Nairobi National Park

Last year My girlfriend and I had a six-day trip to various sceneries in Kenya and decided to finalize by visiting Nairobi National Park, just outside Nairobi itself. This is a small but amazing preserve in which we saw an impressive variety of wildlife and birds in just a few hours. It was the only place we saw a rhinoceros during the entire trip, and we also saw lions, zebras, impalas, hartebeest, vervet monkeys, baboons, giraffes, buffalo, warthogs, Ostriches, Little bee-eaters, White- bellied bustards, and a huge variety of other birds. There are no elephants in this park, but that is hardly a major issue in light of how many animals do live within the reserve. There was a “hippo pond” that comprised perhaps the highlight of the park. There we saw birds galore, including Malechite kingfisher, Sacred ibis, Blacksmith lapwing, Black-winged stilt, and African fish eagle, as well as a large monitor lizard and of course, hippos. The park is relatively small, and our driver gave us what seemed like a complete tour within a couple of hours. The entrance to the park is a little intimidating, as there are armed guards and, as is typical of Nairobi generally, a high degree of security. Since we were with a professional guide, however, we were able to just hang back and let him take care of the payment, paperwork, and direction. Overall, the Nairobi National Park proved an amazing place to spend an afternoon, and I recommend it to anyone visiting Nairobi or beginning a safari in that city.

I got to visit Nairobi National Park for the first time in 2015, I was excited at the same time a little bit scared since I have watched a number of clips where Elephants/Buffalos would charge towards cars in various National Parks around the world, and certainly, this was my biggest fear! It was high time for me to visit the ONLY National Park in a city keeping in mind that East Africa has an incredibly rich biodiversity, with a variety of habitats such as the savanna, forests, and grasslands, homes to the countless flora and fauna kingdom. Being part of the supercontinent Gondwana, many areas resemble the areas found on the western coastline areas of India, what a blessed nation we live in! My friend and I opted for an early morning drive so that we could catch a sunrise with the backdrop of Nairobi city. To be honest, if you live in Nairobi and you have never visited the park, you should not be considered a resident! Having visited NNP for years my friend was convinced we did not need a tour guide. There are plenty of safari companies that do tours of the park in the standard pop-top vans or Land Rovers. You can also drive into the park yourself, which plenty of people does. The roads are all dirt and can be rough and dusty in some places, but a small SUV can handle most of it without too much trouble. At the park’s entry gate we were greeted by none other than the Superb Starling, a beautiful bird showing off its metallic blue-green shoulder feathers with strong white eyes, later on, I came to know this bird is quite a common and a nuisance sometimes, its found all over Kenya. Bird species were plenty at the Nairobi National Park, and we saw Pin-tailed Whydah, speckled mouse-birds, grey crowned cranes, bee-eaters, egrets, Marabou storks, vultures, ostriches, and many more. Out in the open plains between small bushes we saw two young lions taking a nap, around some acacia trees we saw some white rhinos, one was with her young calf, Masai Giraffes, Plain Zebras, buffaloes, Antelopes and Gazelles lazily moving around. As it was my first time seeing Elephants so close, my friend wanted to use that same road where the Elephants were grazing! I could literally hear my heartbeat and this was not a good sign lol! the Elephants had a young one with them, mama Elephant kept on flipping her ears and I want to believe it was time for us to just drive back and use another road, the Elephants were not ready to move! we got that indication loud and clear. We decided to use an alternative road that was sooo mady! yes we had a 4 by 4, but my friend could not imagine how we were going to get on the other side, We tried our best to manoeuver the cruiser so as not to get stuck, but Nah! our vehicle was giving in. for a minute or two we got stuck and I just could not stop imaging the worse! the Elephants were just 20meters away from our vehicle, this was not a good idea, but I am glad we managed to get to the other side. Loads of cheeky Baboons and other monkeys trying to steal chocolate bars and ice creams just made it a very good day out We managed to take lots and lots of pictures. The costs are very reasonable. I highly recommend a trip to this national park to everyone who lives in Nairobi and they have never visited It is a great escape from the urban environment.

Nairobi national park is the best way to spend your sunday in nairobi. We got there early in the morning (highly recommended you go in a 4×4 so that you can enjoy going into the bushes and the rough track where qlot of the animals hide. The kids loved seeing all the animals there. The park itself has been maintained very nicely and its good to see the visitors respecting the no liter rule because you will hardly see any liter. Being in the heart of nairobi it is surprisingly so peaceful no noise, no pollution you cannot hear a single matatu. The price entry fee for resident is also very reasonable for a fun filled day. You can carry your own food and drinks to enjoy at the many picnic sites and they even have washrooms that are quite clean. There are rangers all over the park so if you ever get lost or need assistance they are always close by to help you. The best time to visit the park would be very early in the morning or towards to closing time in the evening as this is when you will see alot of animals especially the lions, rhinos, leopard and may more. Word of caution. Watch out for the baboons/monkeys in the parking lot they are quite notorious they look for every opportunity to bully the park goers and are very quick to steal you food or even phone one of them went off with a diaper from my car. But it’s a lovely outing for all the nature and animal lovers.

