Is Nairobi National Park worth it? What 100 visitor reviews say
Rhinos, early starts and the skyline stand out. Crowding at sightings is the main complaint.
Short answer (updated October 2026): Yes, if you have a free morning in Nairobi. It is the only national park inside a capital city, with lions, black rhinos, buffalo and giraffes about 8 km from the CBD. Go at 06:00 when the gates open. It is not the Masai Mara: there are no wild elephants and the skyline is always in view.
Updated 24 October 2026.
Reviews of Nairobi National Park, not of our tours.
The 100 reviews by theme
Rhinos lead with 27 mentions, then guides and vehicles with 22, lions with 20 and the best time to go with 19.
| Theme | Reviews |
|---|---|
| Lions | 20 |
| Rhinos | 27 |
| Giraffes | 13 |
| The skyline | 12 |
| Best time to go | 19 |
| Traffic and gates | 10 |
| Value and fees | 7 |
| Guides and vehicles | 22 |
| Complaints | 14 |
Lions 20 of 100 reviews
Lions are the sighting people hope for and the one most often missed. Reviewers who saw them usually went early; several who went later saw none, or saw one lion ringed by vehicles. More on lions.
“We saw two prides of lions, a serval with kittens, several white rhinos including some with babies”
“Ensure you are in the park by 6:30 otherwise you might miss the lions.”
“We didn't see much - only a sole female lion that was surrounded by safari vehicles.”
Rhinos 27 of 100 reviews
Rhinos are the park's most reliable big animal. Reviewers report black and white rhinos, often close to the road, and calves with their mothers. More on rhinos.
“Lost track of the amount of black and white rhinos we saw (about 15-20), which was even a record for our driver-guide.”
“the most striking thing is the number of rhinoceroses”
“Meeting a family of black rhinos face-to-face was amazing.”
Giraffes 13 of 100 reviews
Giraffes come up often, usually as part of the classic photo with the city behind them. More on giraffes.
“easy enough to get the iconic shot (picture) of Giraffe and the Nairobi skyline in the background”
“a hippo walking across the road, a very pregnant giraffe and a baby rhino suckling its mother”
The skyline 12 of 100 reviews
The city skyline behind wild animals is what makes this park different, and reviewers say so in their own words. More on the skyline.
“Photographing these beautiful creatures with the city skyline in the background was really neat.”
“It is bizarre being in a park so close to the bustling city and seeing high rises on the horizon.”
Best time to go 19 of 100 reviews
The advice is close to unanimous: be at the gate early. A few reviewers add that rain and cloud did not spoil their visit. More on best time to go.
“Best time to show up is real early in the morning, preferably, at 5:30am.”
“Early morning drives are recommended. Day time drives are disappointing.”
“It was raining for most of our visit, but that meant we had closer animal encounters”
Traffic and gates 10 of 100 reviews
Gate experiences are mixed. Some describe quick card payment; others describe crowding at sightings. KWS added express lanes at Main Gate in May 2025 after long queues. More on traffic and gates.
“there were nearly thirty vehicles crowded around a single sighting”
“Paying with credit card at gate was easy and fast.”
“staff at the gate was efficient and friendly to my guide.”
Value and fees 7 of 100 reviews
Opinion splits on cost. Some reviewers found the fees high; others found them fair for what they saw. More on value and fees.
“The fee for the national park is very high, making it very expensive to visit. But it's worth it!”
“the cost for three people exceeded €350, which felt extremely expensive”
“The costs are very reasonable and the park staff were excellent.”
Guides and vehicles 22 of 100 reviews
Guides are named and praised in many reviews. Some visitors drove themselves. More on guides and vehicles.
“Rebecca was a great safari guide.”
“The ranger walk was lovely and Mike was super knowledgeable”
“Take your own car, drive where you want, use the map as a helpful partner”
Complaints 14 of 100 reviews
The common complaints are vehicle crowding at sightings, the park's small size and lack of elephants, the cost, the railway line and litter. More on complaints.
“The number of jeeps and minivans there made us glad we had spent the majority of our time at a small conservancy.”
“Just a shame about the railway line that cuts through the heart of the park”
“Wouldn't want to do more than one drive there it is very small (no elephants).”
“I was shocked to see rubbish”
Is Nairobi National Park worth visiting?
Worth it if
- You have a morning in Nairobi or a long JKIA layover.
- Rhinos are on your list. The park is one of the most reliable places in Kenya to see black rhino.
- You want a short, affordable first safari before or instead of a long trip.
- You like the unusual photo of wildlife against a city skyline.
Skip it if
- You are about to spend several days in a big reserve and only want elephants and huge herds.
- You can only go at midday, when animals rest in cover.
- Seeing buildings and aircraft behind the animals would spoil it for you.
To get the most from a visit, see the best time to visit and what animals you can see.
