Nairobi · Kenya
Nairobi National Park
Rhino, lion and giraffe against a city skyline - the only national park inside a capital city.
Overview
Nairobi National Park is a genuine oddity: 117 square kilometres of open plain and river forest whose northern boundary is the city fence, so that a black rhino grazing in the foreground and the towers of the central business district in the background is an ordinary photograph here. Gazetted in 1946 as Kenya's first national park, it is fenced on three sides and open to the south, allowing wildlife to move to the Athi-Kapiti plains, though that corridor is now badly squeezed by development. The park holds a dense black rhino population - one of the most successful sanctuaries in Africa - plus lion, cheetah, leopard, buffalo, giraffe and over 400 recorded bird species. There are no elephants. The Ivory Burning Site monument marks where Kenya publicly destroyed twelve tonnes of tusks in 1989, and the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre sit just outside the gate.
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Photos of Nairobi National Park
Operators serving Nairobi National Park
Nairobi · Kenya
Twiga Tours
Nairobi City · Kenya
Cinder hotel
Nairobi · Kenya
Sky Extra Tours & Travel Ltd.
Nairobi · Kenya
Entice Africa Safaris - B2B DMC & Tour Operator
Where these are, around Nairobi National Park
60 listings with a mapped location.
Map of 60 listings
- Listed
What Nairobi National Park costs
All-in on the ground, per person per day, excluding international flights. Ranges rather than a single figure, because accommodation and group size move the total more than anything else.
| Style | Per person, per day |
|---|---|
| Camping or budget lodge, shared vehicle | $100 – $160 |
| Mid-range lodge | $160 – $300 |
| Luxury camp, private vehicle | $350 – $700 |
Of that, $43 – $70 a day is government fees set by Kenya Wildlife Service. Every operator pays the same, so a quote below this floor is not a better deal — it is a different trip.
Add this to a whole-trip estimate
Indicative figures checked for 2026. Park fees are revised annually and some are quoted before VAT — confirm current rates with your operator or the park authority before you book.
When to visit Nairobi National Park
Month by month: wildlife, weather and how busy it gets.
October
Short rains — brief afternoon storms, green landscapes, fewer visitors.
- Wildlife
- Wildlife: 4 / 5
- Weather
- Weather: 3 / 5
- Crowds
- Crowds: 3 / 5
- Rainfall
- 70 mm
- Temperature
- 13–27 °C
Show all twelve monthsHide the full table
| Best time to visit | Wildlife | Weather | Crowds | Rainfall | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryDry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 50 mm | 13–27 °C |
| FebruaryDry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 50 mm | 13–28 °C |
| MarchWet month — expect rain most days, and lush, difficult country. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 3 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 100 mm | 14–27 °C |
| AprilLong rains — some tracks impassable and some camps closed. Lowest prices. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 2 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 170 mm | 14–25 °C |
| MayWet month — expect rain most days, and lush, difficult country. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 2 / 5 | Crowds: 2 / 5 | 130 mm | 13–25 °C |
| JuneRhino and lion against a skyline — a half-day from the airport. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 40 mm | 11–24 °C |
| JulyPeak seasonDry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 4 / 5 | 25 mm | 10–23 °C |
| AugustPeak seasonDry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 4 / 5 | 30 mm | 11–24 °C |
| SeptemberDry season — good roads, thinner bush, animals gathering at water. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 4 / 5 | Crowds: 4 / 5 | 35 mm | 12–26 °C |
| OctoberShort rains — brief afternoon storms, green landscapes, fewer visitors. | Wildlife: 4 / 5 | Weather: 3 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 70 mm | 13–27 °C |
| NovemberWet month — expect rain most days, and lush, difficult country. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 2 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 130 mm | 14–26 °C |
| DecemberShort rains — brief afternoon storms, green landscapes, fewer visitors. | Wildlife: 3 / 5 | Weather: 3 / 5 | Crowds: 3 / 5 | 80 mm | 13–26 °C |