Best Time to Visit

The park can be visited year-round, but conditions are often best during the Dry Season for general wildlife viewing.

• Dry Season (Late June to October & January to February): This is considered the best time for game drives. The vegetation is shorter, and animals are easier to spot as they gather around the park’s permanent water sources, particularly the dams and rivers.

• Wet Season (March to May & November to early December): The park is lush, green, and beautiful during this time, which is perfect for scenic photography and bird watching. However, the thick vegetation can make spotting some wildlife more challenging. The short rains in November and early December often lead to good game viewing without the crowds of the peak dry season.

Prominent Wildlife

Nairobi National Park is a thriving ecosystem and one of Kenya’s most successful conservation areas, especially for endangered species.

• Rhino Sanctuary: The park is world-renowned for its efforts in black rhino conservation, hosting one of the highest densities of black rhinos in the world, along with a good population of white rhinos. It is one of the few places in the world where visitors have a high certainty of seeing this critically endangered species.

• The Big Four: You can spot the Lion, Leopard (though sightings are rare), Cape Buffalo, and the plentiful Rhino (both black and white). Note that the African Bush Elephant is not resident in this park.

• Plains Game & Predators: Other frequently seen animals include Masai Giraffe, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, and a variety of antelopes such as Eland, Impala, and Hartebeest.

• Birdlife: The park is home to over 400 species of birds, making it a spectacular spot for birding.

Activities in Nairobi National Park

The park’s unique location allows for half-day safaris and offers a blend of wildlife and conservation-focused activities:

• Game Drives: The most popular activity, allowing you to traverse the open plains and wooded areas to spot wildlife against the unique backdrop of the city skyline. Both morning and afternoon drives are available.

• Black Rhino Sanctuary Visit: Focused game viewing in the areas dedicated to protecting and breeding the endangered black rhino.

• Ivory Burning Site Monument: Visit the historic site where 12 tons of confiscated ivory were publicly burned in 1989 to demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to wildlife conservation and zero tolerance for the ivory trade.

• Nairobi Animal Orphanage: Located within the park, this facility acts as a rehabilitation and treatment center for injured or abandoned animals from all over Kenya.

• David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (Elephant Orphanage): Located near the main park entrance, this is a globally recognized project dedicated to rescuing, raising, and eventually reintegrating orphaned baby elephants back into the wild. Public viewing is available during a specific hour each day.

• Walking Trails at Hippo Pools: Enjoy a guided walking safari along the Mbagathi River, a designated area where you can safely walk with an armed ranger and view hippos, crocodiles, and various bird species.