April to June and from October to November is that the roads become hard to navigate through as they are slippery.
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