Is a Nairobi National Park Tour Worth it?
You may not have heard of Nairobi National Park and be surprised to learn that it is possible to go on safari in Nairobi Kenya.
Otherwise, you may have been told about Nairobi National Park and be curious if it is worth visiting the park while in Nairobi.
Before I visited Kenya, I spent hours searching for Nairobi National Park reviews to see if it was worth it and to whom it was best suited.
Therefore, this article will tell you everything you need to know about the National Park in Nairobi, and if you decide you would like to visit, you will get some tips on booking a Nairobi National Park tour.
I visited Nairobi National Park in October and it was an incredible start to my Kenyan Safari experience. I would highly recommend adding a tour of Nairobi National Park to your itinerary.
No time to read the entire article? I recommend a visit to Nairobi National Park for first-timers to safaris, people with time at the beginning of their entire safari trip, and those visiting Nairobi without time to visit other safari destinations.
My recommended tour includes:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Nairobi CBD
- Pop-up roof safari vehicle
- Entrance fees included
- Highly reviewed guides
If you are planning a wider Kenya safari, my guides to packing for a safari in Kenya and what to wear on safari will help you prepare for the trip.
Spending more time in the capital? Use my one-day Nairobi itinerary to plan your visit, or read my guides to using the meet and greet service at JKIA and visiting the baby elephants at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Where is Nairobi National Park?
Nairobi National Park in Kenya is in south Nairobi, around 7 km from the city centre.
The park has gates on three sides, which means the wildlife can move freely between Nairobi National Park and Kitengela Plains.
There are several Nairobi National Park locations to access the park.
For example, there is a Nairobi National Park entrance through the East Gate, which you may use to enter when coming from the direction of the airport.
You can also enter through the main gate at the Kenya Wildlife Services headquarters and three other gates.
What Will You See on Nairobi National Park Safari?
One of the most remarkable things about visiting Nairobi National Park is the city backdrop combined with the abundance of wild animals.
While on a Nairobi National Park excursion, you may be lucky enough to see four of the big five game animals: lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino, but not the elephant.
If you want to see some elephants in Nairobi, visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Learn what else I recommend seeing if you have only 1 day in Nairobi.
Plus, there is a wide variety of other worthwhile animals, such as giraffes, ostriches, hippos, crocodiles, zebras, impalas, and baboons.
Incredibly, there is such a high population of black rhinos in Nairobi National Park, which is a benefit since I did not see any rhinos in Samburu National Park or Masai Mara (the other parks I went on game drives in Kenya).
You should book a tour to see Nairobi National Park rather than self-driving to get the best outcome.
Avoid driving it yourself because you will struggle to find the wildlife without a guide.
We saw many people with rental cars in Nairobi National Park, and they kept asking our tour guide where the animals were. Whereas our guide already knew the likely whereabouts of the wildlife and could easily navigate the park.
Additionally, you need a 4 x 4 vehicle to get over the uneven terrain. A standard rental car will not cope with the bumpy roads used to get to the animals on the game drive.
You could also check out the walking trails at Nairobi Safari Walk; however, you are not guaranteed sightings of the animals here, so you may be limited in what you can see from the boardwalk.
Your guide may also take you to the Ivory Burning Site Monument as part of your Nairobi National Park tour. The Ivory Burning Site Monument is the location of a large pile of ashes from confiscated ivory.
Nairobi National Park Cost
The Nairobi National Park entry fee for non-residents is USD 43 per adult and USD 22 per child under 12 years old.
Some tours will include the Nairobi National Park entrance fees, whereas others will make you pay them upon entry at the gate. Verify in the inclusions and exclusions of your tour if you are required to pay these fees additionally.
You must purchase the entrance fees for Nairobi National Park by credit card or Kenyan Shillings.
Visit the Nairobi National Park website to verify the entrance fees are accurate on your desired date. Select the Park Entry Fees tab.
Is a Nairobi National Park Tour Worth It?
Some people will say that Nairobi National Park is incredible and worth a visit, whereas others may say it pales compared to other popular safari destinations in Kenya.
Therefore, I will explain who Nairobi National Park is best suited to and when to skip it.
1. First-Time Safari Goers
If you have never been on safari and are looking to ease your way in, Nairobi National Park is worth a visit.
It may be your first game drive, so it will give you a good idea of what to expect for the rest of your trip. You can adjust what items you are carrying in your safari duffle bag and reconsider what to wear for the game drives to come.
Furthermore, booking a Nairobi National Park tour will allow you to practice using your camera and photographing animals in the wild.
If you have read this article on packing for Kenya safaris, you will know that I recommend renting a zoom lens for your camera.
Lastly, going for a half day tour to Nairobi National Park will give you your first experience of seeing the animals on a game drive. You may feel nervous about the wild animals; therefore, you can ease your way in with a Nairobi National Park half day tour.
Read this article to learn more about what to expect on a typical day on safari in Kenya. Discover my luggage advice for what type of bag to bring on safari.
2. Wide Variety of Animals
As mentioned above, there are many different animals in Nairobi National Park. Therefore, you may be able to tick some more species off your “list” during a Nairobi National Park tour.
For example, you will have the chance to see rhinos if you did not see them in another national park.
However, do not come expecting to see elephants because there are none in Nairobi National Park. You have to go to Sheldrick’s for elephants.
