Nairobi National Park
About Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park /Nairobi Kenya national park is the first park to be gazetted in Kenya on December 16th 1946, the park is located about 7km (4.3mi) south of Nairobi in Kenya, and it's the only wildlife park in the world that is so close to the city.
The Experience at Lake Nakuru National Park
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), though even the park’s strong antipoaching measures couldn’t prevent poachers from killing one of the rhinos in August 2013 and then again in January 2014. They were the first such attacks in six years, and reflect the current sky-high Asian black-market price for rhino horn.
Lions and hyenas are also commonly sighted within the park; rangers at the entrance usually have updates on lion movements. You’ll need a bit of patience and a lot of luck to spot the park’s resident cheetahs and leopards. Other regularly spotted species include gazelles, warthogs, zebras, giraffes, ostriches and buffaloes.
The park’s wetland areas sustain approximately 400 bird species, which is more than in the whole of the UK.
Matatus (minibuses) 125 and 126 (KSh50, 30 to 45 minutes) pass by the main park entrance from the train station. You can also go by private vehicle. Nairobi tour companies offer half-day safaris (from US$75 per person).
Apart from the main entrance, which lies 7km from the city centre, there are other gates on Magadi Rd and the Athi River gate; the latter is handy if you’re continuing on to Mombasa, Amboseli or the Tanzanian border. The roads in the park are passable with 2WDs, but travelling in a 4WD is never a bad idea, especially if the rains have been heavy.
Unless you already have your own vehicle, the cheapest way to see the park is on the shuttle, a big Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) bus that leaves the main gate at 2pm on Sunday for a 2½-hour tour. You need to book in person at the main gate by 1.30pm, but do call ahead if you want to do the tour, as times can change.
Tourists Attractions at Nairobi National Park
Nairobi Animal Orphanage.
Nairobi Orphanage is one of the most famous attractions in the Nairobi city which is situated in Nairobi National Park, from the city the orphanage can be reached in 20 minutes. Nairobi Animal Orphanage is also known as the Nairobi Safari walk which is a treatment and rehabilitation center for wild animals located in Nairobi National park, the orphanage is part of the Nairobi city tour and can be visited by the tourists who are interested in experiencing the wildlife in the park. Nairobi Animal Orphanage primarily serves as a least cost attraction for Kenyans including school children who may not be able to visit Kenya parks and reserves.
Nairobi Animal Orphanage was established in 1963 September for some reasons; that is to give care and temporary sanctuary to young wild animals which had been found deserted, or whose mothers had been killed, or whose owners wanted to give them to the National Parks, which makes it the oldest orphanage of its kind in Kenya, the orphanage has various species of animals like the lion, rare Sokoke cats, leopards, baboons, buffalos, various monkeys, Ostriches, cheetah, hyena, warthogs and many more and bird species like the Guinea fowl, Crowned cranes, Ostriches, Parrot and many others are rehabilitated back to health after being abandoned and injured by the rangers.
Bird species.
Nairobi National Park has got over 500 species of the birds in the park. The bird species in Nairobi National park are so beautiful, colourful and attractive with the notable bird species in the park includes the Black-headed heron, Blacksmith lapwing, Common moorhen, Long-tailed fiscal, Ostriches and many others. Nairobi National Park substantial area is of undisturbed grassland, is of the great importance for species of birds like the restricted-range Jackson’s widowbird, which breeds in the park during the rain, other grassland bird species in the park includes the Ostriches, secretary birds, bustards. Other bird species in the park includes the Kori bustard, Lesser Kestrel, Martial eagle, Sooty falcon, White-bellied bustard, African Darter, African fin foot, gabar goshawk, augur buzzard, bateleur, Bronze-winged courer, Masai Ostrich, Abyssinian thrush, Fischer’s lovebird, Lappet-faced vulture and many more.
Nairobi National Park offers good bird watching throughout the year, but the best time is from November to April when he migrants from Europe and North Africa are present. And as well the species are nesting at this time as it coincides with the breeding season.
Wildlife.
Nairobi National park boasts 80 species of mammals, 39 lions and 90 rhinos, 40 different amphibians and reptiles and 500 tree species in the park. Nairobi National Park has got the big five including the buffalo, leopard, lion, and rhino. The animal species in the park includes the leopard, giraffe, hippopotamus, spotted hyena, blue wildebeest, plain zebra, cheetah, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, common eland, impala, hartebeest, waterbuck, common warthog, olive baboon, black-backed jackal. Nairobi National Park is the small park in Africa, but you can have a great spot opportunities during your visit in the park which makes your safari the unique one. Nairobi National Park has got Rhinoceros Sanctuary or the Kifaru Ark which is one of the Kenya’s most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries, and it is one of only a few parks where the visitors can be certain of seeing a black rhinoceros in its natural habitat. Nairobi National Park is an important rhino sanctuary forming a nucleus for feeding the other populations, in the park that’s where the Kenya Wildlife Services restore the population of rhinos in other areas.
Ivory Burning Monument.
Ivory Burning Monument is a historic location where the 12 tonnes of ivory were burnt by the former Kenyan president Daniel Arap Moi, in 1989.Most of it was intercepted before entering the market, stored then burnt to show Kenya’s commitment to the conservation of elephants, and zero tolerance to ivory trade.
