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Nairobi National Park half-day private tour
A real game drive about 20 minutes from Nairobi hotels and JKIA. Private pop-up van or Landcruiser, morning or afternoon, about 5 hours door to door. No prepayment.
| Park | Nairobi National Park, Kenya's first, gazetted 1946 |
|---|---|
| Size | 117 km2 of grassland, riverine forest, gorges, and dams |
| Altitude | About 1,500 to 1,800 metres. Cooler than lowland savannah |
| Distance | About 7 km south of the CBD. Langata Main Gate from most hotels. East Gate from JKIA |
| Hours | Gates 06:00-18:00. Last entry 17:15. Hippo Pools walkers out by 17:15 |
| Big Five | Lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino. No wild elephants in this park |
| Wildlife | 100-plus mammal species. 400-plus birds. Black rhino sanctuary |
| Known for | Skyline-and-giraffe photographs, Ivory Burning Site, Hippo Pools walk |
More park detail: how to get there · gates · wildlife · things to do · best time.
This is Kenya's first national park and the only one that sits against a capital city skyline. Open plains on the south still connect to the Athi-Kapiti dispersal area, which is why you can see rhino, lion, and giraffe here even though the fenced city edge is minutes away. There are no wild elephants. The park is a rhino sanctuary first.
Morning or afternoon
Two private departures every day. The vehicle is only for your group. We do not wait for other hotels.
- Morning tour. Pickup 06:00 from your Nairobi hotel, residence, or JKIA. Best window for cats. Cool air, fewer minibuses until about 08:30. Drop-off around 11:30.
- Afternoon tour. Pickup 13:00. Softer light on the dams, hippos more active after 16:00. Last vehicles leave the park by 18:00. Drop-off around 18:30.
Half-day itinerary
- Meet at your hotel, Airbnb, Wilson, or JKIA. Confirm the night before on WhatsApp. We send the guide name and vehicle type.
- Langata Main Gate from most city hotels. East Gate if you are coming from JKIA. Guest tickets on eCitizen. We handle vehicle and driver fees.
- Just inside the main gate. Kenya burned confiscated ivory here in 1989 (12 tonnes) and 2016 (105 tonnes). Short stop for the monument and the watering hole below.
- Open grassland, Mokoyeti riverine bush, and the southern plains. We follow radio calls for lion, cheetah, and rhino, not a fixed loop for its own sake.
- Athi / Mbagathi river. Hippo, crocodile, waterbuck, monkeys. The 1 km ranger-patrolled nature trail is the only place you leave the vehicle. Afternoon drives time this for 16:00-17:00. Walkers must be out by 17:15.
- Giraffe and zebra against the city, Nagolomon and Athi dams for buffalo and birdlife, Kingfisher picnic site if you want a short stop.
- Back to the same hotel, JKIA, or a different Nairobi address. Tell us at booking.
What you can see
- Lion
- Leopard
- Cheetah
- Black rhino
- White rhino
- Buffalo
- Maasai giraffe
- Plains zebra
- Wildebeest
- Eland
- Impala
- Hartebeest
- Waterbuck
- Thomson gazelle
- Grant gazelle
- Warthog
- Spotted hyena
- Jackal
- Ostrich
- Hippo at the Athi River
- Nile crocodile
- 400-plus bird species
- Nairobi city skyline
Sightings are wild, not a zoo. Lion and rhino are the usual reasons people book this park. Leopard and cheetah are possible, not guaranteed. Bring binoculars. Neutral clothes. A fleece at 06:00. Closed shoes if you walk Hippo Pools.
Safari-service price, per person
Private vehicle. Rate falls as more paying adults share it. Guest KWS tickets are extra so citizen, resident, and non-resident pay the correct gate tariff.
| Paying guests | Safari van USD / KSh | Landcruiser USD / KSh |
|---|---|---|
| 1 guest | $150 (KSh 19,500) | $180 (KSh 23,400) |
| 2 guests | $85 (KSh 11,050) | $100 (KSh 13,000) |
| 3 guests | $70 (KSh 9,100) | $80 (KSh 10,400) |
| 4 guests | $60 (KSh 7,800) | $70 (KSh 9,100) |
| 5 guests | $52 (KSh 6,760) | $60 (KSh 7,800) |
| 6 guests | $48 (KSh 6,240) | $52 (KSh 6,760) |
USD shown at 130 Kenyan shillings to 1 US dollar, updated 4 September 2026. Confirm on WhatsApp before you pay.
Children under 3 ride free if they sit with an adult and do not need a park ticket. Ages 3-11 pay 75 percent of the adult safari-service rate. Ages 12 and up pay the adult rate. KWS still charges its own child tariff at the gate.
Included
- Hotel, residence, or JKIA pickup and drop-off
- Private safari van or Landcruiser with pop-up roof, only your group
- Licensed English-speaking driver-guide
- Fuel for the park circuit
- Vehicle and driver park entry
- Bottled drinking water
- Government taxes on the safari service
Not included
- Guest KWS park tickets (table below)
- Giraffe Centre, Sheldrick, museum, or orphanage tickets unless named
- Lunch, snacks, and soft drinks
- Tips (usually $10-$20 per vehicle after an NNP drive)
- Personal items, souvenirs, travel insurance
KWS park tickets, paid on top
| KWS category | USD / KSh |
|---|---|
| East African citizen adult | $8 (KSh 1,000) |
| East African citizen child | $4 (KSh 500) |
| Kenya resident adult | $10 (KSh 1,350) |
| Kenya resident child | $5 (KSh 675) |
| African citizen adult | $40 (KSh 5,200) |
| African citizen child | $20 (KSh 2,600) |
| Non-resident adult | $80 (KSh 10,400) |
| Non-resident child | $40 (KSh 5,200) |
| Private vehicle under 6 seats | $5 (KSh 600) |
| Minivan 6-12 seats | $12 (KSh 1,500) |
USD shown at 130 Kenyan shillings to 1 US dollar, updated 4 September 2026. Confirm on WhatsApp before you pay.
A non-resident adult adding $80 to the safari-service rate is the honest 2026 total. Example: one guest in a van is $150 (KSh 19,500) plus $80 (KSh 10,400) park ticket. Two non-resident adults in a van are $85 (KSh 11,050) each plus $80 (KSh 10,400) each at the gate.