Nairobi National Park Kenya, Big Five watching.
Nairobi National Park is a national park in Kenya that was established in 1946 about 7 km south of Nairobi. It is fenced on three sides, whereas the open southern boundary allows migrating wildlife to move between the park and the adjacent Kitengela plains. Herbivores gather in the park during the dry season. Nairobi National Park is negatively affected by increasing human and livestock populations, changing land use and poaching of wildlife. Despite its proximity to the city and its relative small size, it boasts a large and varied wildlife population, and is one of Kenya’s most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries.
Car Rental to Explore Nairobi National Park?
Planning to explore Nairobi national park requires you to book car rental for self drive in Nairobi and 4×4 Africa recommends recommend Economical Toyota Rav4!
There is electric fencing around the park’s northern, eastern, and western boundaries. Its southern boundary is formed by the Mbagathi River. This boundary is not fenced and is open to the Kitengela Conservation Area located immediately south of the park and the Athi-Kapiti plains. There is considerable movement of large ungulate species across this boundary.
Safari activities in Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park consists of the open grass plains and backdrop of the city scrapers, scattered acacia bush play the host to a wide variety of wildlife in the park like the leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetahs, buffalos, giraffes and diverse of bird species which are over 500 species, at the same time acts as the spotting area to view the various wildlife in the park. Despite the fact that the park is relatively small, it holds a large and varied wildlife population, and is one of the Kenya’s most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries.
Game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve
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 round-trip 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.
This is 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.
Today in Nairobi National Park, the site bears a monument, ashes of the ivory, as well as a lawn with benches and toilets, that serves as a picnic site. The site’s location provides amazing views of the vast plains to the east.
Night Game drive
Birding 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.
Picnic
Picnics 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.
Walking Safaris
Where to stay?
The park offers a variety of accommodation options ranging from budget, midrange, and high range covering all travel classes. These include Ololo Safari Lodge,
The Emakoko, Maasai Lodge, Emara Hotel Ole Sereni, The Last Village Lodge, Nyati Hill Cottages, and Osoita Lodge among others.
When to go to Nairobi National Park
The dry, winter months of June through to the end of August make up the ideal time to visit the Nairobi National Park. The days are mild (around 55F) and the lack of rain means there is an abundance of sunshine and clear skies.
How to access Nairobi National Park?
A 20-minute drive from downtown Nairobi (7 km/4 miles), you can negotiate the park’s network of paved and all-weather dirt roads by regular cars; junctions are signposted and marked on the official park map, which you can pick up at the gate.
Most local safari outfitters will arrange a half-day trip; otherwise, hire a taxi for a few hours. Rangers keep a careful note of the movements of the larger animals, so it’s worth asking at the gate where to look for lions or rhino.