Safari in Nairobi: Don’t miss the most accessible National Park in Africa

Don’t let the size fool you. Kenya’s smallest and first National Park will astonish you. With the unique backdrop of Nairobi’s skyline and access to nearly all of the major animals of the region, it is truly a one of a kind National Park. And given its accessibility, there’s no reason to miss out on it.

Why Go?

With the legendary Masai Mara, Kilimanjaro-shaded Amboseli, storied Tsavo and so many other expansive parks in Kenya, many skip the runt of the litter. Here are some reasons not to:

1. You’ll have the time:
   Whether you’ve arrived in Nairobi as part of a larger safari trip to other national parks, or just passing through, a trip to NNP is quick. The main entrance is only 20 minutes from the city center, and a thorough visit can take you only 3-4 hours.  If you have only a few days in Nairobi, this needs to be one of your stops.
3. It’ll prepare you for the larger adventures:
   All the animals are amazing and beautiful, but after your 1,023rd gazelle and 622nd zebra, you’ll likely be less likely to take a billion pictures of them and possibly miss out on a much more rare sighting down the road (kinda like when you’re hiking, and you take countless photos at the first chance of a view, only to find out up the trail what you just took 50 pictures of is nothing compared to what’s next… and next… and next…, yeah you know what I’m talking about, yes you). You will undoubtedly be wow’d by the abundance of wildlife wherever you go, as you should be, but NNP is a great place to break in your Safari experience. You’ll start learning the animals and birds, and become adjusted to scanning the horizon for signs of lions, rhinos and maybe even a leopard in the trees.
   
4. Wild African animals & Nairobi’s Skyline:
   There is no where else in the world you can find a Giraffe or Zebra walking casually in the wild with skyscrapers in the background. It’s epic. Enjoy.
5. Not to mention, there are plenty of photogenic moments you can capture
7. It has all of the things: Okay it’s missing Elephants… but that’s it. It has 4 of the big five (Rhino, Leopard, Lion, Water Buffalo) and everything else in between. Imagine rolling 20 minutes down the road from downtown NYC, LA, London, Chicago etc… and suddenly being in a wild herd of wildebeest being stalked by a pride of lions… well you don’t have to imagine it. In Nairobi, it’s easy. Go.

How to do it

1. Go Early!
   Arrive at the main gate of NNP no later than 6am. Preferably by 545am. “Early bird catches the worm” is a phrase for a reason… all of the animals you’ll want to see, such as Lions, hippos, Rhinos, etc…  are most active in the pre-dawn and post-dawn hours. Once the sun gets up high and the day heats up, most of the animals are taking it easy. You won’t see nearly as many. Going earlier will also afford you rare moments alone out among the criss-crossing dirt roads of the park.  At NNP and all East African National Parks, it’s “Early safari gets the Lion”.Note: If you can only go later in the day, still do it! There’s plenty to see, and due to the size of the park and concentration of species, you’ll still have a great time
2. Get a Driver:
   Too easy, any hotel in Nairobi will be able to connect you with a driver. You can even rent a car and drive around the park if you’d like, but having a driver is recommended since it frees you up to focus on enjoying the experience, and they will know all of the routes and good viewing spots already.
3. Go to the pond:
   Take a drive down toward the pond created by the Athi Bassin Dam in the park’s far southeastern corner. A typical gathering spot for crocodiles, hippos, and ungulates of all types. There are often Lions nearby too. Great spot to grab an epic shot of Cape Buffalo and Zebras.
4. And after you go to the pond, drive down the road the follows the Mbagathi River to…
5. The Hippo walk:
6. Near the southeast corner of the park, lies the only part of the preserve where you can exit the vehicle and walk around. Here you’ll find a very basic bathroom facility, and a group of Park Rangers ready to give you a quick tour. The walk only takes 20 minutes round trip, longer if you see some really cool stuff, but it increases your chances of catching a crocodile and/or hippo. At the turnaround point, across a pedestrian bridge that actually exits the park, there are several local womenselling souvenirs and gifts, so you can stock up there if you haven’t hit any of the Masai Markets already.
7. BONUS: The drive from the pond to the hippo walk follows one of the only forested sections of the preserve, offering plenty of Giraffe sightings, Baboons, and possibly an elusive Leopard!
8. When hoards of cars go after the lions, go the other way:
   The drivers will obsessively pursue lions for your benefit. It’s nice of them, and they’re good at it, but after you’ve seen them a couple times, don’t join the chase. Just when 30 other Land Cruisers and vans are headed one direction, is exactly the perfect moment to go the other way and enjoy a patch of the park to yourself. And often you’ll be rewarded with stunning, uninterrupted vistas.