Overview - Nairobi National Park

Wide open grass plains and backdrop of the city scrapers, scattered acacia bush play host to a wide variety of wildlife including the endangered black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and a diverse birdlife with over 400 species recorded. Visitors can enjoy the park’s picnic sites, three campsites and the walking trails for hikers.

 
 
  • Best Time To Go June to September
  • High Season December to March & July to October
  • Size 118 Sq KMs

Pros & Cons

June to February: Dry season

Pros:

  • Sunny and dry aside from the short rains around November
  • The grass is short and animals congregate around water sources, making them easy to spot
  • In July and August, animals from surrounding areas are attracted to permanent pools and move into the park

Cons:

  • A lot of dust in the sky and the scenery is less pleasing

March to May: Wet Season

Pros:

         Skies are clear of dust, the park is green, and there are lots of flowers

         There are many newborn animals

          Bird watching is excellent and migratory birds are present

          Animals scatter and the grass is longer making wildlife viewing harder

Cons:

          April and May can be very wet and this can affect game drives

          Less sunny days

         The condition of the roads can be bad after heavy rain

 

Best Time to Visit

Wildlife viewing is at its finest in the Dry season (when animals can easily be seen around water sources), from June to September, although it’s possible to visit Nairobi NP any time of the year. Wildlife watching is usually more difficult during the long rains (March to May) and the short rains (October to November). During these months, rainfall might restrict game drives and the grass tends to be very high making spotting wildlife more challenging.

Wildlife

Nairobi National Park has a good variety of wildlife. Apart from elephants, most big safari animals are present. There is a very good chance of seeing rhino. White Rhino are easiest to spot as they graze on the open plains, but the park is one of Kenya’s most successful sanctuaries for black rhino, which like to keep hidden in the thickets. Lino, cheetah, Masai Giraffe, and buffalo are just some of the animals you can encounter on a half-day trip.

Weather & Climate

Nairobi, which lies at a high altitude, has a cool and temperate climate. Temperatures are reasonably constant year-round, and it cools off considerably at night. There is very little rain in the Dry season between June and October. November to May, the Wet season, has two periods of rain. The ‘short rains’ are heaviest in November, and the ‘long rains’ are at their peak in April. Sometime around January and February is a drier spell, in between the long and short rains.

Wild Life

  •   Occasional
  •   Common
  •   Very Rare
  •   Rare
  •   None
  • Giraffe

      Common
  • Elephant

      None
  • Zebra

      Common
  • Hippo

      Occasional
  • Leopard

      Very Rare
  • Buffalo

      Occasional
  • Hyena

      Occasional
  • Lion

      Occasional
  • Cheetah

      Very Rare
  • White Rhino

      Occasional
  • Black Rhino

      Very Rare
  • Wildebeest

      Common

Wild Life

  •   Occasional
  •   Common
  •   Very Rare
  •   Rare
  •   None
  • Giraffe

      Common
  • Elephant

      None
  • Zebra

      Common
  • Hippo

      Occasional
  • Leopard

      Very Rare
  • Buffalo

      Occasional
  • Hyena

      Occasional
  • Lion

      Occasional
  • Cheetah

      Very Rare
  • White Rhino

      Occasional
  • Black Rhino

      Very Rare
  • Wildebeest

      Common

Best time to Visit- Nairobi National Park

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
  •   Excellent
  •   Good
  •   Fair
  •   Poor

Wildlife viewing is at its finest in the Dry season (when animals can easily be seen around water sources), from June to September, although it’s possible to visit Nairobi NP any time of the year. Wildlife watching is usually more difficult during the long rains (March to May) and the short rains (October to November). During these months, rainfall might restrict game drives and the grass tends to be very high making spotting wildlife more challenging.

  • Best Time June to September
  • High Season December to March & July to October
  • Low Season April to June
  • Best Weather June to September (Minimal Rainfall)
  • Worst Weather April,May & November (Wettest Months)

Best time to Visit - Nairobi NP

Wildlife viewing is at its finest in the Dry season (when animals can easily be seen around water sources), from June to September, although it’s possible to visit Nairobi NP any time of the year. Wildlife watching is usually more difficult during the long rains (March to May) and the short rains (October to November). During these months, rainfall might restrict game drives and the grass tends to be very high making spotting wildlife more challenging.

Dry Season

June to October: Dry Season

It rains very little in the Dry season, although when the first rains fall is changeable. July and August are the coolest months, and temperatures increase in September through October before the rain breaks.

  • June, July, August & September – Lots of sunshine with very little rain. Afternoons are pleasant with temperatures around 24°C/75°F, but evenings and early mornings are cold with temperatures of around 12°C/54°F.
  • October – It is warming up a bit with afternoon temperatures of about 26°C/79°F. The short rains might start towards the end of the month, or it might be later in November. Temperatures drop after the rains.

Wet Season

November to May: Wet Season

The Wet season is comprised of three distinct parts: the 'short rains' from November to December and the 'long rains' from March to May, with a dry period separating them.

  • November & December – 'Short rains': October or November sees the start of the short rains, which normally peak in November. Temperatures increase before it rains, drops immediately after, and average at 25°C/77°F in the afternoon.
  • January & February – The rains dry up in these months, separating the two rainy seasons. It’s the hottest time of year with average afternoon temperatures of 28°C/82°F.
  • March, April & May – 'Long rains': April is the wettest month and rain might interfere with your game drives. Road conditions deteriorate. The rain diminishes in May, but the roads may still be problematic until later that month. Afternoon temperatures are around 26°C/79°F.

Safety

 

Just like most parks in Kenya, it is is very safe to visit Nairobi National Park. Nairobi city though, has a bad reputation for crime. When visiting the park, you should be picked up and dropped off at your hotel.

Medicine & Vaccines

Several vaccinations need to be taken before coming to Kenya. Nairobi lies at a high altitude and malaria is not a real concern here, but if you are visiting other places in Kenya, you should take all necessary precautions. Aside from antimalarials, the use of mosquito repellent  and covering up in the evening is highly encouraged to minimize the risk of getting bitten.

Weather And Climate

 

Nairobi, which lies at a high altitude, has a cool and temperate climate. Temperatures are reasonably constant year-round, and it cools off considerably at night. There is very little rain in the Dry season between June and October. November to May, the Wet season, has two periods of rain. The ‘short rains’ are heaviest in November, and the ‘long rains’ are at their peak in April. Sometime around January and February is a drier spell, in between the long and short rains.