|
Nairobi
national park
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi, as a capital city, is unique in having a wildlife park on its
doorstep. Indeed the city abuts the Nairobi National Park on all but the
southern perimeter so it is possible to photograph a rhino, browsing peace
fully among the whistling thorn with high-rise office buildings in the
backdrop. Some of the wildlife is migratory and when vegetation and water
are present outside the park, they move out into Maasailand through the
unfenced southern boundary. There is also a resident population of plains
game and predators so a visit at any time of the year is a rewarding
experience. Well laid out, with exceptionally well-maintained roads, the
park is a model for all others, geophysically and administratively. Of the
most popular species only the elephant is an absentee. But the rest of the
Big Five: leopard, lion, buffalo and rhino - as well as a multitude of other
creatures are all well represented.
Nairobi National Park Located Near in Nairobi, Kenya
Safari In Kenya
Nairobi excursions
The Athi River at the park's far end forms a delightful natural boundary to
the park and provides shady walks through a riverine forest well populated
with monkeys and birds and in the river pools lay the hippo and crocodile.
Large populations of giraffe, wildebeest, eland and Thomson's gazelle
dominate the plains, with strutting secretary birds and powerful ostrich as
attractive counter-points. Nairobi National Park's pride of lions are well
observed by the park staff and an inquiry at the gate, when entering, will
usually elicit their whereabouts. Cheetah, too, have made the park famous
and these might be located with a similar inquiry.
More recently Nairobi National Park has been designated as a rhino sanctuary
and more than 50 rhinos had been moved into the park from remote parts of
the country where poaching was rife. So Nairobi National Park is really the
most favored place in the country to see rhino. Along the south-western
boundary of the park, the scenery is magnificent; this is an area of steep
valleys created by streams joining the Athi River. Hyraxes are plentiful on
the rocks alongside the road and the sure-sighted may spot klipspringer or
mountain reedbuck, generally unobserved by the thousands of visitors who
search the park annually. Later, on the boundary road there are splendid
views over the Kitengela plains, the dispersal area for the park's
ungulates. The park side of the river is an area favored by zebra.
Within the Nairobi National Park's 117 square kilometers, there are over 80
species of mammals and more bird species than can be found in the whole of
the British Isles. During the rains, both the long and the short, wild
flowers are in profusion and there are places where the plains are an
unending wave of yellow daisies (Bidens Palustris), which seems not to be
liked, as food, by any wildlife.
Near the main gate to the Nairobi National Park is the Animal Orphanage.
Rather than a home for the lost and lame it is maintained more for those
Kenyans who are unable to visit the parks than for visitors. Near the Banda
gate Daphne Sheldrick runs an orphanage, where she cares for young elephants
and rhinos. Visitors are allowed to visit at certain times and a donation is
expected. Young elephant may not always be present, as they are not kept
longer than necessary.
|
|
Nairobi Excursions
and city tours
Nairobi, as a capital
city, is unique in having a wildlife park on its doorstep. Indeed
the city abuts the Nairobi National Park on all but the southern
perimeter so it is possible to photograph a rhino, browsing peace
fully among the whistling thorn with high-rise office buildings in
the backdrop. Some of the wildlife is migratory and when vegetation
and water are present outside the park, they move out into
Maasailand through the unfenced southern boundary. There is also a
resident population of plains game and predators so a visit at any
time of the year is a rewarding experience. Well laid out, with
exceptionally well-maintained roads, the park is a model for all
others, geophysically and administratively. Of the most popular
species only the elephant is an absentee. But the rest of the Big
Five: leopard, lion, buffalo and rhino - as well as a multitude of
other creatures are all well represented.
Tour Itinerary
Day trip tour price includes:
Price per person*.
Game driving at Nairobi National Park.
Visit Nairobi Animal Orphanage (Nairobi Safari Walk).
Pickup from your hotel in Nairobi and drop-off to your hotel.
All park entry fees, service charge and taxes.
Professional English speaking guides. All are experts in the African
wildlife, culture, and tour guiding, many of who speak other
European languages.
Your day tour does not include:
Personal expenses such as transfers to/from the airport (supplement
airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport),
tips or gratuity, drinks; travelers insurance; laundry,
communication charges, visas, international airfares and airport
taxes; meals, sightseeing not included in the package; optional
activities.
minimum of two persons required.
Nairobi Safaris
Nairobi Excursions
Nairobi National Park Safari
Background Information
The 117 km2 Nairobi National Park is unique by being the only
protected area in the world with a variety of animals and birds
close to a capital city. As expected, the park is a principal
attraction for visitors to Nairobi.
The park also serves many residents and citizens living in the city
The park has a diversity of environments with characteristic fauna
and flora. Open grass plains with scattered acacia bush are
predominant. The western side has a highland dry forest and a
permanent river with a riverine forest in the south. In addition,
there are stretches of broken bush country and deep, rocky valleys
and gorges with scrub and long grass. Man-made dams have also added
a further habitat, favourable to certain species of birds and other
aquatic biota(life forms). The dams also attract water dependent
herbivores during the dry season.
The park has a rich/diverse birdlife with 400 species recorded.
However all species are not always present and some are seasonal.
Northern migrants pass through the park primarily during late March
through April.
