Nairobi National Park, National park in Nairobi, Kenya.
This site is a protected area in Nairobi Province, covering open grassland, scattered acacia woodland, and riverine forest along the Athi River. The terrain rises gently from the riverbanks to rolling plains, with seasonal wetlands that attract waterbirds during the rainy months.
Kenyan authorities established this area in December 1946 as the country's first protected space of its kind, aiming to safeguard wildlife near the growing capital. Over the decades that followed, the southern boundary fence was removed to allow animal migration routes, while the northern fence was built to separate the reserve from expanding urban neighborhoods.
The park's name comes from the Maasai language, reflecting the community that lived in this area before the city expanded around it. Visitors often see skyscrapers rising beyond the acacia trees, a contrast that reminds them how close wildlife and urban life coexist here.
Visitors can reach the entrance gates from downtown in about 30 minutes by road, with several entry points for self-drive or guided tours. Three campsites with electrical connections offer overnight options, and most tracks are suitable for standard vehicles, though some sections become muddy after heavy rains.
This reserve holds one of the highest concentrations of black rhinos in Kenya, and lions often rest in the bushes along the roadside, making them easy to spot from a vehicle. The northern fence is sometimes lined with giraffes whose heads tower above the barrier, offering a direct view of suburban rooftops in the background.
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