The site is a big attraction in Nairobi National Park where one witness the ashes that were burnt from the ivory in the Nairobi National Park which makes your Kenya safari a great one in Kenya.
Nairobi National Park Activities
Bird watching.
Nairobi national Park has over 520 species in the park, of which the 20 are seasonal European migrants which makes the park a top choice for a day birding tour in Kenya, also the park is well known as one of the top birding destinations in Africa as well as the world. The various bird species in the park includes the African Crowned Eagle and Kori Bustard, Secretary bird, African skimmer, Grey crowned Crane, Bateleur, Augur Buzzard, Martial Eagle, Fox Kestrel, African Fish Eagle and many more. During your visit in Nairobi National Park, on a normal birding day more than 100 bird species may be seen or recorded in a day’s birding tour.
Bird watching in the park is enjoyed throughout the year, a full day of birding is recommended in Nairobi National Park which requires a 4×4 vehicle to be able to cover all the terrains where special and interesting birds may be lurking. The bird species in the park can be spotted in the different habitats of the park like the savannah grasslands, open woodland, bushed thickets.
Recommended things to carry for Nairobi National Park Day Birdwatching includes the Binoculars, Camera, Cap/Hat, Sunscreen, Insect Repellent, Snacks, Fun altitude and many others.
Game viewing.
Nairobi National Park has a various wildlife in the park, majorly the black and white rhinoceros, the park has over 100 mammal species, the four of the big five mammals (lion, buffalo, leopard, rhino) may be encountered in the park, other animal species in the park includes the eland, impala, zebra, wildebeest, cheetah, olive baboon, hippopotamus, serval cat, vervet monkey, and many more. Nairobi National Park has many various habitats represented ranging from savannah grasslands, open woodland, scrub, bushed thickets and dry wetland forest others include the rocky gorges, wetlands, rivers and streams.
Visit the Nairobi National Park and explore the grassy plains and acacia bush in an open-roof van, and you will unobstructed views for taking photos of the monkeys, lions, leopards, buffalos and more on the 4 hour early morning safari drive, with a roundtrip transportation to the park as you identify various animal species while spotting them in the open grasslands in the park. Nairobi National Park is one of the few parks where visitors can be certain of seeing a black rhinoceros in its natural habitat during the game viewing, Activities in Nairobi National Park.
Visiting ivory burning site monument.
A historic location where 12 tonnes of ivory were burnt by the former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi in 1989. Most of it was intercepted before entering the market, stored then burnt to show Kenya’s commitment to the conservation of elephants, and zero tolerance to ivory trade. It was used again a few more times with the last being in 2016 to burn 105 tonnes of ivory, 1.35 tonnes of rhino horn, exotic animal skin along with other products such as sandalwood and medicinal bark.
Walking trails hippo pools and view point.
Walking trails hippo pools in the Nairobi National Park is a short self-guided nature trail in the park that starts from a picnic area following the Athi river banks, the route is patrolled by Kenya Wildlife Services ranges, and is one of few areas in the park where hiking is allowed without one.
Picnicking.
Picnicking in Nairobi National park is where the guests can enjoy the park’s picnic sites, here the guests enjoy with their packed lunch, and the picnicking in the park is especially enjoyed in Kingfisher and Mokoyeti picnic sites.
Safari Walk.
The safari walk is a landscape zoo and environment experience at the entrance gate to the Nairobi National park, her you can walk through the forest or take the boardwalk over the river, as you can be able to view a good mix of wild animals like the lion, leopard and rhino and other animal species, during the safari walk children are also allowed.
Nairobi National Park offers excellent game viewing, over 500 species of bird species the park offers bird watching, the park is approximately seven kilometers South Kenya’s capital city thus best for the tour, in that the park is sometimes called Kifaru Ark meaning the Rhinoceros sanctuary, it is one of the Kenya’s most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries and it is one of only a few parks where the visitors can be certain a seeing a black rhinoceros in its natural habitat.
Best Time to Visit the Park!
Nairobi National Park can be visited year-round, but wildlife viewing is best during the Dry season (June to October). Wildlife watching is more difficult during the long rains (March to May) and the short rains (November to December), although the timing of these rains has become less predictable in recent years. Some tracks can become extremely muddy after heavy rain and grasses tend to be high.
How to get to Nairobi National park?
Nairobi National Park can be accessed from Nairobi city to the park by either the road transport or the Air transport.
By Road Transport.
The driving distance between Nairobi to Nairobi National park is 15km, it takes approximately 32 minutes’ drive from Nairobi to Nairobi National Park.
By Air transport.
The cheapest way to get from Nairobi to Nairobi National Park which takes less few minutes to the park.
Accommodation at Nairobi National Park
Where to stay in Nairobi National Park looks at the different accommodation facilities which are available for tourists visiting Nairobi National as they explore its attractions and engage in a variety of activities.
Nairobi National park is located just next to the capital city Nairobi. The accommodations in this national park are classified into luxury accommodations, midrange accommodations, and budget accommodations. The lodges & hotels where tourists visiting Nairobi National Park can stay at include;
- Acacia Tree lodge
- Yaya Hotel & Apartments
- Deerpark Luxury Stays
- Gigiri Lion Villas II
- The Drexel House Kenya
- Lotos Inn & Suites
- The Concord Hotel & Suites
- Sarova Stanley
- Tribe Hotel, Nairobi