Travel Guide To Nairobi National Park, Tourist Activities and Attractions In Nairobi National Park, Kenya Wildlife Safari Tours
Welcome to Kenya’s most accessible yet incongruous safari experience. Set on Nairobi City’s southern outskirts, Nairobi National Park (at 117 sq km, one of Africa’s smallest) has abundant wildlife that can, in places, be viewed against a backdrop of city skyscrapers and planes coming in to land – it's one of the only national parks on earth bordering a capital city. Remarkably, the animals seem utterly unperturbed by it all.
The park has acquired the nickname ‘Kifaru Ark’, a testament to its success as a rhinoceros (Kifaru in Kiswahili) sanctuary. The park is home to the world's densest concentration of black rhinos (more than 50). A short drive out of Nairobi’s central business district is the Nairobi National Park, located just 7 kilometers from the City center. The park was officially opened in 1946 and was the first park to be gazetted not only in Kenya but also in East Africa.
Wide open grass plains and backdrop of the city scrapers, scattered acacia bush play host to a wide variety of wildlife including the endangered black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes, and a diverse birdlife with over 400 species recorded. Visitors can enjoy the park’s picnic sites, three campsites, and the walking trails for hikers.
The park though small in size, it's more than enough and you will definitely spot wildlife. It's worth it! Nairobi National Park is a unique protected area located just outside the bustling city of Nairobi, Kenya. It is the only national park in the world located within a capital city.
Wildlife:
Nairobi National Park has a large and diverse wildlife population. Animals easily spotted in the park include; African buffalo, baboon, eastern black rhinoceros, gazelle, Grant's zebra, cheetah, Coke's hartebeest, hippopotamus, African leopard, lion, common eland, impala, Masai giraffe, ostrich, vultures and waterbuck.
The park also has high diversity of bird species with over 400 endemic and migratory species. Inside the park, there is a sanctuary run by David Sheldrick Trust, which hand-rears orphaned elephant and rhinoceros calves, and later releases them back into secure sanctuaries. The sanctuary is located close to the park's main entrance. It was opened in 1963. It was set up by Daphne Sheldrick after the death of her husband David Sheldrick, the anti-poaching warden of Tsavo National Park.
Main activities in Nairobi National Park include;
Game drive:
Get up close with nature during the game drive with encounters of spectacular varied animal species including the endangered black rhinos, herds of buffaloes, towers of giraffes, and pride of lions among others.
Bird-viewing:
The park offers birding opportunities and holds up to 400 different migratory and endemic bird species. Migratory bird species enter the reserve between November and April making bird viewing possible all year round. Notable bird species are the black-headed heron, Somali ostriches, blacksmith lapwing, and Somali bee-eater among others.
Walking safaris:
This safari is done along a raised wooden walkway allowing visitors to have an aerial view of the spectacular landscapes and animals of the park. This activity also prepares the minds of the visitors on what to expect in the reserve when they move closer to the animals during the game drives.
Other attractions within the Park include;
1. Impala Observation Point:
Situated only about 3km away from the main gate, the Impala observation point and picnic site are situated high on a hill and are among the best spots in the park to picnic or just take a break. It gives panoramic views bird’s eye views of the nearby savannah plains where impalas usually spend most of their time. The site is also a good spot for watching birds and on a lucky day, you may see predators.
2. The Ivory Burning Site and Picnic Area:
This historic site is where 2,000 elephant tusks weighing 12 tonnes were set ablaze by Kenya’s former president Daniel Arap Moi on the 18th of July 1989. The ivory was confiscated from poachers before entering the market, stored, and later burnt to demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to the conservation of African elephants and zero tolerance for the ivory trade.
Today, the site bears a monument, ashes of ivory, as well as a Lawn with benches and a lavatory that serves as a picnic site.
3. Nairobi Animal Orphanage:
Located within the park, the orphanage serves as a nursing and healing center for wild animals. It provides refuge to a variety of wildlife including black rhinos, lions, leopards, buffaloes, cheetahs, hyenas, serval cats, warthogs, baboons, and various monkeys. The orphanage also has various bird species including the crowned cranes, ostriches, parrots, and guinea fowls. The orphanage presents an opportunity to learn about the rescued animals.
Accommodation:
Nairobi National Park has several high-quality accommodation options, located both inside and outside the park in distinct areas to suit every budget. Nairobi Tented Camp is the only camp located inside the park. The other hotels, camps, and lodges are located outside the park some of which include; Emakoko Lodge, Eka Hotel, Panari Hotel, African Heritage House, Acacia Camp Swara Plains & and Ole Sereni Hotel.
Access To The Park:
The Park has 7 gates, 2 gates being for KWS service use only. The gates are; KWS headquarters, Langata Road, Langata Gate, Maasai Gate, Mbagathi Gate(service gate), and Banda Gate(service gate).
By road: the park is approximately 7 kilometers south of the city center and about 10 kilometers from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
By Air: international tourists fly to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and tourists on a combined safari can use a domestic chartered flight to Wilson Airport and then drive to the park.
Best time to visit:
The Park can be visited all year round though the dry season is best for viewing the wildlife (July – March). April – June is the rainy season with muddy trails and more challenges for seeing the animals. Visitors can watch the migration unfold during July and August. The park is open from 06:00 am to 06:00 pm daily.
Book and Arrange with Ultimate Wild Safaris for the safari tour of Nairobi National Park in Kenya.
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