Nairobi National Park

Wildlife on the city’s edge

Nairobi National Park is one of very few wildlife parks anywhere that borders a capital city. On one side, high-rise buildings and jets on approach to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport; on the other, savanna, forest and hills where lions hunt and giraffes graze. It has been a national park since 1946.

The park is fenced on the city side, but open to the south, where animals can move into the Athi-Kapiti plains during the wet season. That corridor is essential for the park’s long-term health, and pressure from development around it is a serious concern for conservationists.

What you’ll see

Lions are the main draw and are regularly seen. Black rhinos live here in reasonable numbers, and the park has an active rhino-protection programme. You’ll also see giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, elands and a wide range of birds. Hippos and crocodiles live at the Mbagathi pools, and you can walk there with a ranger.

Elephants and cheetahs are less common but not impossible, and leopards live in the forest sections. Views of animals with skyscrapers in the background are some of the most distinctive photographs in Kenya.

When to go

The park can be visited all year. The dry months from June to October make the roads easiest and animals gather near water. Early-morning and late-afternoon drives are best for wildlife and light. During the rains, some tracks become muddy, and the park is greener and quieter.

Getting there

The main gate is about 7 km from the city centre, and traffic is the main variable. Allow 30 to 45 minutes from central Nairobi at peak times and 20 minutes on a quiet Sunday morning. Most hotels can arrange a driver or a shared safari, and ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt run to the gate, though you’ll want a driver with a proper vehicle once you’re inside.

What to combine it with

The park is close to several of the city’s best-known attractions, so a good day can include:

• The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage, open to the public for an hour each day (book ahead).
• The Giraffe Centre, where you can feed Rothschild’s giraffes from a raised platform.
• The Karen Blixen Museum and the Nairobi National Museum.

You can see all of that and the park in a long day. Read the Nairobi city guide for where to stay and how to get around.

Costs

Kenya Wildlife Service sets a daily conservation fee for non-resident adults, paid per visit. A half-day safari with a driver costs much less than a full safari package. If you’re travelling on to the Maasai Mara or Amboseli, this is an inexpensive way to spend a first or last morning.