Most visitors to Kenya come with a long list of things to do, and one item that is never missing on their list is a visit to at least one national park. With dozens of parks and a diverse wildlife population to boot, Kenya has earned a reputation as a top safari destination. It’s here that you can catch sight of the wondrous wildebeest migration, and let’s not forget the fact that the big five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, elephant) are common in the parks. If you’ll be spending most of your time in the capital and you’re wondering which parks you can visit from the city, below is a list of the national parks in and near Nairobi. Scroll down to find out more.
Tip from tour guide
Flying into the parks saves you hours of time on the road and that gives you more game viewing time in the parks. When all those ‘road warriors’ are coming upon their 6th hour traveling down the highway, you’ve already enjoyed several game drives and perhaps a sundowner (cocktail) or two. Seated on board your air safari plane, there’ll be nothing to think about except your adventure ahead. You’ll lift off in time to see the morning sun lighting up Kenya’s plains, forests, and savannahs. Take a look out to the horizon, and you'll spot the snow-capped crown of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak.
1. Nairobi National Park (from USD 52.0)
Famed for being the only national park within a capital city, Nairobi National Park is one of Kenya’s most popular safari destinations. Home to the big five as well as dozens of other animal species, this national park allows visitors to experience a quintessential African experience while being only a short distance from the city center. In fact, when there’s no traffic, the drive here from the CBD is a mere 10 minutes. If you’re in Nairobi for just a day or two, then spare an afternoon and visit the park.
Safari Tour; Nairobi National Park
Duration: 5 hours
2. Lake Nakuru National Park (from USD 195.0)
Lake Nakuru National Park is found in the bustling Nakuru town, a distance of about 180 km (110 miles) from Nairobi and roughly a three-hour drive. As you may have deduced from the name, its prime feature is the lake, which attracts the animals that call this park home. The views are quite enchanting and diverse, ranging from grassland to a forest to escarpments. All these are available for you to explore either on a hike or a game drive. If you’re keen on viewing animals, then expect to see some endangered species, like the black and white rhinos as well as the Rothschild giraffe, among others.
Tip from tour guide
Lake Nakuru National Park is a well-known rhino sanctuary and bird paradise. It is famous for its pink flamingos and over 400 other species of birds, including white pelicans often found on the shores of the lake. Watch a video of the park here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqObtKKKwPE
Lake Nakuru National Park Safari: Private Tour from Nairobi
Duration: 9 to 10 hours
3. Mt. Longonot National Park (from USD 109.0)
This volcanic mountain is an imposing figure in Kenya’s section of The Great Rift Valley, with Mt. Longonot’s massive caldera as its identity. Its view is unmistakable, visible throughout your drive to Naivasha, where the mountain is found. The journey is about 80 km (50 miles), and the drive is just about two hours from Nairobi. Sitting within a national park that takes on a similar name, this destination is where hiking enthusiasts come to experience a trek up the mountain. Thanks to several trails that lead to the crater’s rim at the top, no special skills are required to go up Longonot, although you do need to be physically fit. And when you get to the top, the massive crater welcomes you. Its floor is occupied by a forest, which happens to be home to several animals, like buffaloes, impalas and giraffes.
Day Tour to Mount Longonot Park from Nairobi
Duration: 11 hours
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4. Mt. Kenya National Park (from USD 389.0)
The national park’s eponymous mountain is what brings visitors to this attraction. Indeed, there are animals like buffalos, but if seeing the wildlife is what you prefer, you might want to try out one of the other national parks on this list. However, if you travel all the way to Central Kenya, then climbing Mt. Kenya has to be your main focus. Granted, not everyone wants to experience the arduous trek to the very top, but thankfully, there are day hikes that give you a taste of this glorious mountain without the physical intensity. And if you’re here in the right season, you might get to see Mt. Kenya’s snow-covered peaks, a rare sight in this global-warming era. This attraction is only 138 km (85 miles) from Nairobi.
Mt Kenya Day Trip Hike From Nairobi (Cost Based on Minimum 2 persons)
Duration: 8 hours
Nairobi Tour Guide
Lewenei Japhet
I am 26, born and raised in Kenya. In the year 2015, I started my journey in the Travel & Tour Industry :- Tour Consultancy and Safari guiding. I established Happy Feet Travel in 2019 and have been operating private and small group tours in Kenya and Tanzania - planning, organizing, guiding and leading the ultimate, unique and exclusive safari to key destinations in East Africa. I have ... Read more
Tours by Lewenei
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5. Chyulu Hills National Park
Of all Kenya’s attractions, it is unlikely that Chyulu Hills is one you’ve heard of before. These largely unknown hills are the true definition of a hidden gem, obscured by Tsavo and Amboseli National Parks. Chyulu is tucked away in South Eastern Kenya, a distance of about 210 km (130 miles) from Nairobi. Those on the way to Tsavo tend to pass this park as their sights are often set on its bigger, more popular counterpart. However, if you decide to take a detour, you’ll get to experience some of nature’s marvels: a series of caves and lava tubes. When you’re done exploring below the surface, hike up the verdant hills to get an elevated vantage point of the breathtaking view that stretches all the way to Kilimanjaro in the horizon.
