A 117 km² wildlife reserve inside city limits, lions and rhinos in the foreground, Nairobi's skyline behind. Pair with David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Giraffe Centre for a perfect day-trip.
A safari before lunchtime
Nairobi is the only capital city in the world with a national park inside its boundaries. Just 7 km from the city centre, the 117 km² park is home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and one of Kenya's densest black rhino populations, all with the city skyline as backdrop.
This is the perfect stop if you have a Nairobi layover, an early flight, or just an extra day before flying north for safari.
The classic Nairobi day
Most travellers combine three sites in one day:
1. Nairobi National Park (early morning, 6–10 am)
Game drive in a private 4×4. Best chance of lions and rhinos in cool morning light.
2. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (open 11 am–noon only!)
A baby elephant orphanage. Watch rescued elephant calves, orphans of poaching, drought or human-wildlife conflict, get their daily mud bath. Tickets must be booked in advance.
3. Giraffe Centre (afternoon)
Eye-to-eye encounters with endangered Rothschild's giraffes. Feed them from the raised platform. Founded by Jock Leslie-Melville in 1979 to save the species from extinction (population now back from 130 to 1,500+).
Optional add-on: Karen Blixen Museum (former home of Out of Africa author).
Park fees (2026)
USD 43 / adult / day (Nairobi NP) USD 20 / adult (Sheldrick) USD 15 / adult (Giraffe Centre)
