A Maasai giraffe standing among acacia scrub with the Nairobi city skyline behind it in Nairobi National Park

Nairobi County

Nairobi National Park safari guide, camps & lodges

Kenya's first national park — a wild, rhino-rich landscape seven kilometres from the city centre, with the skyline as a backdrop. Compare every place to stay, then enquire in a single step.

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Introduction

A wilderness inside the city

Nairobi National Park covers 117 square kilometres of open grassland, riverine forest and rocky valleys, just 7km from Nairobi's city centre. Gazetted in 1946, it was Kenya's first national park and remains one of the only national parks in the world found within a capital city.

The park is fenced along its northern, eastern and western boundaries, but open to the south towards the Kitengela plains, forming a wildlife corridor that lets zebra, wildebeest and other grazers move between the park and the wider Athi-Kaputiei ecosystem with the seasons.

Despite its small size, the park supports a remarkable density of wildlife, including one of Kenya's most important black and white rhino sanctuaries. It also holds the Ivory Burning Site Monument, where Kenya's historic ivory burns took place.

More about the park

Why visit

Six reasons Nairobi National Park belongs on your itinerary

Kenya's first national park

Gazetted in 1946, Nairobi National Park is one of the world's only national parks found within a capital city, just 7km from the centre.

A safari before your flight

Close enough to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for a half-day game drive on arrival or departure — no other Kenyan park offers this.

Exceptional rhino viewing

A dense, well-protected population of black and white rhino makes this one of the most reliable places in Africa to see them.

The Kitengela dispersal area

Unfenced to the south, the park connects to the Kitengela plains, allowing wildlife to migrate seasonally between the park and the wider Athi-Kaputiei ecosystem.

The skyline backdrop

Few images capture Africa's contrasts like a lion or giraffe grazing with Nairobi's skyscrapers rising behind them.

Easy to combine

A morning or afternoon in the park pairs neatly with the Nairobi Safari Walk, the Animal Orphanage or the Sheldrick Elephant Trust nearby.

The Big Four

Four of the Big Five, minutes from the city

Nairobi National Park has no elephants, but lion, leopard, buffalo and a dense black rhino population more than make up for it.

Lion: Nairobi's lion prides patrol the open plains and the Athi Basin, and are seen with striking regularity for a park so close to a capital city.
Leopard: Shy and largely nocturnal, leopard hunt the riverine forest along the Mbagathi River and the rocky gorges at the park's western edge.
African buffalo: Large herds graze the grasslands year-round, often alongside zebra and giraffe on the open plains near the Athi dams.
Black rhino: Nairobi holds one of Kenya's densest black rhino populations, protected in a fenced sanctuary — a rare, near-guaranteed sighting.

Wildlife highlights

Big cats, rhino and the Athi dams

Beyond the Big Four, Nairobi National Park holds a remarkable range of East African wildlife packed into an easily explored area.

Dense black and white rhino population in a protected sanctuary
Lion prides on the open plains and along the Athi Basin
Leopard and cheetah in the riverine forest and grassland edges
Large buffalo herds and Maasai giraffe on the plains
Eland, zebra, hippo and over 100 other mammal species
No elephants — the park is too small to support herds

Full wildlife guide

Birdlife

More than 500 recorded species

Nairobi National Park is one of Kenya's most accessible birding destinations, with grassland, forest and dam habitats all within easy reach.

Look for secretary bird, grey crowned crane, ostrich, martial eagle and a wealth of waterbirds around the Athi Basin dams and Hippo Pools. The riverine forest, open grassland and dam edges each hold different communities, so a morning's birding can easily produce well over a hundred species.

Birdlife guide

When to go

Best time to visit Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park is a year-round destination. The dry months give the most concentrated game viewing, while the green season rewards photographers and value seekers.

Jan – Mar

Dry season. Excellent, concentrated game viewing and clear skies.

Apr – May

Long rains. Lush and green, quieter, wildlife more dispersed.

Jun – Oct

Dry season. Peak game viewing with wildlife drawn to permanent water.

Nov

Short rains. Brief afternoon showers, dramatic light, fewer visitors.

Month-by-month guide

Where to stay

Camps, lodges and hotels in and around Nairobi National Park

From bush lodges within the park boundary to city hotels a short drive away, every property is listed and compared.

LuxuryBoutique lodge and working farm

Ololo Safari Lodge and Farm

On the southern boundary of Nairobi National Park, along the Mbagathi River, with its own private park gate

A converted 1930s farmstead on the Mbagathi River with a private gate into Nairobi National Park, a working organic farm and some of the best food in Kenya.

2027 published rates from USD 390 to USD 590 per adult per night sharing, fully inclusive of all meals, drinks, two daily game drives and airport transfers, excluding park fees.

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LuxuryOwner-run boutique lodge

The Emakoko

Built into the Mbagathi River gorge on the northern boundary of Nairobi National Park, with private park access

Ten rooms terraced into a river gorge inside the park boundary, owner-run, with a boat crossing and private gate straight onto the plains.

