Nairobi National Park is one of Kenya’s most unusual protected areas: a genuine game park with lions, rhino and giraffe roaming within sight of the capital’s skyline. Covering about 117 sq km roughly 7 km south of the city centre, it was Kenya’s first national park, established in 1946.
The park at a glance
- About 117 sq km, established in 1946 as Kenya’s first national park
- Electric fencing runs along the north, east and west boundaries; the south is unfenced, bordered by the Mbagathi River and open to the wider Kitengela Conservation Area
- One of Kenya’s most reliable places to see black rhino at close range
- Wildebeest and zebra move through the park’s dispersal areas seasonally, most visibly around July and August
A park beside the city
The park’s unfenced southern boundary allows wildlife to move seasonally between the park and the Kitengela plains, an arrangement that has become steadily more difficult to maintain as Nairobi’s urban edge expands. Skyline views from the plains, with giraffe or lion in the foreground and city towers behind, are one of the park’s most distinctive sights.
Conservation landmarks
The park is home to the Ivory Burning Site Monument, marking the spot where President Daniel arap Moi set fire to twelve tons of confiscated ivory in 1989 in a high-profile stand against poaching. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust also runs its well-known orphaned elephant and rhino nursery within the park, open to visitors for scheduled viewings.
Things to do
- Game drives for lion, leopard, black rhino, giraffe and buffalo
- Visiting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s elephant orphanage
- The Nairobi Safari Walk, an elevated boardwalk through native habitat near the main gate
- A stop at the Ivory Burning Site Monument
Practical information
- Easily reached by road from central Nairobi in under half an hour, making it feasible as a half-day outing
- Best visited early morning or late afternoon, both for wildlife activity and cooler temperatures
- Combines well with a city stopover before or after a longer safari elsewhere in Kenya
Nairobi National Park is an easy way to see genuine African wildlife without leaving the capital, ideal for a stopover between flights. Offmap Safaris can add it to the start or end of any Kenya route. To start planning, visit Plan My African Safari, message us on WhatsApp at +256 701 243 304, or email [email protected]. See also our notes on health and safety and visa and entry requirements.
