Nairobi National Park private tour: three ways to spend the day
A Nairobi National Park private tour suits this park because the day has two fixed points. The park is open from 06:00 to 18:00, but the Sheldrick elephant orphanage receives visitors only from 11:00 to 12:00, by advance booking only, through Mbagathi Gate off Magadi Road. The park itself is entered at Main Gate on Lang'ata Road. With your own vehicle, the morning drive can be planned to reach the orphanage gate by about 10:30.
The options below are a six-hour Land Cruiser drive in the park, a full day that adds the elephant orphanage, and a small-group day built around the orphanage and the Giraffe Centre. Prices are starting prices from November 2026, per person. Park fees are paid on top: 80 USD for a non-resident adult and 40 USD for a child, with children aged five and under exempt.
Our picks: private tours in Nairobi National Park
Take the Land Cruiser drive for a morning in the park, the full-day drive to add the elephant orphanage, or the small-group day for the orphanage and the Giraffe Centre. Park fees are paid on top.
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 full-day drive with the elephant orphanage
- 4x4 Land Cruiser transport
- Pickup and drop-off
- English-speaking driver and guide
A full day by Land Cruiser through the park and to the elephant orphanage. Park and orphanage fees are extra.
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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.
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Elephant orphanage and Giraffe Centre in a small group
- Orphanage reservation and entry
- Giraffe Centre entry
- Small group with a guide
The schedule has pickup at 9:30, the elephants at about 10:30 and the Giraffe Centre at 12:30. The park entry fee is extra.
Check availability →Private tours in Nairobi National Park
Private Land Cruiser drives and a small-group orphanage day, with current prices and availability.
Private 4x4 game drive: six hours in a Land Cruiser
This is the straightforward private option. A Land Cruiser with a driver and guide collects you at your Nairobi hotel for a guided game drive of about six hours, with water on board. Rated 4.9 from 70 reviews, it starts at 111 USD per person. Add the 80 USD park ticket and an adult pays 191 USD in total.
It fits a couple, a family or a few friends who want the park at their own pace, with a guide who can stop where you want.
Private full-day drive with the elephant orphanage
The full-day option, from 140 USD per person, uses a 4x4 Land Cruiser with an English-speaking driver and guide. Pickup and drop-off are included, as is bottled water in the car. The day takes in the park and the elephant orphanage; park and orphanage fees are extra.
The orphanage asks for a minimum donation of 20 USD from age 12 and 5 USD below that, paid in cash on site. For an adult, that makes 240 USD with the park ticket. Hold the trust's confirmation for the 11:00 hour before the day.
Orphanage and Giraffe Centre in a small group
At 90 USD per person, this six-hour day is the one with the most entries included: the orphanage reservation and entry, and the Giraffe Centre ticket. The schedule is pickup at 9:30, the elephants at about 10:30 and the Giraffe Centre at 12:30. A guide and water come with it. Park entry is extra, and the day centres on the two animal stops rather than a game drive.
The Giraffe Centre ticket alone is 1,500 KES for a non-resident adult and 750 KES for a child aged 3 to 12.
Private or small group: when sharing is the better choice
Shared tours start much lower. A small-group day with the Karen Blixen Museum starts at 34 USD, though its entries depend on the option you pick.
For two people, the private Land Cruiser at 111 USD each costs 152 USD more in total than the 35 USD shared drive. Sharing makes sense for solo travellers and tight budgets. Private makes sense when a family needs its own vehicle, when you want the long morning in the park, or when the 11:00 hour at the orphanage has to anchor the day. More shared options are on our Nairobi tours page.
Nairobi National Park private tour: practical questions
What does a private drive cost in total?
The Land Cruiser drive starts at 111 USD per person. With the 80 USD park ticket, a non-resident adult pays 191 USD. A child's park ticket is 40 USD, and children aged five and under do not pay.
How much is the elephant orphanage on top?
The minimum donation is 20 USD from age 12 and 5 USD below, paid in cash. With the 140 USD full-day drive and the 80 USD park ticket, an adult pays 240 USD in total.
Is the Giraffe Centre included?
On the small-group day at 90 USD, yes. The centre is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.
When can the orphanage be visited?
From 11:00 to 12:00 every day except 25 December. Visits need a booking made in advance, and you can book up to three months ahead but not on the same day.