Nairobi tours: what you can combine
Most Nairobi tours are built from a few stops: Nairobi National Park, the Safari Walk and Animal Orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the Sheldrick elephant nursery. They are separate places with separate operators, so a single booking rarely covers everything. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Nairobi Package includes only the park, the Safari Walk and the Animal Orphanage.
Pick two or three stops for a day. The elephant nursery has one fixed hour, and the park takes the longest, so these two shape the rest of the plan.
Our picks: Nairobi tours compared
The shared tour is an early start that combines the park with the elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre. The six-hour tour does the same in a vehicle with a pop-up roof, and the full or half-day tour lets you pick an option with Giraffe Centre or Karen Blixen entry. On all three, the park ticket is paid separately.
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.
Nairobi National Park tour, half or full day
- Hotel transfer
- Driver-guide
- Game drive in the park
Entry to the Giraffe Centre or the Karen Blixen Museum is only included with the matching option. The park fee is extra.
Check availability →
Park drive, elephant orphanage and Giraffe Centre
- Pop-up roof safari vehicle
- Pickup and return
- Guide and water
One tour covers the park and both animal stops. The park ticket and the entries to the orphanage and the Giraffe Centre are paid on top.
Check availability →
Park game drive with the elephant orphanage and Giraffe Centre
- Hotel transfer
- 4.5-hour game drive
- Open-roof jeep or van
A shared tour that combines the park with the elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre, depending on the option. The park fee and the entries to the orphanage and the Giraffe Centre are extra.
Check availability →Nairobi tours: park, giraffes and elephant orphans
Half-day game drives, city tours and combinations with the Giraffe Centre and the elephant nursery, with live prices and availability.
What each stop costs and when to go
Non-resident adult rates in 2026. Each stop sets its own price.
| Stop | Run by | Visiting time | Admission for a non-resident adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi National Park | KWS | 06:00–18:00 daily | $80 |
| Safari Walk | KWS | Check at the entrance | $25 |
| Animal Orphanage | KWS | Check at the entrance | $25 |
| Giraffe Centre | Giraffe Centre (AFEW Kenya) | 09:00–17:00 daily | KES 1,500 (child aged 3 to 12: KES 750) |
| Sheldrick elephant nursery | Sheldrick Wildlife Trust | 11:00–12:00, confirmed booking | Minimum donation $20, plus the KWS park fee |
For most visitors with one day, a morning game drive plus the Giraffe Centre in the afternoon is the easiest combination. Add the elephant nursery only if you hold a confirmed booking for the 11:00 hour.
How a day in Nairobi can look
Three ways to put the stops together.
Park and Safari Walk
Start with a game drive in the park, then walk the boardwalk and visit the Animal Orphanage on Lang'ata Road. The Nairobi Package covers all three. See the entry fee page.
Giraffes in the afternoon
The Giraffe Centre opens at 09:00 and closes at 17:00. It sits in Lang'ata, so it pairs well with a morning in the park. Read the Giraffe Centre page.
The nursery hour
The elephant visit runs from 11:00 to 12:00. Arrive around 10:30 at Mbagathi Gate, off Magadi Road. Plan the rest of the day around that hour. Details on the elephant orphanage page.
Not every stop fits in one day. The park, the transfers and the fixed nursery hour take time, so choose rather than collect.
Nairobi city tour ideas
Beyond the animals.
A Nairobi city tour usually adds a museum or green space to the wildlife stops. The Nairobi National Museum has exhibitions and a Snake Park, the Karen Blixen Museum is a farmhouse in Karen, and Karura Forest offers trails and a waterfall. Bomas of Kenya is under renovation, so check its status before you plan a visit. More ideas are on the things to do page.
Booking tips
What to check before you pay.
Know what is included
A tour price may or may not cover park entry, the nursery donation or the Giraffe Centre ticket. Read the description for each stop.
The nursery needs its own confirmation
If you book a visit through a tour company, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust must confirm it. A reseller's voucher does not replace that confirmation. The donation is paid in cash on site, and the KWS park fee is separate.
Do not feed the animals
Animals in the park are not fed by visitors. At the Giraffe Centre you feed giraffes only with the pellets the staff hand out, after a briefing.
Longer trips
For safaris beyond Nairobi, see the day trips page and the guide to Amboseli tours.
Gates and meeting points
Three entrances, three different stops.
Main Gate on Lang'ata Road at the KWS headquarters serves the park, the Safari Walk and the Animal Orphanage. Some operators use East Gate on the airport side. The Sheldrick nursery is reached through Mbagathi Gate, also called Workshop Gate, off Magadi Road, and the Giraffe Centre sits on Nyumbi Road in Lang'ata. Ask your operator for the exact gate and the pickup point, and see the getting there page for routes from the airport.
Nairobi tours: frequently asked questions
Which Nairobi tour suits a first visit?
A half-day game drive in the national park, combined with the Giraffe Centre, suits most first visits. Add the elephant nursery only if you have a confirmed booking.
Can I see the park, giraffes and elephants in one day?
It is possible, but tight. The nursery visit is fixed at 11:00 to 12:00, and the park and the transfers take time. Most visitors choose two of the three stops.
Is there one ticket for all stops?
No. The KWS Nairobi Package covers the park, the Safari Walk and the Animal Orphanage only. The Giraffe Centre and the elephant nursery sell their own admission.
Do I need to book the elephant nursery in advance?
Yes. Visits run only with a confirmation in advance, and same-day booking is not possible. You can book up to 3 months ahead.
Are Nairobi tours guaranteed to run?
No. Operators set their own schedules, and sightings and conditions vary. Check the meeting point and the cancellation terms before you book.
Is this site run by a tour operator?
No. This is a travel guide. It is not the website of the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Giraffe Centre or the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and has no connection to any tour operator.