Nairobi National Park at a glance
Nairobi National Park lies on the southern edge of the city, roughly 8 to 10 km from the centre. It opened in 1946 as the first national park in Kenya and covers 117 km². The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) manages it. Lions, rhinos, giraffes and buffalo live on the open grassland, and a game drive gives you good chances of seeing several of them with the skyline in the background.
Main Gate is on Lang'ata Road, next to the KWS headquarters. You can enter with a tour operator or in your own vehicle. Several other animal sights nearby have their own operators and tickets, so it helps to know which is which before you plan a day.
What this Nairobi National Park guide covers
One park, four neighbouring animal sights and the rest of Nairobi.
This guide starts with the park itself: entry fees and how to pay, game drives and half-day tours, and the animals you can expect. It then covers the places next to it, the Safari Walk, the Animal Orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the elephant orphanage. Further pages deal with museums, Karura Forest, day trips to other parks, the weather, the airport and where to stay.
Park fees for non-residents are quoted in US dollars, and fees for Kenyan residents and East African citizens in Kenyan shillings (KES). All prices are 2026 rates and can change, so check the amount at checkout.
Our picks: Nairobi National Park tours
The private 4x4 drive suits a small group that wants its own pace in the park, and the park fees are paid on top. The Karen Blixen visit is a short stop at the old farm house, and the city walk is the cheaper way in if you would rather stay in town.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private 4x4 drive in Nairobi National Park
- Land Cruiser 4x4
- Private guided drive
- Hotel transfer
A guided drive in a Land Cruiser just for your party. The park fees are extra.
Check availability →
Karen Blixen Museum visit from Nairobi
- Hotel transfer
- Professional guide
- Comfortable vehicle
A short visit to the former coffee farm house in Karen. The museum ticket is paid separately at the entrance.
Check availability →
History and culture walking tour of Nairobi
- Guide and entries to the stops
- Coffee, water and fruit salad
- Street photos
A walk through the city centre on foot. The view from the helipad of the KICC tower is not included.
Check availability →Nairobi National Park tours and day trips
Half-day game drives, city tours and combinations with the Giraffe Centre and the elephant orphanage, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit: the park and its neighbours
Start here, then pick the pages you need.
Nairobi National Park entry fee
Rates for citizens, residents and visitors from abroad, vehicle fees, gates and payment.
Game drives and half-day tours
Self-drive, guided drives, speed and distance rules, and what to plan for.
Nairobi tours
How the park, the Giraffe Centre and the elephant nursery fit into one day.
Nairobi Safari Walk
An elevated boardwalk through recreated habitats, with its own ticket.
Nairobi Animal Orphanage
A KWS care facility for orphaned, injured and abandoned wildlife.
Giraffe Centre
A feeding platform and a nature trail in Lang'ata.
Elephant orphanage
The Sheldrick nursery visit, by confirmed booking only.
Animals in the park
Lions, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo and over 400 bird species.
History of the park
Kenya's first national park and the ivory burning site.
More to see in and around Nairobi
Museums, forest, day trips and the practical pages.
Things to do in Nairobi
Wildlife, museums, forest and workshops beyond the park.
Karen Blixen Museum
The farmhouse at the foot of the Ngong Hills.
Nairobi National Museum
Exhibitions and the Snake Park, with separate ticket types.
Karura Forest
Trails and a waterfall inside the city.
Bomas of Kenya
A cultural centre under renovation, and what that means for visitors.
Day trips from Nairobi
Lakes, parks and hills, and which are realistic in one day.
Kenya's national parks
Amboseli, Tsavo, Nakuru, Samburu, Mara and others compared.
Weather and best time
Rainy seasons and the drier months.
Getting there from the airport
Gates, taxis and routes from JKIA.
Where to stay
Areas near the park, Karen and the city centre.
A few things to know before you go
Short points that save time and money.