Nairobi National Park, located in Karen 15 minutes from Nairobi CBD, is quite unique as it is the only park in a country’s capital city. A cab from the CBD costs 650/= There is also the option of using public transport which is way cheaper. To add to its wonder, there is also an animal orphanage right next to the park. I visited the park with my cousins during the holidays. It was on a Thursday afternoon. When we got there, there weren’t so many cars around. During the weekends you can find the place packed with families and friends. There is a huge parking lot outside the entrance where you can leave the car. There is also the option of entering the park with your car which they charge 1800/= per car. This is the option we choose. We decided not to have a tour guide since we’ve been there a couple of times. As soon a you enter the park, you feel the breath of fresh air from the hustles of the city. It is quiet and serene. And the park has the tall city buildings as its background. I never get used to seeing that. I remember seeing the giraffe first. I love giraffes. They are so graceful and majestic. While touring we also got to see buffaloes and hyenas and like 2 lions. This is a good place to break from the city life.

One of the things that make Nairobi a wonder is that it’s the only city with a national park in its backyard. The last time I was there, I was a toddler almost so I had to visit it again. It is located in Karen and a cab from town to the park will cost 690/= You can also use a matatu which is way cheaper. Last month, my friends and I decided to indulge in visiting the park. Through Intagram we got a tour company, Kilian tours and travel. After communication we settled on a half day tour with soft drinks provided by the company. We paid 2000/= per head. On the set day, we decided on a rendezvous point in town. At 8am we were all there and the tour land cruiser picked us up a few minutes past 8am. At the park entrance we paid 430/= which is not included in the 2000/= we had paid. As soon as we entered the park we were welcomed by wide open grass plains and backdrop of the city scrapers. It’s quite the scene. We were able to see lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and a number of birds. This place can be enjoyed by even older people. The feeling of oneness with nature is still nostalgic. I loved the experience.

Nairobi is the only city in the world to have a national park right within the city. It was quite baffling that it took be two years to visit while I lived there. I think my reservations about animals in cages and how lonely they must be away from other wildlife and the forest had hindered my plans to visit the place. The park is located right off the main highway in Langata, Nairobi. My two friends and I used the local transport to get there and told the conductor to have us alight at the park since we were new to the area. You can also take an Uber if you are new to the city. We alighted and walked in to the reception, which is a booth where they issue tickets after you make your payment. We did not have prior knowledge that they do not accept cash payments and only mobile money and visa payments are valid to buy tickets. The charges for East Africans are 2.5$ and 5$ for foreigners, which is so affordable. After making our payments they let us in. The park is set up such that you take a walk through it while taking in the wildlife. You do not have a guide however there are numerous signs leading one through the right path. The walk path is on high ground and is made of wood. The park is a nice place to take pictures and enjoy fresh air away from the busy city. We had the pleasure of seeing a lion, a rhino, numerous monkeys, zebras, a pair of ostriches, a warthog and other free wildlife such as hares and squirrels. The animals are in fact in restricted area and some in huge caged areas like the monkeys. The walk is quite long and I would recommend one to carry water and a snack. There are places designated to rest as you go through the park. If you stay till the evening, you might have the pleasure of witnessing the animals being fed by the park attendants. The park is a nice destination for tourists and locals to visit while in Nairobi.

If you’re in Nairobi and you’re into nature I think this place is a must visit. Nairobi national park is considered a wildlife capital and I agree:it definitely is.Its located in karen area.It is broadly comprised of an orphanage,safari walk and lastly the national park itself .I went here on a casual outing with a couple of friends in attempt to become one with nature.I can confidently say that we succeeded.Visiting this place is an activity that can literally be enjoyed by people of all ages.The old,the young and I bet even toddlers and infants who can barely talk would find this thrilling.If you’re planning on visiting here , I have several recommendations.First,go early in the morning hours.The earlier you go,the more animals you see.We saw zebras,lions, warthogs, giraffes,antelopes and so many birds.Second ,a land cruiser is the best choice of tour vehicle for convenience .We used Trippygo .This is a tour company and it was charging 2000/=per seat for a land cruiser tour.The package they offered involved picking us up directly from home and I found that very convenient. At the entrance,we were charged 500 shillings only .Lastly,get your hand on some binoculars. If you don’t have them make sure the tour company provides you with some.This gives a wider view of the many acres of land that make up this park. You also get to see more animals even the ones at a relatively far distance. When we were doing the game drive,we were only allowed to alight at certain specific locations.This is done for your safety because the animals are usually not restricted and humans make the perfect dinner for some of them.We actually arrived at the first safe spot after around 3 hours so that’s also a point to note.You can also do bird watching,picnics and even cook at other locations.Quite an experience and definitely recommend.