Nairobi National Park

Interestingly enough, just a short drive from downtown Nairobi can have you in the Nairobi National Park. One of Kenya's top national parks, the Nairobi National Park is home to a range of animals, and except for elephants, visitors can expect to spot creatures from the renowned "Big Five", among many others. The chance to spot a rhinoceros is alone enough of a reason to justify a visit to this great Nairobi safari park. There are also hundreds of species of birds here, so bring your binoculars! No trip to Nairobi would seem complete without a visit to the Nairobi National Park, and it's certainly an ideal compliment to other Kenya wildlife destinations.

There is quite a lot of diversity when it comes the almost 30,000 acres that make up Nairobi National Park. There are grassy plains, gorges, and forests here, and the manmade dams help to attract the variety of animal species found roaming about. In the distance, the skyscrapers of Nairobi can be seen, which reminds you of just how close you are to the city. There is an electrical fence on designated boundaries of the park, which helps to keep lions and things the like off of Nairobi's downtown streets. That's not to say that locals and animals don't sometimes come into conflict, which is rare, but inevitable. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas are some of the large predators that are found in the Nairobi safari park, and should you get a chance to witness the annual zebra and wildebeest migration here, you will be in for a most coveted experience. Occurring in July/August, this migration is of epic proportions, and it promises to impress.

The rhino sanctuary at Nairobi National Park is known as one of the best of its kind, and you are guaranteed to see a black rhino here. Black rhino numbers have gone down on the African continent, so places like these are integral when it comes to saving them. Though elephants don't roam the grassy plains of the Nairobi safari park, you can see baby ones at the Elephant Orphanage found here. Talk about cute. Also part of the overall experience at Nairobi National Park is the Safari Walk, which is found at the park's entrance. The Safari Walk highlights Kenya's plants and animals in a very approachable manner, and the whole park is really managed and operated quite well. Scores of locals visit the park, as do many African children on school trips. Guided tours of the park are available, and admission fees are really quite reasonable. Students get in for around US$10, children $20, and adults $40. For the chance to see signature Kenya wildlife, that's hardly a high price, and a Kenya wildlife safari is truly something that all visitors should experience.

You can get help planning your Nairobi Kenya wildlife safari at most Nairobi hotels, and it is also included in various Kenya vacation packages, so you might choose to go that route. For those interested in staying at one of the Kenya lodges, the Masai Safari Lodge near Nairobi National Park is always an option. There are no facilities inside the park's boundaries.