Park fees in 2026
A non-resident adult pays $80 and a child $40. Kenyan residents and East African citizens pay lower rates in shillings. Check the amount shown at checkout.
Entry fee details →Elephants are at the nursery
The park has lions, rhinos, giraffes and buffalo, but no free-living elephants. You see elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery, a separate operator.
Elephant orphanage →The nursery needs a confirmed booking
Visits run from 11:00 to 12:00. You need a confirmation in advance, and a voucher from a reseller does not replace it. You pay the trust's donation in cash on site, plus the KWS park fee.
The Safari Walk is a separate site
It is an elevated boardwalk through recreated habitats, not walking access to the park. It has its own ticket, as does the Animal Orphanage next to it. A combined package covers both.
Safari Walk →Bomas of Kenya is under renovation
The cultural centre closed in March 2025 for building work. Do not plan a day around its dance shows or homesteads until you have checked the current status.
Bomas of Kenya →Museum fees changed in May 2026
New rates have applied since 7 May 2026, and the Nairobi National Museum and the Karen Blixen Museum charge different amounts.
Museum tickets →Pay without cash and apply for the eTA early
Park fees go through the government's eCitizen portal. Most visitors need an eTA before they travel. Processing takes about 3 days and the authority advises at least 2 weeks. Since October 2026 the application includes Kenyan travel health insurance.
Beyond Nairobi
Longer safaris start from here.
If you have more than a day, the Masai Mara from Nairobi and Amboseli with its Kilimanjaro views have their own guides. This site stays with Nairobi National Park and the sights you can reach from the city in a day.
More independent guides to Kenya
Separate guides from the same team.
Kenya Coast
Diani Beach, Mombasa, Watamu, Malindi and safaris to Tsavo East.
Lamu
The Swahili old town, dhow trips and the islands of the archipelago.
Maasai Mara
Safaris, the Great Migration, balloon flights and park fees.
Amboseli
Elephant herds, Kilimanjaro views, safaris and park fees.
Lake Nakuru
Rhinos, flamingos, Rift Valley lakes and day trips from Nairobi.
Tsavo
Tsavo East and West, red elephants and safaris from Mombasa.
Samburu
The Special Five, the Ewaso Nyiro River and northern Kenya.
Lake Naivasha
Boat rides with hippos, Crescent Island and Mount Longonot.
Hell's Gate
Cycling, the gorge walk and the Olkaria geothermal spa.
Ol Pejeta
Rhinos, the last northern white rhinos, chimpanzees and Nanyuki.
Mount Kenya
Treks to Point Lenana, the climbing routes and park fees.
Aberdare
Waterfalls, Treetops, mountain forest safaris and Nyeri.
Nairobi National Park: frequently asked questions
Is Nairobi National Park worth visiting?
It suits a short stay. Lions, rhinos, giraffes and buffalo live within a few kilometres of the city, and a half-day game drive is enough to see the park. There are good chances of wildlife but no guarantees. Elephants are not part of the free-living wildlife.
How much is the entry fee?
In 2026 a non-resident adult pays $80 and a child $40. Kenyan residents pay KES 1,350 for an adult and KES 675 for a child. East African citizens pay KES 1,000 and KES 500. Vehicle fees come on top. See the entry fee page for all categories.
When is the park open?
Visitors can enter between 06:00 and 18:00 each day, with an exception for overnight guests. Plan to be out of the gates before closing time.
Can I see elephants in Nairobi National Park?
Not in the wild. The park has no free-living elephants. You can visit orphaned elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery between 11:00 and 12:00, but only with a booking confirmed in advance.
Can I walk in the park?
Not on your own. Game drives are made in a vehicle, and you stay inside it except at designated points. The Safari Walk is a separate boardwalk facility with enclosures, not a hike through the park.
Is nairobi-national-park.org the official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Giraffe Centre, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust or the National Museums of Kenya, and it has no connection to any safari operator or hotel.