Planning a Nairobi Safari? If yes, then you will need to know a few details about this capital city of Kenya and the things to do while on a trip in the city. What you need to know is that there is a lot you can actually do during an excursion or safari trip and this is the main objective of this post.
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Introduction to Nairobi
Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya in East Africa, a breathtaking city that is a mix of urban and natural life. It is known as the only city with an animal park, the Nairobi National park (KWS, retrieved 2025). In addition to the National park, the city has various game reserves and animal conservation centers (Nomad Tours Retrieved 2025). In this article, I will give you a detailed guide to the places you can visit in and around Nairobi and things to do this beautiful destination.
Why Nairobi is the ideal destination.
To start with, Nairobi is the only City with a park within its borders. A visit to the Nairobi National Park, commonly known the park safari or simply the park tour by most tour operators, is as easy as possible. It is seven kilometers (7 KM) from the city center CBD. Whether on a tight budget or not, Nairobi offers a wide variety of nature activities to engage in.
9 Things to do in Nairobi
There are several things you can do at the park. In this section, I will highlight the details of these tourist activities you expect to participate in when having a safari trip or excursion at the park. These include:
- The Park Tour
- Viewing wildlife at the park
- A tour of the Giraffe Centre
- David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
- Karen Blixen Museum
- Ngong hills
- National Museum of Kenya
- The Animal Orphanage
- A tour of the city
The Park tour.
A visit to the Park is one of the most interesting things to do while in Nairobi. This massive park is located just a few minutes drive from the city. It’s a special combination of grasslands and wildlife with a background of the city skyline. The park is endowed with a variety of wildlife including lions, giraffes, zebras, and a wide range of birds. It is thus a great place for game drives for families and corporate groups in a unique wildlife setting against the backdrop of a city.
Animals or wildlife at the Park:
- The most prominent animals are the Big Five, the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinos.
- Others are Cheetahs, gazelles, hippos, hyenas, Zebras, Giraffes, warthogs, and a wide variety of birds.
A tour of The Giraffe Centre
While in Nairobi, you should never miss a tour of the Giraffe centre. The Giraffe Center offers an interactive opportunity with the endangered Rothschild giraffe. It is located just outside Nairobi where visitors can feed the giraffes at a close range.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
This is a sanctuary for the elephant conservation center. The center allows visitors to interact and play with the elephants as they learn more about the elephants.
Karen Blixen Museum
This museum is located at the foot of the Ngong Hills. This was formerly a home to the Danish Author known as Karen Blixen. She was the author of the famous “book Out of Africa“.
Ngong hills
The Ngong Hills offer a scenic safari with great views at the Ngong hills. You cannot miss a tour of the Ngong hills in your bucket list of the things to do while in Nairobi, otherwise, you will miss a lot.
National Museum of Kenya
At the city based National museum, visitors experience an interaction with Kenya’s rich heritage. They get to learn more about the conservation efforts that have been made in various areas of Kenya’s heritage.
The Animal Orphanage
This is a facility that caters to vulnerable and injured animals before returning them to the wild. You will enjoy to see in real life how these animals are taken care of from the time they are received to the time they fully recover from any injuries incurred before. What to participate in such Wildlife caring endeavors? If yes, then this orphanage is the best to experience it.
A tour of the city and Markets
A tour of the city will give you a chance to experience the diverse culture of the Kenyan people at first hand. You could also tour the markets in the city that offer various artifacts from the Kenyan people.
If you are interested with the visiting the Markets, below are the most popular ones which will serve you well:
- City Market
- Maasai Market
- The Village Market
- Kariokor Market
- Yaya Centre
- Gikomba Market
The main reason you want to visit and tour these Markets is because you may want to: learn a few cultural and economic activities of the Kenyan local people, buy some souvenirs and other goods. You cannot miss a chance to visit one or few of these Markets while in the Kenyn capital.
Best time for a safari
Though Nairobi can be visited anytime of the year, the best time to take a safari in Nairobi is during the dry season between the month of June to October before the short rainy season. During these months from June till October, the reduced vegetative cover allows optimal wildlife viewing. The water sources are also concentrated at particular areas where the animals visit to drink during the dry season and this makes it very easy to spot them, view and take photographs. For the tour guides, they simply look for the animals at the few well located water sources unlike the wet season when the animals can access water anywhere in the Park.
In addition, the dry season is characterized y very clear skies and tourists find it very easy to do game drives and enjoy them. After all, who wants a rainy safari during game drives, enjoying the sun-downer in rain or doing any safari activity in rain? Well, a few like it wet, love muddy excursions making them visit Nairobi National Park and other city-based tourist attractions anytime of the year.
Tips before taking a safari
- Start by hiring a guide to take you through the park safely
- Follow the park guidelines
- Pack all the necessary essentials
- Hire a four-wheel drive for better access to the park
Because of the above things I have stated you can do while in Nairobi, it is evident that a safari in Nairobi is worth your money and time. Whether you plan to visit Nairobi for a short or long time, you can have a good time as you interact with the city and also the environment.