From approximately USD 500 – 850 per person per night, full board including drives, drinks and park fees.

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See all 2 properties

Safari activities

More than game drives

Game drives are the mainstay, but the park and its surrounds offer far more, from walking with orphaned elephants to picnicking beside the Athi dams.

Morning and afternoon game drives
Nairobi Safari Walk
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage
Animal Orphanage visits
Hippo Pools nature trail
Ivory Burning Site Monument
Bush breakfasts and picnics
Birdwatching around the Athi dams

All safari activities

Park map

Explore the park and every camp

An interactive map of Nairobi National Park — filter by places to stay, price level, or park features such as gates, dams and landmarks.

Main gates: Main (Langata) Gate, East Gate and Mbagathi Gate.

Landmarks: Ivory Burning Site Monument, Hippo Pools and the Athi Basin dams.

From Nairobi CBD: Around 20–30 minutes by road, traffic depending.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Where is Nairobi National Park?+

Nairobi National Park lies just 7km south of Nairobi city centre, making it one of the only national parks in the world found within a capital city.

How big is Nairobi National Park?+

The park covers 117 square kilometres. It is fenced on three sides, with the southern boundary open to the Kitengela dispersal area, allowing wildlife to move seasonally between the park and the surrounding plains.

Are there elephants in Nairobi National Park?+

No. The park is too small to support elephant herds, but it compensates with an exceptional density of black and white rhino, alongside lion, leopard, cheetah and buffalo.

How long do I need to visit?+

A half-day game drive of three to four hours is enough to see the park's highlights, making it ideal for a stopover before or after a flight. A full day allows time for the Ivory Burning Site Monument, Hippo Pools and the Nairobi Safari Walk.

How much does it cost to enter?+

Entry fees are approximately USD 43 per non-resident adult per day (2026 rates), payable via the Kenya Wildlife Service e-citizen system or Safaricard.

Can I visit Nairobi National Park on a layover?+

Yes. It is one of the few safaris in the world you can fit around a flight, being roughly 30 to 45 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport depending on traffic.

Read all FAQs

Traveller reviews

What guests say about our safaris

Verified Tripadvisor reviews for Nairobi National Park Safaris, the safari team behind NairobiNationalPark.com — every review below is published on Tripadvisor.

66 reviews · #122 of 2,867 outdoor activities in Nairobi

10,000/10 – The best experience we could have asked for!

“The team planned absolutely everything to perfection. Every detail was so well thought out, and it made our entire trip completely stress-free and unforgettable. From start to finish, everything ran seamlessly, and it was clear how much care and attention he put into creating the perfect experience for us. He was incredibly available throughout the entire process, always quick to answer questions and happy to help with anything we needed. I couldn't recommend this team more highly.”

Macarena F

July 2026

Perfect experience!!!! Could not have been better!

“Our trip was absolutely perfect. Everything went smoothly and we got to relax and enjoy every single day because of the team’s flawless planning! I would book another trip with them in a heartbeat, no doubt! He was also always responsive and helpful (both before and during the trip), which we appreciated so much. The team put so much care and heart into what they do and it shows! Best experience out there.”

Compass674795

July 2026

Exceptional experience

“From the very beginning of planning right to the end of our trip, the team has been absolutely fantastic. Nothing has been too much trouble. They have great suggestions born from their wealth of knowledge of Africa. They were receptive to discussing different options and when I decided to alter a major part of the trip just 2 weeks prior to departure, they didn’t fluster, and made the necessary alterations without any hesitation. They were contactable throughout our 23 night trip, and responded straight away to my messages, which gave us complete peace of mind.”

Helen R

June 2026

Book your trip to Africa with this team

“The team let us know they could arrange whatever kind of trip we wanted to do in Kenya. They arranged the entire trip for us, booking our accommodations, the balloon ride and the visit to Sheldrick. They also arranged our flights between Nairobi and Masai Mara, made sure our accommodations could handle our vegan diets and stayed in touch with us beautifully throughout the process. We can highly recommend them for assisting you with your adventure in Kenya. They did a terrific job and was a pleasure to work with.”

cmarkson · Santa Barbara, California

June 2026

Ololo will ignite your love for Kenya in unexpected and wonderful ways

“We’ve always thought about visiting Kenya and booking this safari made this not only possible but exceptionally easy to do. The variety and close proximity of the animals was wonderful. The guides knowledge of the animals, flora and terrain was exceptional. Our lives will be forever changed having visited and we are so grateful for the experience.”

tanya jones

June 2026

A wonderful singing safari adventure

“Our two-week trip to Kenya with SingUp Adventures was a wonderful lifetime experience. The trip was a very well organised adventure of truly awesome encounters with the amazing animals of Kenya. Thanks particularly to the team for keeping us all (a group of 30!) informed, organised and on track through the trip, and the expert driver-guides who consistently seemed to know the best places to see the amazing animals and birds, while always keeping us safe.”

TomECarroll

January 2026

Read all reviews on Tripadvisor

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