Chyulu Hills National Park
Address: Makueni County, South Eastern Kenya
Website: Chyulu Hills National Park
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)
6. Aberdare National Park (from USD 580.0)
The setting is, arguably, Kenya’s greenest, blanketed by lush rainforests that are often interrupted by moorland and the Aberdare Mountain Range. To complete this natural ensemble, there are rivers and streams that converge to form waterfalls cascading into ravines. All these make for a beloved home for wildlife and birds that benefit from the bounty of greenery and water. The Aberdare’s landscape is extremely diverse, offering an opportunity for those interested in hiking the mountain range or those looking for an ideal camping spot. If you choose to drive the 164 km (about 100 miles) to the Aberdare National Park, you’ll be rewarded by an enchanting scenery and fascinating wildlife.
Overnight Safari To Aberdare National Park From Nairobi
Duration: 2 days
7. Amboseli National Park (from USD 405.0)
Sitting at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Amboseli is one of the country’s most popular national parks, located roughly 215 km (134 miles) from Nairobi. With Kilimanjaro constantly in sight, it offers a picturesque backdrop to the animal-rich grasslands. Incidentally, this park boasts one of the largest elephant populations in Kenya’s national parks, so you can be certain that these large herds will make up a huge part of your experience. Among them, there are lions, cheetahs, leopards, wildebeests, zebras and gazelles, as well as hundreds of bird species. It’s clear that Amboseli has everything you’d ask for in a national park.
Tip from tour guide
Other animals that you can watch out for are giraffes and ostriches roaming around the wide fields. You'll enjoy seeing the world's largest bird against the world's tallest mammal. Furthermore, Amboseli National Park overlooks the snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro across the endless horizon. It's nestled in an extensive savanna and is dotted with acacias.
2 Days and 1 Night Amboseli Safari from Nairobi
Duration: 1 day 12 hours
8. Hell’s Gate National Park (from USD 150.0)
Located about 125 km (77 miles) outside Nairobi, Hell’s Gate National Park is right within Naivasha town, and it’ll take you about a two-hour drive to get there. Its name has nothing to do with the experience and everything to do with the geothermal activity that’s rampant in the area. The landscape is characterized by cliffs and gorges, remnants of the volcanic eruptions of nearby Mt. Longonot, which took place several millennia ago. You can explore this landscape on the trails, which are charted through the park, with most visitors opting to hike or bike. On your tour, you’ll get to catch sight of dozens of animal species, which include zebras, gazelles and buffaloes. The birdlife is also quite diverse, offering visitors an opportunity to see hundreds of bird species.
Tip from tour guide
This lovely park is situated toward the south of Lake Naivasha and is renowned for its diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes, including Fischer's Tower, Central Tower columns, and Hell's Gate Gorge. You can also opt for a unique exploration of this park through a bicycle adventure, known as a cycling safari. Watch this video of the attraction: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7cORiT1cpkE
Hell's Gate Day Tour
Duration: 1 to 6 hours
9. Tsavo West National Park (from USD 777.0)
We wouldn’t end this list without mentioning Tsavo West National Park, Kenya’s largest national park, one that boasts a huge animal population. This park features a wet climate in contrast to its sibling, Tsavo East, which is dryer. As a result, Tsavo West attracts a lot more wildlife, but because of the massive land area, they’re more sparsely distributed, so you’ll need to go on a longer game drive to catch sight of them. Whatever the case, you won’t be disappointed as the big five are common in Tsavo West as well as numerous bird species. On top of that, the hilly landscape never fails to enchant. Tsavo West is found 280 km (173 miles) from Nairobi.
Tsavo West Discovery 3 Days
Duration: 3 days
10. Lake Naivasha National Park (from USD 166.0)
One thing that Naivasha is well known for is its diverse birdlife, and Lake Naivasha National Park is certainly a great place to watch them. Sitting in the shadows of the more popular Hell’s Gate and Mt. Longonot parks, Lake Naivasha is more of a serene getaway than a safari destination. No matter, you’re still likely to view some animals that come to the lake for water. If you’re a fan of watersports, then you’ll love Lake Naivasha; and if fishing is something that you can’t get enough of, then by all means, this is the place for you. The drive here is just two hours from Nairobi, so you can make this a day trip if you so wish.
Day Trip to Lake Naivasha & Hells Gate with boat ride
Duration: 1 day
A quintessential African safari
Kenya is known for its wildlife, and thanks to the several national parks found within a few hours of the capital, you have the opportunity to experience a quintessential African safari. With our list above, your options are vast, so start planning your excursion today.
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