Nairobi National Park

Size: ca. 117 square kilometres
Founded: 1946
Distance from Nairobi: ca. 7 kilometres from city centre

Highlights:

A short seven-kilometre car ride takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the urban jungle to the open plains of the savannah, where giraffes gracefully roam as buffaloes and zebras peacefully graze nearby. In the background the high-rise buildings of Kenya’s capital create a unique urban meets nature photo-motif. The park is home to over 100 different mammals and 300 different species of birds.

Lioness Nairobi National Park

Description:

Founded in 1946, Nairobi National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Africa and the first official national park of Kenya. A fence is the only barrier between the northern and western parts of the park and the bustling metropolis. Nowhere else will you find big cats, buffaloes and other wild animals live in such close proximity to a large capital city. Although living so close together works out fine for the most part, an escaped lion or two has brought Nairobi’s peak traffic to a standstill on a few occasions.

Despite its small size, Nairobi National Park has a very varied landscape. To the northwest, you will find evergreen forest, where you can see bush bucks, buffaloes and with a little bit of luck leopards. In the central savannah, you will find zebras and small gazelle species being observed closely by lions. The Mbalaghati river flows together with the Athi river in the south east and is home to hippos and a variety of turtles. In the riparian forest and large fever acacias along the riverbank, different monkey and bird species play. Apart from elephants, the Nairobi National Park offers a wide variety of East African wildlife. You will experience unforgettable safari moments without having to go far.

The park is open on the southern and eastern side, therefore allowing a route with which the animals can migrate to and from the surrounding areas. However, the steadily growing population of Nairobi is slowly encroaching this route. Just another example of the challenges that can arise when wild animals and people live in such close quarters.

The Nairobi National Park is ideal for a day trip from Nairobi and offers an exciting and relaxing escape to nature, away from the lively capital city.