Yes, for most people with a spare morning in Nairobi. Of the 78 reviews that carry a rating, 71 gave the top or second-top score. The praise is for rhinos, lions and giraffes minutes from the city. The doubts are from people who compare it with the Masai Mara or went at midday.
| Platform | Ratings given |
|---|---|
| SafariBookings (45) | 5 stars: 27, 4 stars: 15, 3, 2 and 1 star: 1 each. Average 4.47 out of 5. |
| Expert Africa (33) | Excellent: 24, Good: 5, Average: 4. |
| Tripadvisor and Reddit (22) | No star rating. |
The ratings lean positive partly because the park sets low expectations: people arrive thinking it will be a city zoo and find wild animals on open plains. The two lowest SafariBookings scores (2 and 1 star) both describe seeing very few animals; the 3-star review is about the city always being in view.
“This park was better than my expectation seems to be a thriving park which is growing in its inhabitants”
Jacqueline Degernier, SafariBookings (user review), Aug 16, 2024
“Very difficult to spot animals”
What do visitors love and what do they complain about?
The top praise is the location (21), rhinos (27), guides (22) and lions (20). Complaints are fewer: 9 say they saw little, 7 found it tame next to bigger parks, 3 mention crowding and 3 the price.
What reviewers love
| What reviewers say | Reviews |
|---|---|
| Close to the city, short trip | 21 of 100 |
| Rhinos | 27 of 100 |
| Guides and drivers | 22 of 100 |
| Lions | 20 of 100 |
| Giraffes | 13 of 100 |
| Skyline photos | 12 of 100 |
| A good first safari | 11 of 100 |
| Easy to pair with Sheldrick or the Giraffe Centre | 7 of 100 |
What reviewers complain about
| What reviewers say | Reviews |
|---|---|
| Saw little, or found animals hard to spot | 9 of 100 |
| Smaller or tamer than bigger parks | 7 of 100 |
| Midday drives disappointing | 3 of 100 |
| Crowding at sightings | 3 of 100 |
| Price | 3 of 100 |
| No elephants | 2 of 100 |
| Litter, bumpy roads, the railway line | 3 of 100 |
Positive mentions outnumber complaints roughly three to one. Most complaints are about luck and timing rather than the park itself.
Who is Nairobi National Park for, and who should skip it?
It suits first-time safari visitors, travellers with a day or a layover in Nairobi, families, photographers after the skyline shot, and anyone who wants rhinos. People who have just finished a long Mara or Amboseli safari, or who only care about elephants, are the ones most likely to be underwhelmed.
Good fit
- First safari: 11 reviews call it a good introduction.
- Short stays: 12 reviews value it for a few hours or a tight schedule. See our layover safari.
- Rhino lovers: 27 reviews mention rhinos, more than any other animal.
- Families: see the park with children.
Might skip
- Want elephants? Nairobi has none in the wild. Amboseli has big herds under Kilimanjaro: see our Amboseli safaris from Nairobi.
- Already done a big safari? Finish at the beach with a Mombasa city tour, from Fort Jesus to Old Town.
- Not an early riser? Spend a later morning with the orphaned elephants and giraffes on our Sheldrick and Giraffe Centre tour, or plan the rest of your trip with the Kenya safari cost calculator.
“This was a real surprise, so much wildlife, so close to the city. I wouldn't do it at the end of a proper safari, as”
Mr & Mrs Q, Birmingham, Expert Africa (traveller feedback), 22 Sep 2024
“Since this is my first safari, starting in Nairobi National Park is perfect--enough animals to give me a sense of what was to come and”
Ms Susan, USA, Expert Africa (traveller feedback), 15 Jan 2024
When is the best time to visit, and what time of day?
Go early in the morning. 13 of 100 reviews stress arriving at or near opening, and two Reddit posts say daytime drives are disappointing. The park opens at 06:00. The dry months concentrate animals near water; see best time to visit for the season detail.
“Best time to show up is real early in the morning, preferably, at 5:30am. If you're late or if its likely to rain, abort mission.”
“Start early as once the sun is high, all cats disappear and you might end up with on a vegetarian tour”
(title: The only Gamepark within a city!), Tripadvisor, May 19, 2015
“Ensure you are in the park by 6:30 otherwise you might miss the lions.”
“Early morning drives are recommended. Day time drives are disappointing.”
Weekends help with traffic: one reviewer found Sunday morning roads through town light. Light drizzle does not stop a drive; one Expert Africa reviewer liked the soft light it gave.
What will you realistically see?
Plan on zebras, giraffes, buffalo, antelope, ostrich and a good chance of rhinos. In July 2025 the park held about 175 rhinos, 126 black and 49 white. Lions and leopards are possible but not promised, and there are no wild elephants.
