Visit the only National Park in Africa situated in a capital city; Nairobi National Park- Kenya safari News

Just a short drive to the southern limit of Kenya’s capital city-Nairobi is the Nairobi National Park. Nairobi National Park is located approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) south of the city center giving Kenya safari tourists the chance to indulge in a pure African safari at the footsteps of the nation’s capital. Its separated from the city by an electric fence in its eastern, northern and western boundaries that keeps the park’s wildlife from the city. The southern boundary is covered by the Mbagathi River. The electric fence that separates the park from the city runs along a highway leaving Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a fact that makes Kenyans proud as the only natural safari park that has a city scape background seen from almost any part of the park, hosted in their country.

Established in 1946, Nairobi National Park was Kenya’s first designated wildlife park. This was in a bid to control conflicts between wildlife and animals a campaign headed by Mervyn Cowie who was made director of the park till 1966.

Geographically Nairobi National Park covers an area of 117.21 km² (45.26 sq. mi), an area small in comparison to many of Africa’s safari parks. The park raises to an altitude ranging between 1,533 and 1,760 m (5,030 and 5,774 ft) above sea level.

Kenya safari attractions in Nairobi National Park

Wildlife in Nairobi National Park

Despite the park’s proximity to the bustling capital and relatively a small size for an African national park, Nairobi National Park Kenya boasts a large and varied wildlife population. The wide-open grass plains and acacia bush play host to a wide variety of wildlife inclusive of which are lions, African leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, Cape buffaloes, Masai giraffes, Baboons, Gazelle, Grant’s Zebra, Coke’s hartebeest, Eland, Impala, waterbucks, hippopotamus a reason it is at times referred to as Kifaru Ark, which means “Rhinoceros Sanctuary”(Kifaru in Kiswahili). Nairobi National Park is also Kenya’s most successful Rhinoceros (Eastern black Rhino) Sanctuaries. A Kenya wildlife safari here would be very convenient for short Kenya safari tourists. Tourists can explore the park on a game drive or opt for a safari walk along the walking plains in the area known as Hippo pools.

Bird species in Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park isn’t only host to wild animals but also bird species. There over 400 species of birds recorded within the boundaries of the park making this a prime destination for avid birders on short Kenya birding safaris to visit. To check out for are bird species like the African crested cranes, African fish eagle, kori bustard, secretary bird, marabou stork, Rüppell’s vulture, martial eagle, great white pelican, Egyptian goose, hadada ibis, sacred ibis, malachite kingfisher, wagtail, yellow billed stork, go away bird, hamerkop, Madagascar bee-eater, plovers, African jacana and many more.

Really convenient for a wildlife safari in Kenya is Nairobi National Park with numerous wildlife and just few kilometers from the city, convenient, see wildlife just after a short drive and a great experience not any where else in the continent. Kenya is one of the spectacular destinations to visit in East Africa yet for the now popular gorilla trekking safaris many tourists tailor their trips with a Uganda gorilla trekking safari, gorilla safari Rwanda or Congo gorilla trekking safari destinations joined by chartered flights.

In the whole of East Africa, 7 kilometers is just a start for the drive to your safari destination but this not so for Nairobi National Park. Break the hustle of getting to see wildlife in Kenya by taking a days trip to the park and see as much wildlife as in other distant parks.

You can also blend Kenya safaris with Uganda safari, Uganda wildlife safaris, short Uganda wildlife safaris, Rwanda safaris, Tanzania safaris and many more Africa safaris.