Nairobi National Park In Kenya

History of Nairobi National Park in Kenya

During 19^th century British colonial times in Kenya, the Athi plains east and south of what is today Nairobi had plentiful wildlife. The Nomadic Maasai people lived and herded their cattle among the wildlife while the Kikuyu people farmed the forested highlands above Nairobi. As human population grew in Nairobi, human wildlife conflicts increased in the area. Residents of the city would carry guns to protect against wild animals especially lions while other farmers complained about herbivores which would ruin their gardens. The colonial government decided to set aside the west and southern plains of Nairobi as a game reserve to confine the wildlife.

Mervyn Cowie a British conservationist born in Nairobi returned to Kenya after a nine-year absence in 1932, following an alarm that wild animal population on the Athi plains was declining. Expanding farms and livestock had taken the place of the game. However, hunting was not acceptable in the reserve, but almost all other unfriendly wildlife actions, including cattle grazing, dumping, and even bombing by the Royal Air Force was allowed. Cowie embarked on campaigning for the establishment of a national park system in Kenya and influenced the colonial government to form a committee to examine the matter.

Nairobi National Park was officially opened in 1946 as the first national park established in Kenya. In 1989, Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi burned twelve tons of ivory on a site within the park. This event improved Kenya’s conservation and wildlife protection image.

Tourist Safari Activities in Nairobi National Park in Kenya

1. Game drive safari tour in Nairobi National Park-Kenya

Nairobi National Park-Kenya game viewing safari tour is a half day safari to see and spot wildlife in the Park. You will be provided with and experienced driver guide and a wonderful built safari vehicle with a pop-up roof designed to give you a panoramic outlook of the landscape and unobstructed views of the animals, a feature that is especially valuable for photographers. A dedicated prime safari guide, with experience and knowledge about the park takes you to locations where you have the greatest chance of seeing the animals, and to stay on top of the action, your guide shares and garners information, such as footprints, last sightings, specific behaviors, with other preferred like-minded guides. You will be able to sight some of the big five animals in Nairobi National Park-Kenya including; the lions, rhino, buffalo, leopard, giraffes, hippos, zebra, gazelles, hartebeest, wildebeest, hyena, baboons, elands and many others. Rhinos are especially easy to see since this park acts as their sanctuary. The lions are more than 80 and are also very easy to see in a morning game drive even while they lie on the road or when hunting.

2. Birdwatching safari tour in Nairobi National Park-Kenya

Nairobi National Park-Kenya bird trip is fun as you will get an expert guide to show you the birds with the help of a bird identification book and a pair of binoculars. Nairobi National Park has a checklist of over 520 species of avifauna. One of the eight species of Kenya Mountains Endemic Bird Area, 27 species of the 94 Somali–Maasai biome, and 25 species of the 67 African Highlands biome that occur in Kenya have been recorded in the area. Over 5,000 migrating Lesser Falcons have been recorded in the park. The park`s undisturbed grassland is also home to species like restricted-range Jackson’s Widowbird, which breeds here regularly after good rains. The world endangered Corncrake, Madagascar Pond-Heron, Lesser Kestrel, Corncrake, Jackson’s Widowbird, Red-throated Tit, Shoebill Stork and Basra Reed Warbler have been spotted. Prime safaris will help you to arrange a half day or full day trip to Nairobi National Park in Kenya to watch birds.

3. Nairobi Safari Walk-Nairobi National Park, Kenya

The Nairobi Safari Walk is an ordinary zoo located near the main entrance to the Nairobi National Park on Langata Road, about 7 km south of Nairobi city center.

The Nairobi Safari Walk is an eye opener to Kenya`s wildlife and gives you a hint of what you expect to see across Kenya. You will have a glance of Kenya`s wildlife collection including the rare bongo, white rhino, albino zebra, antelopes, cats and primates. It is also a home to about 150 trees species and you will be taught about their traditional uses. The zoo gives you great experience, diversity of the wild animals in one place and a remarkable scenery where you comfortably walk, take photos and enjoy the breeze. The Nairobi Safari walk is an awesome activity you can never miss in Kenya, a very romantic scenery. The Zoo is also good for kids to learn about the wildlife. Missing is risky!

Tourist Safari Attractions in Nairobi National Park-Kenya

Ivory Burning Site Monument in Nairobi National Park-Kenya; This is one of the most important landmarks in the archives of conservation, this is where Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi made a dramatic statement to poachers by setting ablaze to 12 tons of seized ivory in 1989. The event improved Kenya’s conservation image at a time when East African wildlife was being decimated by relentless poaching, and it’s widely credited as playing a role in turning the tide against poaching in Kenya. The site is just inside Nairobi National Park’s main Langata Rd gate.

The Animal Orphanage in Nairobi national Park-Kenya; The Nairobi Animal Orphanage is just inside the Nairobi National Park in Kenya. The orphanage is a treatments and rehabilitation center for wild animals. The Orphanage is a hospital to lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, serval cats, rare Sokoke cats, warthogs, leopards, various monkeys, baboons and buffalo. Various birds can also be viewed including parrots, guinea fowls, crowned cranes and ostriches.

Spacious accommodating Picnic sites like Mokoyiet, King Fisher, historic ivory burning site and Impala; For corporate events, bush dinners, weddings, picnics, team building sessions, video and film production

Large predators- lion, leopard, hyena and cheetah.

Aggregations of large herbivores- eland, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest

How to get to Nairobi National Park

How to Access Nairobi National Park in Kenya.

By Road; Apart from the main entrance, which lies 7km from Nairobi city center, there are other gates on Magadi Rd and the Athi River gate; the latter is handy if you’re continuing on to Mombasa, Amboseli or the Tanzanian border. The roads in the park are passable with 2WDs, but travelling in a 4WD is never a bad idea, especially if the rains have been heavy.

There are Matatus that pass by the main park entrance 30 to 45 minutes from the train station.

You can also go by private vehicle; Prime safaris is at your service for this trip!!

By Air: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airports are not far from the Park, from there you can take a drive to Nairobi National Park. Just about 8kms.