One Expert Africa reviewer counted 15 to 20 rhinos in one morning, a record for their guide. At the other end, one SafariBookings reviewer saw only a zebra. Most drives sit between the two.
“I saw more animals here than on the other safaris, including lions, rhinos, a hippo, crocodiles, impalas, gazelles, giraffes, warthogs, buffalo, storks, cranes... While not”
“Why does this page not ask us for our sighting information? We had the following sightings: 3 buffalo, 1 eland, 2 giraffe, 1 hippo, 2”
Mrs R, Bath, Expert Africa (traveller feedback), 17 Aug 2022
Species details are on our wildlife page.
What about the city views and traffic noise?
The skyline is part of the deal. 12 reviews mention seeing the city behind the animals, mostly as a highlight for photos, though one reviewer found it sad. Traffic matters more at the gates than inside: 10 reviews mention traffic or gate queues, and one mentions the railway line crossing the park.
“It is bizarre being in a park so close to the bustling city and seeing high rises on the horizon.”
“With more luck, you get a great shot of a Giraffe, Lion or even Zebra against the backdrop of the City Centers sky crappers.”
“It was okay.. Everytime l could see the City from a distance. It sadens me tht the animals always have to adjust to humans.. All”
Nancy Wambui Michuki, SafariBookings (user review), Feb 8, 2023
Our 05:00 pickup gets you through the city before rush hour.
Is it good value compared with the Masai Mara?
It is cheaper and faster to reach than the Mara, which is a long drive from Nairobi, but it is smaller and less wild. 7 reviews call it tamer than bigger parks; 3 find the fee high. Reviewers see it as a short add-on or warm-up, not a Mara replacement.
Current fees are on our tickets page, and a fuller comparison is on Nairobi vs Maasai Mara.
“The fee for the national park is very high, making it very expensive to visit. But it's worth it! (automatic translation from German)”
“Altogether, the cost for three people exceeded €350, which felt extremely expensive. That being said, the park itself is beautiful”
“The entrance fee offers good value considering the quality of the park, wildlife, and facilities available.”
What tips do the reviews give?
The reviews point to five habits: get to the gate at opening, use a guide who knows where animals were seen, give yourself at least four hours, pair the drive with the Sheldrick nursery or Giraffe Centre, and keep expectations of lions realistic.
- Arrive at 06:00. The most repeated tip.
- Use a good guide. 22 reviews talk about guides or vehicles.
- Do not rush. One reviewer had to cut the drive short to reach the orphanage by 11:00.
- Pair it. 7 reviews combined it with Sheldrick or the Giraffe Centre; see our 3-in-1 tour.
- Follow the rules. See park rules.
“We saw a lot of rhinos here. Unfortunately, the game drive was a bit short because we had to get to elephant orphanage by 11am.”
Alice Peng, Seattle, Expert Africa (traveller feedback), 12 Feb 2025
“We went very early around 6am, and we had a private tour guide who really knew where to go”
Read all 100 reviews
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Show all 100 reviews
| # | Platform | Date | Rating | Opening words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SafariBookings (user review) | Aug 31, 2026 | 5 | This is the nearest game park and the only in world that is just... |
| 2 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jul 30, 2026 | 4 | If you are planning a short stay in Nairobi you should not miss doing... |
| 3 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jul 19, 2026 | 4 | Home for black rhinos. Compared to Maasai Mara, Amboseli and lake Nakuru, less numbers... |
| 4 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jun 5, 2026 | 5 | The one and only park in a city capital.... |
| 5 | SafariBookings (user review) | Mar 13, 2026 | 4 | For a very short 4 hour game drive its perfect. Wouldn't want to do... |
| 6 | SafariBookings (user review) | Feb 8, 2026 | 5 | Probably the only one of its kind – go on safari just minutes from... |
| 7 | SafariBookings (user review) | Aug 17, 2025 | 4 | Nice park right next to the city. It certainly has less wildlife than the... |
| 8 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jun 14, 2025 | 5 | It's a number 1 park to visit when you are not in the mood... |
| 9 | SafariBookings (user review) | May 16, 2025 | 5 | The serenity is one for the books and the experience so therapeutic... |
| 10 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jan 23, 2025 | 5 | Come to Nairobi. You will see it all. Where beautiful scenes are found.... |
| 11 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jan 20, 2025 | 5 | Elephant orphanage a must and giraffe center. You can do a 4 hour game... |
| 12 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jan 14, 2025 | 5 | Didnt see any flamingos.... |
| 13 | SafariBookings (user review) | Dec 27, 2024 | 5 | Very cool to have a real national park filled with animals in Nairobi! An... |