Nairobi National Park is one of the most successful of Kenya's rhino
sanctuaries that is already generating a stock for reintroduction in
the species former range and other upcoming sanctuaries. Due to this
success, it is one of the few parks where a visitor can be certain
of seeing a black rhino in its natural habitat.
To the south of the park is the Athi-Kapiti Plains and Kitengela
Migration and dispersal area. These are vital areas for herbivores
dispersal during the rains and concentrate in the park in the dry
season.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Annual wildebeest and zebra migration in July/August
Black rhinoceros
Diverse birdlife
Large predators- lion, leopard, hyena and cheetah.
Aggregations of large herbivores- eland, buffalo, zebra and
wildebeest
Ivory Burning Site Monument
Walking trails at hippo pools
Nairobi Safari Walk & the Orphanage.
Spacious accommodating picnic sites
HOW TO GET THERE
Roads:
Located only about 7 km from the city centre, the park is easily
accessible on tarmac roads, mainly through Langata Road.
Park Roads:
There is an adequate administration and viewing road network with
satisfactory signage.
Park gates:
The park has seven gates, the main gate at KWS headquarters, East
Gate, Cheetah Gate, Lang'ata Gate, Maasai Gate: Mbagathi and Banda
Gate are service gates and therefore not used by tourists.
FACILITIES
There are no accommodation facilities in the park. But a wide range
of well developed accommodation facilities are available in the
city. Further, there is also the Masai Safari Lodge near the park.
Picnic Sites:
Impala Observation Tower;
Ivory Burning Site;
King Fisher Gorge;
Leopard Cliffs;
Mokoiyet;
Hippo Pool;
Other attractions
Lone Tree
Directors tree planting site
Nature Trails:
The park has one nature trail at the Hippo Pool
COMMON VEGETATION
The vegetation is primarily dry savanna, open grass plains with
scattered acacia bushes. The park also has a permanent river with a
riverine forest.
The western upland areas has an upland dry forest with stands of
Olea africana and Croton dichogamus/Brachylaena hutchinsii and
calodendrum. The lower slopes are a grassland composed of such
species as: Themeda, Cyprus, Digitaria, and Cynodon with scattered
yellow-barked acacia, Acacia xanthophloea. In addition there are
stretches of broken bush country and deep rocky valleys and gorges
with scrub and long grass.
There is gallery forest in the valleys, predominantly Acacia spp.,
and Euphobia candelabrum. Other tree species include Apodytes
dimidiata, Canthium schimperanum, Elaeodendron buchananii, Newtonia
sp., Ficus eriocarpa, Aspilia mossambicensis, and Rhus natalensis.
Several plants growing on the rocky hillsides are unique to the
Nairobi area including Euphobia brevitorta, Drimia calcarata,
Murdannia clarkeana and the crassula sp.
Nairobi - Safari
With the majority of our safaris starting or ending in Nairobi,
safari pitstops in Nairobi are almost inevitable. Stay in Nairobi
and you'll find a town full of hustle and bustle, which gives you a
chance to experience a very real part of Africa - street hawkers,
overflowing taxis, and probably some of the most unconventional
driving in the world!
Like many other African cities, Nairobi has its share of bustling
markets, skyscrapers, dusty shanties and leafy suburbs with sweeping
gardens. It's a great safari pitstop where you can get your films
developed, wander through book shops and send off your post cards to
envious neighbours.
Nairobi has some great hotels and are plenty of places to eat, but
Nairobi's most famous restaurant is The Carnivore, where you can
taste anything from zebra to crocodile. With excellent restaurants
and shopping opportunities, you'll find plenty to keep you busy. A
short drive from Nairobi you can visit Karen Blixen's house or have
afternoon tea with giraffes at Giraffe Manor.
Nairobi Hotels
Norfolk Hotel - Nairobi
The Norfolk Hotel has welcomed guests to Kenya since 1904 with its
high standards of service, luxurious style, hospitality and comfort.
Nairobi Safari Park Hotel
Located in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, the Safari Park Hotel offers a
warm welcome and an enchanting African atmosphere.
Hotel Intercontinental Nairobi
The Hotel Intercontinental is centrally located a few minutes walk
from the Kenyatta International Conference Centre and the Nairobi
city centre. It offers outdoor activities including tennis, cycling
and golf.
Nairobi Serena
Hotel
Located on the eastern edge of the Masai Mara in a surrounding of
fever trees, the camp has a tranquil atmosphere with spacious safari
style tents amongst shady trees, which gives a romantic feel.
Nairobi Safari Club - Nairobi
The Nairobi Safari Club is an all suite hotel. The suites are
equipped with satellite TV, air conditioning, digital safes,
international direct dialling telephone and a mini bar. Stanley
Hotel
The design concept of the Stanley takes on a Victorian theme,
retaining the high ceilings and olde worlde charm of the era while
incorporating every comfort and luxury for the traveller of today.
Giraffe Manor - Nairobi
The Giraffe Manor, built in 1932 by Sir David Duncan, is situated on
120 acres of land just a few miles from the centre of Nairobi,
Kenya's capital city. Holiday Inn Mayfair Court
The Holiday Inn Nairobi Mayfair Court is only 20km from Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport and offers a full range of services
and facilities.
Ngong House
This beautiful, luxurious and romantic home stay gives the
impression of being in the African Bush, secluced in 10 acres of
private land, only 20 minutes away from downtown Nairobi.
Affordable, cheap Car Hire in Kenya with African Holiday Safaris |
|
