Nairobi National Park is a conservation area. It is the only national park located within a capital city.
This proximity allows for wildlife viewing against a backdrop of urban skyscrapers. The park serves as a conservation area and an attraction for residents and international visitors.
The park occupies an area of 117 square kilometres (approximately 45 square miles).
It is located 7 kilometres south of Nairobi's central business district.
Fenced northern, eastern, and western boundaries separate wildlife from the urban metropolis.
Its open southern boundary allows natural animal migration within the Athi-Kapiti plains ecosystem.
The park offers a full safari experience. It is minutes from a major international airport and city centre.
It hosts a diverse wildlife population. This includes four of the "Big Five": lion, leopard, rhinoceros, and buffalo.
The park is a rhinoceros sanctuary, contributing to the conservation of the critically endangered black rhino.
Game drives are the main activity within Nairobi National Park. They provide access to its varied habitats and wildlife.
These drives offer observation opportunities for ecologists, photographers, and tourists.
The focus is on animal populations and their natural behaviours.
The park's ecosystem hosts many species.
Key animals for observation include the African buffalo, Burchell's zebra, Maasai giraffe, plains wildebeest, Coke's hartebeest, Grant's and Thomson's gazelles, and eland.
Carnivore sightings are common. The park has a healthy population of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas.
The park has a high density of lions. Several established prides inhabit specific territories.
Game drives in the early morning or late afternoon allow observation of these predators during their most active periods.
Guides often track prides such as the "Kingfisher" or "Mokoyeti" prides. These are present consistently in certain park areas.
Wildlife gathers around specific water sources. These locations are suitable for observation, especially during the dry season (June to October).
Key strategic points include:
Nairobi National Park operates as a conservation area, especially for the black rhinoceros.
The park is designated as a Key I Rhino Conservation Area by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
It serves as a breeding ground to restock other parks in Kenya.
The park's rhino sanctuary, also known as Kifaru Ark (Kifaru is Swahili for rhino), is a fenced, high-security zone within the larger park.
This area allows for intensive monitoring, anti-poaching patrols, and veterinary care.
This has resulted in a black rhino breeding programme in Africa.
The high density of rhinos allows for frequent sightings for visitors.
Beyond the black rhino, the park also hosts a population of southern white rhino.
The sanctuary's success provides an opportunity to observe and compare both species in a semi-wild habitat.
The park also has rare species like the albino zebra, which has been sighted periodically.
In addition to standard vehicle-based safaris, the park and its immediate surroundings offer activities.
These provide educational wildlife encounters.
The Nairobi Safari Walk is a KWS-managed facility. It presents Kenya's biodiversity in a controlled environment.
An elevated wooden boardwalk guides visitors through three simulated ecosystems: savannah, forest, and wetlands.
This allows for close viewing of species that may be difficult to spot in the main park, such as the bongo antelope and the albino zebra.
It functions as a conservation education centre.
Located adjacent to the park, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust operates an elephant and rhino orphanage.
The facility is open to the public for one hour daily (11:00 AM to 12:00 PM).
During this time, visitors can observe the feeding and mud-bathing of orphaned calves.
Keepers provide talks on conservation efforts.
Inside the park lies the Ivory Burning Site. This monument marks Kenya's stance against the ivory trade.
Multiple presidential-led burnings of stockpiled ivory and rhino horn have occurred here since 1989.
The site features large pyres of ash and tusks. This provides an educational stop about poaching.
Nairobi National Park provides designated areas for visitors to exit their vehicles for picnics and short walks.
This offers another perspective on the park's environment.
Several picnic sites are available for public use.
These areas are located for views while ensuring visitor safety.
The primary sites include:
At the Hippo Pools area, visitors can undertake a guided walk along the Mbagathi River.
An armed KWS ranger accompanies visitors on this trail.
This permits on-foot observation of hippos, crocodiles, vervet monkeys, and various bird species in the riverine ecosystem.
This is the only designated area in the main park where such walks are permitted.
Planning is required to ensure a good visit to Nairobi National Park.
This covers entry authorisation, transport, timing, and regulations.
The park is accessible via its main gate on Lang'ata Road, a road in Nairobi.
Visitors can arrive using private vehicles, registered tour operator vehicles, or taxi services.
Its proximity to the city makes it an accessible national park in East Africa.
For all non-resident visitors arriving in Kenya, the previously required Visa has been replaced by the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA).
All foreign nationals must apply for an eTA online before departure.
Standard processing time is 72 hours. This is a prerequisite for boarding flights to Kenya.
Wildlife viewing is best during the dry seasons, from June to October and January to February.
During these times, vegetation is sparse, and animals gather around water sources.
The migratory bird season runs from November to April, suitable for birdwatching.
The park is accessible year-round.
The Kenya Wildlife Service enforces regulations for wildlife protection and visitor safety.
These include a speed limit of 40 km/h, staying on designated roads, and no alighting from vehicles except in designated areas.
There is also a prohibition on feeding animals. All visitors must exit the park by the official closing time of 6:00 PM.
Nairobi National Park is classified as a KWS Premium Park. This determines its fee structure.
Fees are subject to change. They must be paid via cashless methods (M-Pesa, debit/credit card) at the park gate.
Cash is not accepted.
The following table outlines the standardised 24-hour park entry fees for 2026.
| Category | Adult | Child/Student* |
| Non-Resident (USD) | $100 | $35 |
| East African Resident (KES) | KES 2,000 | KES 500 |
| Kenyan Citizen (KES) | KES 500 | KES 200 |
*Child rates apply to persons aged 3 to 17 years. Student rates require a valid, current student ID and apply to individuals up to 23 years of age.
All payments for park entry must be made electronically.
Official identification is required at the point of entry to validate the applicable fee category.
This includes National ID for Citizens, Foreigner Certificate/Work Permit for Residents, and Passport for Non-Residents.