It is worth visiting Nairobi National Park if you are going to Masai Mara, particularly if you are going to Nairobi first, to attempt to continue ticking off animals from your wildlife checklist, plus the reasons above related to first-time safaris.
3. See More of Kenya
For those still unsure of the answer to: “is Nairobi National Park worth visiting?” you may be interested in booking a Nairobi National Park tour to explore more of Kenya. If you have already ticked many national parks and reserves off your list, it is still worth going on a Nairobi game drive.
You will get a new safari experience seeing the city in the background while you watch wild lions, rhinos, buffalos and much more roam the park. Visiting Nairobi National Park will be dissimilar to many other national parks in Kenya.
4. Free Time in Nairobi
Many flights depart Nairobi International Airport late at night, such as those to London Heathrow on British Airways or the KLM flights to Amsterdam.
As a result, you will need to find activities to fill your last day before returning home.
Additionally, flights arriving at JKIA airport will arrive in the evening, meaning you may want to spend a day acclimatising in Nairobi before moving on to your next destination. Thus, you could fill these time slots with a Nairobi National Park tour.
It is best as a first-day activity rather than on the last day because you may have experienced enough game drives. In that case, you could book a visit to Nairobi Elephant Orphanage and the Giraffe Center instead.
It is also worth noting that Nairobi National Park tours start at around 6:00 AM to get the best opportunity of seeing the animals. So it will be an early wake-up call, but it is worth it.
However, it is also possible to do a late afternoon game drive in Nairobi National Park.
5. Short Trip to Nairobi
Finally, booking a tour of Nairobi National Park is a good idea if you have a short trip to Nairobi (or even Kenya) and you want to see some wild animals without leaving the city.
For example, if you are on a business trip to Nairobi, or only have a day in Nairobi due to flight arrangements, it is the perfect time to visit the national park and see some animals.
For other useful services in Nairobi, learn about using Nairobi airport’s meet and assist service here.
Booking Nairobi National Park Tours
It is possible to do a Nairobi one day safari. However, it may be better to do a half day Nairobi safari and combine it with other activities in Nairobi.
The park is not as large as places such as Masai Mara. Therefore, a half-day Nairobi National Park tour would suffice.
For example, if you explore as much of Nairobi in one day as possible, you could start early at Nairobi National Park.
Then, you could arrange a visit to Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage – there is a one-hour visiting slot from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM every day, but you must book it online.
After seeing the orphaned elephants, you could go for lunch at Carnivore Buffet, followed by a visit to the Giraffe Centre. You could also swap the order of the afternoon activities, depending on the location of your Nairobi hotel and where you will finish the tour.
Click the link to book a full day Nairobi National Park tour, including visits to other Nairobi attractions.
Alternatively, if you have a few days in Nairobi, you can spread the activities between days.
You do not need to include a visit to Giraffe Center in a Nairobi tour if you are booked at Giraffe Manor since admission is included in your stay. But you cannot visit Giraffe Manor without being an overnight customer.
You could also visit the Karen Blixen Museum.
When comparing Nairobi National Park tour prices, check if park entry fees are included. As mentioned before, Nairobi National Park fees are paid upon entry to the park, unless your tour includes them, then your guide will pay them for you upon entry.
All guides will speak English, but they may offer tours in other languages if you prefer it.
Consider if you are happy with group tours or prefer a private vehicle.
Read reviews for the Nairobi National Park tours to ensure you have chosen a suitable one.
What to Bring on a Nairobi National Park Tour?
Pack a bag with essential items for your visit to Nairobi National Park. Some of the items that you will need include:
- Binoculars
- Camera
- Hat
- Water (find out whether the tour operators provide bottled water, but still bring some of your own in case)
Read this article for advice on what to wear on African safaris here.
Looking for more help on preparing for your safari in Kenya?
FAQ – Nairobi National Park Safari
Is Nairobi National Park worth it?
Yes, Nairobi National Park is worth visiting, especially for first-time safari-goers. It offers a unique experience of witnessing wild animals with a city backdrop, and you may have the chance to see four of the big five game animals (lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino).
What to see in Nairobi?
In Nairobi, you can visit Nairobi National Park, which is known for its wildlife and city backdrop. Additionally, you can explore the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to see elephants, and the Giraffe Centre to interact with giraffes. The Karen Blixen Museum is another popular attraction worth visiting.
How much does it cost to visit Nairobi National Park?
For non-residents, the entry fee to Nairobi National Park is USD 43 per adult and USD 22 per child under 12 years old. Some tours may include the entrance fees, so it’s essential to check the inclusions and exclusions of your chosen tour.
How to visit Nairobi National Park?
To visit Nairobi National Park, it is recommended to book a tour rather than self-driving. Tours usually include a pick-up and drop-off from the Nairobi CBD in a pop-up roof safari vehicle. The park is accessible through various gates, and the tours typically start early in the morning to maximise the chances of seeing wildlife.
Is Nairobi worth visiting?
Nairobi is worth visiting, especially for those interested in a unique safari experience at Nairobi National Park, where they can witness wildlife against the backdrop of a bustling city. The city also offers other attractions like the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Giraffe Centre.
Plan the Rest of Your Day in Nairobi
Once you have chosen your Nairobi National Park tour, plan the rest of the day around its early start.
You can combine a half-day safari with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Giraffe Centre or another city highlight without rushing between stops.
For a practical booking order and realistic timings, read my guide to spending one day in Nairobi next.
