Nairobi National Park is located 15 minutes from Nairobi’s Central Business District and this proximity to the city makes it popular for people who have just arrived in Kenya. So if you are one of these people, you might be wondering if the Park is worth visiting. This may especially be the case if you are planning to visit other national parks like the Masai Mara and Amboseli.
The Nairobi National Park is not worth visiting if you are planning to visit other bigger National Parks in Kenya. You will see fewer animals there than in other parks like the Masai Mara and Amboseli and you might feel a little wasted. However, if you don’t plan on visiting any other national parks in Kenya, the Nairobi National Park is definitely worth the visit. In this article, I will break down why I feel this way and let you decide if the park is worth a visit.
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Learn MoreDON’T go to Nairobi National Park if…
The Nairobi National Park will not be worth it for you if
You’re going to the Masai Mara or Amboseli:
You may feel that your safari in Nairobi after you witness the diversity of wildlife in the Masai Mara and Amboseli National Parks.
For starters, the sheer numbers of grazing wildlife in Nairobi NP pales in comparison to that of the Mara and Amboseli. In addition to this, you will not get to see the entire list of the Big 5 since Nairobi National Park does not have elephants.
You are on a tight budget and and can only visit one national park.
Every day spent on on Safari costs money. If your budget is restricted and you can only do a few days on Kenya’s game parks, Nairobi National Park will be a waste for you. The amount of money and time you will spend there will feel wasted compared to the number and variety of animals you will get to see.
You are used to going on Safari
If you are a veteran traveller who has visited large National Parks in Kenya and beyond, you will feel underwhelmed by the Nairobi National Park.
DO go to Nairobi National Park if…
You want to get some photography practice for the Mara
If you are just starting your African Safari and would like to get familiar with the experience before going to the Maasai Mara or Tsavo National Parks, then Nairobi National park is definitely for you.
If you have extra time or money
If you would like to shake things up and you have an extra day and the budget for a small tour before bigger embarking on the rest of Kenya, then you should visit the Nairobi National Park.
You can’t visit any other Kenyan Park.
You may be in Kenya for a business trip and don’t have the time or budget to go too far from the city. The Nairobi will give you a “Safari Lite” experience which is definitely better than nothing.
Alternatives to Nairobi National Park
Below is my subjective list of alternatives to Nairobi National Park. The parks on this list offer either a bigger variety of animals or is much bigger than Nairobi NP.
Masai Mara:
Arguably the best National park in Kenya, the Mara offers tourists the opportunity to view all the Big 5 and at the right time of the year, witness the great wildebeest migration.
Lake Nakuru National Park
home to both the white and black rhino, this small park in the Rift Valley is a good park to start your Kenyan tour with.
Amboseli National Park
having a large concentration of elephants which are the most studied in Kenya, the amboseli National park is the second most popular national park in Kenya. It has a wide variety of wildlife to view and in the dry season, the animals gather near the water which makes them easier to view.
Sweetwaters conservancy
located in the lovely but cold Nanyuki, Ol Pejeta Conservancy – Sweetwaters Game Reserve is a private conservancy that has all the big 5 and a range of other wildlife.
How to optimize your visit to Nairobi National Park
When planning your visit to the Nairobi National Park, the following tips will come on handy. They will allow you to make the most of your Safari.
Use a tour guide
When doing research for this article, I read multiple accounts of people who decided to self drive to the National Park without a tour guide. Most of these people found it hard to find wildlife and almost impossible to spot the predators like lions.
Professional tour from different companies guides usually work together to spot some of the difficult-to-find animals in the parks. They also know their way around the park and will help you not waste your time looking for the animals
Carry binoculars
Sometimes, animals are far away from your designated path and they may be hard to spot from your car. A good pair of binoculars will help you spot animals from afar.
A camera with a high zoom lens will allow you to take better photos.
Go in the morning or evening
You will find it easier to spot animals when it’s cool and this is either morning hours from 6am to 11am or evening hours from 4:00pm to 6.30pm
Use a 4 wheel drive vehicle.
The park has dusty and bumpy roads which which may give a normal car a rough time when navigating through them.
Booking your tour through a professional tour operator is the best way to drive around the park. This is because they have vehicles specialised for this terrain. They also come with a detachable roof which is perfect for viewing wildlife.
Go with the flow
When visiting this and other parks in Kenya, it’s important to temper the expectations since things may not go exactly how you planned them. This is Africa after all.
Therefore, don’t get upset, if you get a puncture or get lost. It’s part of what makes this an adventure. Enjoy it. Some of the detours that happen on your trip may be the best source of interesting stories when you get back.
