Few cities let you watch rhinos graze with office towers on the horizon. Nairobi’s wildlife is close enough for a morning out, with time to be back for lunch.

Nairobi National Park

The park begins at the edge of the city, with its main gate on Langata Road. Open plains and acacia scrub are home to rhinos, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and plenty of birdlife, and the skyline makes the backdrop unlike any other safari.

The easiest way in is a game drive with a driver or guide. Park entry fees are set by the Kenya Wildlife Service and are paid online through eCitizen, so sort them out before you set off.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery

Inside the park, the Trust raises orphaned elephants and, now and then, rhinos. During the public visit you watch the keepers bring the youngest elephants out for their milk feeds and a mud bath, and hear each one’s story.

  • The public visit runs every day except 25 December, from 11am to 12 noon.
  • It is by advance booking only, made by email with the Trust’s Nairobi office. Allow at least two business days for a reply, and ignore third-party booking sites, which the Trust doesn’t accept.
  • The entry donation is paid in cash on arrival, and Nairobi National Park fees apply on top.

Everything you need is on the Trust’s nursery visit page.

Giraffe Centre

In Lang’ata, the Giraffe Centre lets you meet its giraffes eye to eye from a raised feeding platform. Stay for a short talk on giraffes and conservation, walk the nature trail, and stop at the Tea House.

It is open from 9am to 5pm every day, including weekends and public holidays. Payment is by M-Pesa, Visa or Mastercard.

Make a morning of it

The nursery and the Giraffe Centre are both on the Lang’ata side of the city, so they pair well: the elephants at 11, then the giraffes after lunch. Arrive early at the park gate, as the nursery visit starts on time.

Times and fees change from season to season, so check each official site before you go. Prefer to go with someone who knows the way? Ask us about Nairobi, With a Local.

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