Nairobi National Park is a natural treasure for Kenya and all over the world. This park is the only national savannah park located in the city in the whole world. Nairobi National Park is named after the city of Nairobi which is the capital of Kenya. It was the first park to be established in Kenya in 1946. The park is situated about 7 kilometers south of Nairobi covering an area of about 117 square kilometers. At an elevation of about 1500 meters to 1800 meters, the park spans over uneven terrain of rolling hills and valleys to woodland and grassland plains. Nairobi National Park has diverse vegetation zones from thick woodlands and grasslands to scattered acacia trees.
There are over 100 mammal species that have made the park their founding home and can be spotted in the different vegetation zones in the park. Approximately 500 bird species are recorded in the park and can be spotted and of these about 20 are seasonal migratory birds from Europe. There are several attractions at Nairobi National Park and they include the following.
Wildlife
Nairobi National Park is a natural habitat for a variety of wildlife species. These wildlife species live in the different vegetation zones and landscapes in the park. The park hosts some of the unique species that are rarely seen in many savannah parks across the world. Some of the species housed in the park include 4 of the Big 5 animals, lions, buffaloes, rhinos, and leopards. The elephant is the only Big 5 animal missing in the park. This is because the sheer size of elephants requires them to stay in vast landscapes thus the Nairobi National Park since it is located in an urban area has a limited mass land area hence not favoring these gentle giants the elephants. Other animals in the park include impala, wildebeest, Hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, cheetahs, hippos, waterbucks, common warthogs, jackals, and elands to mention but a few. Nairobi National Park also harbors some primate species that can be spotted jumping from tree to tree across the savannah. Primates in the park include black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and vervet monkeys to mention but a few. It is important to note that Nairobi National Park hosts a large population of both the white and black rhinos which is very unique since most savannah parks in Africa lack the two species.
Bird species
Nairobi National Park is well-equipped to fit any adventurist even those interested in bird watching. Birding enthusiasts and nature lovers the park has also got you covered. There are approximately 500 bird species in the park and these species range from migratory to residents. The migratory bird species are those that only come to the park in different seasons and are occasional whereas resident birds are the endemic common birds that harbor the park area as their permanent home. The migratory bird species usually come from as far as Europe when temperatures are not favorable for their living and they are always present in November and April. Some of the bird species in the park include the crowned crane, Kori bustard, ground hornbill, Egyptian goose, sandgrouse, stone-curlew, Rollers, Laughingthrushes, mousebird, Monarch flycatcher, honeyguide, cuckooshrike, Viduidae, drongos, bushshrike, buphagidae, Lybiidae, old world orioles, American Sparrows, and the black-necked Heron to mention but a few.
Vegetation
The vegetation patterns in Nairobi National Park are unique and are worth checking out. These vegetation zones bisect the park into two hemispheres as the northern side is relatively dominated by Khaki grassland plains with scattered acacia trees. The south has a riverine vegetation zone along the permanent rivers that drain the park.
Ivory burning site monument
The Ivory burning site monument was set up by the then president of Kenya, H.E. President Daniel Arap Mio. It was set up as a conservation site to burn the ivory confiscated from poachers who killed elephants in the park. The monument stands today as a testimony of the conservation efforts undertaken by the government.
Kifaru Ark
Kifaru is a Kiswahili word that means rhino and the Kifaru Ark is a rhino sanctuary located in the Nairobi National Park. Here visitors get a chance to encounter and spend time with the black rhinos in their natural habitat. The Kifaru Ark was set up in the park as an anti-poaching effort to protect the black rhinos. Nairobi National Park is one of the few places to spot the black and white rhinos in their natural habitat.
What to do while at Nairobi National Park
As there are many things to spot in the park, Nairobi National Park has also several things to entertain its visitors with. These can include some of the following.
Game viewing
Game drive or game viewing is an activity that involves encountering the game or wildlife in their natural environment in the comfort and safety of the visitor’s vehicle. Professional guides lead the client across the park and shed light on the various wildlife species encountered in the park. While on the game drive safari visitors can explore several species like the 4 of the Big 5 animals, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, cheetahs, hippos, and waterbucks to mention but a few. Game viewing in Nairobi National Park is done in two sessions, in the morning and evening.
Walking safaris
Nairobi National Park also offers incredible walking safaris that expose visitors to the treasures of the park. Several designated trails cut across exposing the hidden gems and beauty of the park. Walking safaris in Nairobi National Park are a great way to encounter various wildlife species up close. This safari adventure experience is always led by a professional and armed range guide to keep the visitors safe at all times.
Birding
To finish up your adventure experience in Nairobi National Park, take part in a bird watching experience and explore the various bird species in the park. Nairobi National Park is a birder’s paradise harboring over 500 birds of both resident status and migratory. The designated birding trails lead the clients straight to the different breeding areas of the bird species.
When to visit Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is an open all year park that welcomes visitors any time of the year. The park experiences an equatorial climate of two wet and dry seasons per year. The dry season is characterized by dry and humid temperatures with little or no rainfall hence the best time to visit the park. The game is concentrated on the remaining water sources in the park during this season thus easy to spot. However, the wet season also has its advantages, especially for visitors traveling on a budget and those interested in birding specifically.