Overview–kenya

Nairobi National Park

There’s nowhere quite like Nairobi National Park, with incredible animals roaming free and wild against a not-so-distant backdrop of city skyscrapers. It’s among the best places in Kenya to see rhinos, and there’s a good chance that you’ll spot lions and an extensive portfolio of other safari species. Whether you visit the park as a precursor to a longer safari, a final goodbye to Kenya, or the main event, Nairobi NP deserves as much time as you can give it.

Best Time to Visit

Nairobi National Park can be visited year-round, but wildlife viewing is best during the Dry season (June to October). Wildlife watching is more difficult during the long rains (March to May) and the short rains (November to December), although the timing of these rains has become less predictable in recent years. Some tracks can become extremely muddy after heavy rain and grasses tend to be high.

June to October –Dry Season

It’s usually sunny and dry, although rains occasionally occur into early June
The grass is short and animals gather around water sources, especially late in the Dry season
There’s a lot of dust in the sky and the scenery can be less pleasing

November to May –Wet Season

The skies are clear of dust, the park is green and there are lots of flowers
There are many newborn animals
Bird watching is excellent and migratory birds are present
Animals scatter and the grass is longer, making wildlife viewing harder
January and February can be hot and humid
The park can be very crowded over the Easter long weekend
April, May and November can be very wet, which may affect game drives

Scenery

Nairobi NP is a sampler for Kenya’s safari landscapes but with city buildings on the horizon (which can make for some unusual wildlife pictures). You enter the park along a track that descends through dry woodland before the panorama of savannah grasslands opens up before you. Elsewhere in the park, there are waterholes, riverine woodlands, and rolling grasslands. In the park’s south, the Athi River Track shadows the river.

Activities

The main activity in Nairobi NP is the guided game drive, where you’ll be driven around the park for wildlife and bird watching. Self-guided game drives are also possible if you have your vehicle. Except for a small handful of picnic sites (and the animal orphanage or Safari Walk at the park entrance), you’re not allowed to step down from your vehicle anywhere inside the park.

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Best Time to Go

From: June to October (Little to no rainfall)

High Season

From: December to January and July to October (Busy)

Size

From: 117km² / 45mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Nairobi National Park has a good variety of wildlife. Apart from elephants, most big safari animals are present. There is a very good chance of seeing lions (the park has a carrying capacity of around 40 lions) and rhinos. White rhinos are easiest to spot as they graze on the open plains, but the park is one of Kenya’s most successful sanctuaries for the more plentiful black rhino, which likes to keep hidden in the thickets.

Wildlife Highlights

Lion, Masai giraffe, zebra, and buffalo are just some of the animals you can encounter on a half-day trip in Nairobi NP. It’s also an excellent place to see a wide range of antelope species, including oribi, Coke's hartebeest, impala, Grant’s gazelle, Thomson’s gazelle, waterbuck, bohor reedbuck, and even bushbuck. If you are lucky, a herd of shy eland or pairs of little Kirk's dik-dik are also possible.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Nairobi NP can be visited year-round, but the best time for wildlife viewing is during the Dry season (June to October) when animals gather around remaining water sources. When the rains arrive (the long rains from March to May, and the short rains from November to December), animal spotting is usually more difficult as the vegetation tends to be very high.

General Wheather

Nairobi National Park has a cool and temperate climate. Temperatures are reasonably constant year-round, and it cools off considerably at night. There is very little rain in the Dry season (June to October). The Wet season (November to May) has two periods of rain. The short rains are heaviest in November, and the long rains are at their peak in April.

Dry Season –June to October

It rains very little in the Dry season, although when the first rains fall is changeable. June to August are the coolest months, and temperatures increase from September through October before the rain breaks.

June, July, August & September – There’s lots of sunshine with very little rain. Afternoons are pleasant with temperatures around 23°C/73°F, but evenings and early mornings are cold with temperatures around 12°C/54°F.
October – It warms up a bit with afternoon temperatures of about 25°C/77°F. The short rains might start toward the end of the month, or it might be later in November. Temperatures drop after the rains.

Wet Season –November to May

The Wet season has three distinct parts: the short rains from November to December and the long rains from March to May, with a dry period separating them.

November & December – 'Short rains' – October or November sees the start of the short rains, which normally peak in November. Temperatures increase before it rains and drop immediately after. The daytime average is 25°C/77°F.
January & February – The rains dry up in these months separating the two rainy seasons. Daytime temperatures remain fairly constant at about 26°C/79°F.
March, April & May – 'Long rains' – April is usually the wettest month and rain might interfere with your game drives as road conditions deteriorate. Remember, however, that the rains fail as often as they arrive. In ‘normal’ years, the rains diminish in May, but the roads may still be a problem until later that month. Afternoon temperatures are around 26°C/79°F.

Prons

Good wildlife viewing with many safari animals present
Easy day or half-day trip from Nairobi
Interesting photo possibilities with animals against the city backdrop
Safari boardwalk with unusual animals, including bongo antelope
Animal orphanage
The high density of black rhinos
One of the best places in Kenya to see white rhino

Cons

The proximity to the city lacks wilderness appeal
No elephants
Only one lodge inside the park

How To Get There

Nairobi National Park is 9km/6 mi south of Nairobi. The park is usually visited as a half-or full-day trip from a hotel in the city. Getting to the city of Nairobi is easy because it’s one of the biggest and busiest transport hubs on the continent. International flights arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 15km/9 mi southeast of Nairobi.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), and what tickets would cost.