Nairobi National Park is at (117 sq. mi, one of the Africa’s smallest national park) but the park has abundant of wildlife that even can be even viewed against a backdrop of city skyscrapers and planes coming into land, it’s the one of the only national parks on earth bordering Nairobi City.

Attractions of Nairobi National Park

Nairobi Animal Orphanage.

Nairobi Orphanage is one of the most famous attractions in the Nairobi city which is situated in Nairobi National Park, from the city the orphanage can be reached in 20 minutes. Nairobi Animal Orphanage is also known as the Nairobi Safari walk which is a treatment and rehabilitation center for wild animals located in Nairobi National park, the orphanage is part of the Nairobi city tour and can be visited by the tourists who are interested in experiencing the wildlife in the park. Nairobi Animal Orphanage primarily serves as a least cost attraction for Kenyans including school children who may not be able to visit Kenya parks and reserves.

Nairobi Animal Orphanage was established in 1963 September  for some reasons; that is to give care and temporary sanctuary to young wild animals which had been found deserted, or whose mothers had been killed, or whose owners wanted to give them to the National Parks, which makes it the oldest orphanage of its kind in Kenya, the orphanage has various species of animals like the lion, rare Sokoke cats, leopards, baboons, buffalos, various monkeys, Ostriches, cheetah, hyena, warthogs and many more and bird species like the Guinea fowl, Crowned cranes, Ostriches, Parrot and many others are rehabilitated back to health after being abandoned and injured by the rangers.

Bird species.

Nairobi National Park has got over 500 species of the birds in the park. The bird species in Nairobi National park are so beautiful, colourful and attractive with the notable bird species in the park includes the Black-headed heron, Blacksmith lapwing, Common moorhen, Long-tailed fiscal, Ostriches and many others. Nairobi National Park substantial area is of undisturbed grassland, is of the great importance for species of birds like the restricted-range Jackson’s widowbird, which breeds in the park during the rain, other grassland bird species in the park includes the Ostriches, secretary birds, bustards. Other bird species in the park includes the Kori bustard, Lesser Kestrel, Martial eagle, Sooty falcon, White-bellied bustard, African Darter, African fin foot, gabar goshawk, augur buzzard, bateleur, Bronze-winged courer, Masai Ostrich, Abyssinian thrush, Fischer’s lovebird, Lappet-faced vulture and many more.

Nairobi National Park offers good bird watching throughout the year, but the best time is from November to April when he migrants from Europe and North Africa are present. And as well the species are nesting at this time as it coincides with the breeding season.

Wildlife.

Nairobi National park boasts 80 species of mammals, 39 lions and 90 rhinos, 40 different amphibians and reptiles and 500 tree species in the park. Nairobi National Park has got the big five including the buffalo, leopard, lion, and rhino. The animal species in the park includes the leopard, giraffe, hippopotamus, spotted hyena, blue wildebeest, plain zebra, cheetah, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, common eland, impala, hartebeest, waterbuck, common warthog, olive baboon, black-backed jackal. Nairobi National Park is the small park in Africa, but you can have a great spot opportunities during your visit in the park which makes your safari the unique one. Nairobi National Park has got Rhinoceros Sanctuary or the Kifaru Ark which is one of the Kenya’s most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries, and it is one of only a few parks where the visitors can be certain of seeing a black rhinoceros in its natural habitat. Nairobi National Park is an important rhino sanctuary forming a nucleus for feeding the other populations, in the park that’s where the Kenya Wildlife Services restore the population of rhinos in other areas.

Ivory Burning Monument.

Ivory Burning Monument is a historic location where the 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.

 The site is a big attraction in Nairobi National Park where one witness the ashes that were burnt from the ivory in the Nairobi National Park which makes your Kenya safari a great one in Kenya.

Things to do in Nairobi National Park

Game drives

Game drives is one of the highlight Kenya tour activities done in the park, game drives are offered as morning and evening game drives, morning game drives are best for watching many animals such as rhinos, giraffes, blue wildebeests, plains zebra, grant’s gazelle, common eland, common warthog, hartebeests, olive baboon, black-backed jackal, Nile crocodile, impalas and many more in big numbers. Evening game drive is also perfect for watching these animals as the come out of their hiding as the sun goes down.

Walking safaris

The park is a perfect destination for Kenya walking safaris, the park is endowed with a backdrop of the city sky scrapers thus making walking safaris an amazing and mind blowing activity. Walking safaris are done on various walking trails/routes running through the park and while on your walk expect to enjoy watching various animals such as giraffes, hippos, elands and many birds’ species such as white-bellied bustard, white headed vulture, secretary bird among others.

Bird watching           

Nairobi national park is listed among the best Kenya destinations for Kenya birding safaris and this is due to the huge population of birds found in the park, the park inhabits over 500 bird species. Bird watching in the park is a very thrilling activity to bird enthusiasts and it is done under the guidance of a birder guide, some of the birds you will have pleasure to spot during this Kenya tour activity include Grey crowned crane, Hartlaub’s bustard, Jackson’s widowbird, Kori bustard, Lappet-faced vulture, Lesser kestrel, Martial eagle, Pallid harrier, Secretary bird, Sharpe’s longclaw, Sooty falcon, White-bellied bustard, White-headed vulture and many more.

How to get There

Nairobi national park is situated in Nairobi the capital city of Nairobi, 7 kilometers south of the city center and is accessed using numerous entry gate such as Maasai gate, Mbagathi gate, Banda gate, Lasngata gate and KWS headquarters. To get to the park both road and air means of transport are used

By road: by road it is approximately 7 kilometers south of the city center and about 10 kilometers from Jomo Kenyatta International airport.

By air: by air international tourists fly to Jomo Kenyatta International airport and tourists on a combined safari can use domestic chartered flight to Wilson airport then drive to the park.