About
Kenya’s capital city in the central highlands has rapidly evolved from an undiscovered and unpopulated swampland, at the turn of the 20th Century, to a sprawling metropolis that is one of Africa’s largest and best known. When railway workers set up a camp here in 1899 it was named ‘Mile 327’, whilst the local Maasai had called it Ewaso Nai’beri or ‘place of cold water’. Modern day Nairobi is a place of skyscrapers and hustle and bustle, its elevated position of 1,800 metres above sea level gives it an air of cool. It can be a great place to acclimatize to Africa either before or after venturing on a safari of Kenya’s wildlife and beaches.
Major attractions at Nairobi National Park
- Nairobi Animal Orphanage
- Impala observation point
- The ivory burning site and picnic site
- Wildlife: 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, pride of lions among others.
- Birdlife: More than 427 recorded species. 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.
- Vegetation:It consists partly of thick woods near the city outskirts, partly of rolling plains and valleys, and partly of a wooded confluence of several rivers. Its vegetation is of the dry transitional savanna type. Acacias and other thorny varieties, muhuhu, Cape chestnut, and Kenya olive are the most important trees.
How to Get to Nairobi National Park
Roads: The park is only 9km south of the city and can be accessed by public or private transport via Langata road.
Air: Jomo Kenya International Airport and Wilson Airport receive international flights arriving in Nairobi.
Where to stay in Nairobi National Park
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.
Other Park Details
Climate: Nairobi has a cool and temperature climate. Temperatures are reasonably constant year-around, and it cools off considerably at night. There is very little rain in the dry season between June and October. November to May, the wet season, has two periods of rain. The ‘short rains’ are heaviest in November, and the ‘long rains’ are at their peak in April.
Park Entry Fees: Check KWS Website for updated prices.