| 14 | SafariBookings (user review) | Aug 16, 2024 | 5 | This park was better than my expectation seems to be a thriving park which... |
| 15 | SafariBookings (user review) | Aug 8, 2024 | 5 | Here we had just a quick trip and visited the sheldric Elephant orphanage you... |
| 16 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jul 5, 2024 | 5 | Nairobi National Park was the first stop on my three week trip to Africa... |
| 17 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jul 3, 2024 | 5 | We spent an afternoon on a game drive in Nairobi National Park with Wasilikenya... |
| 18 | SafariBookings (user review) | Feb 9, 2024 | 5 | when in Nairobi its a must visit park.... |
| 19 | SafariBookings (user review) | Feb 5, 2024 | 5 | We visited the Shelbourne Elephant Sanctuary. A wonderful addition to our trip and commitment... |
| 20 | SafariBookings (user review) | Dec 11, 2023 | 4 | Very pricy! Good for seeing Rhinos and lions if you can´t make it out... |
| 21 | SafariBookings (user review) | Nov 26, 2023 | 4 | The fee for the national park is very high, making it very expensive to... |
| 22 | SafariBookings (user review) | Oct 19, 2023 | 4 | When you stay a few days in Nairobi this is nice to visit. You... |
| 23 | SafariBookings (user review) | Aug 17, 2023 | 5 | I saw leopard there but no other places.... |
| 24 | SafariBookings (user review) | Aug 15, 2023 | 5 | We could see giraffe and zebra from our hotel when we’d just arrived. That... |
| 25 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jun 30, 2023 | 5 | Hard to believe that this amount of wildlife is with in the city limits.... |
| 26 | SafariBookings (user review) | Mar 23, 2023 | 4 | Close to the capital city Nairobi, it stretches several Kms all along the highway... |
| 27 | SafariBookings (user review) | Feb 21, 2023 | 5 | So much to see right in Nairobi!!!... |
| 28 | SafariBookings (user review) | Feb 8, 2023 | 3 | It was okay.. Everytime l could see the City from a distance. It sadens... |
| 29 | SafariBookings (user review) | Nov 9, 2022 | 4 | Average, good for picnic.... |
| 30 | SafariBookings (user review) | Oct 14, 2022 | 5 | We visited the part on a Sunday morning, where traffic through town is light.... |
| 31 | SafariBookings (user review) | Dec 9, 2021 | 5 | We had only one and a half day in Nairobi and we wanted to... |
| 32 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jan 7, 2020 | 5 | Everything was good. Our Guide was having fully knowledge about the park which made... |
| 33 | SafariBookings (user review) | Dec 25, 2019 | 4 | A lot of wildlife for such a small park, but also a lot of... |
| 34 | SafariBookings (user review) | Oct 8, 2019 | 4 | Overall it is nice, if you just have a short time, this is the... |
| 35 | SafariBookings (user review) | Oct 3, 2019 | 1 | Very difficult to spot animals... |
| 36 | SafariBookings (user review) | Sep 16, 2019 | 4 | You see always the city in the background... |
| 37 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jun 28, 2019 | 5 | good place for birding near Nairobi... |
| 38 | SafariBookings (user review) | Feb 6, 2019 | 5 | I saw more animals here than on the other safaris, including lions, rhinos, a... |
| 39 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jan 27, 2019 | 5 | Great start! We just loved it as a first approach to wild life.... |
| 40 | SafariBookings (user review) | Dec 31, 2018 | 4 | If you are in Nairobi and do not have a chance to go on... |
| 41 | SafariBookings (user review) | Dec 18, 2018 | 5 | For being so close to the city it is amazing. If you can’t get... |
| 42 | SafariBookings (user review) | Aug 28, 2018 | 2 | Saw only a zebra... |
| 43 | SafariBookings (user review) | Feb 26, 2018 | 5 | Good selection of wildlife, easy enough to get the iconic shot (picture) of Giraffe... |
| 44 | SafariBookings (user review) | Jun 30, 2017 | 4 | I'm sure there are wilder, larger, more authentic safari destinations in Kenya and elsewhere... |
| 45 | SafariBookings (user review) | May 19, 2017 | 4 | Nairobi National Park is a wonderful place to take a day trip Safari. There... |
| 46 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 3 Oct 2026 | Excellent | Nairobi National Park was our first experience in Kenya, our first safari. We were... |
| 47 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 27 Aug 2026 | Average | in fairness we only spent a couple of hours on game drive and we... |
| 48 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 14 Jun 2026 | Excellent | Our safari in Nairobi National Park was an unexpected highlight. I thought it was... |
| 49 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 5 Mar 2026 | Excellent | We saw so much on this safari, busy in places especially around the lion... |
| 50 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 16 Feb 2026 | Excellent | Numerous animal sightings including black and white rhinos, two lions in a tree and... |
| 51 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 15 Feb 2026 | Excellent | It was the perfect introduction to our trip. We were incredibly lucky to spot... |
| 52 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 31 Jan 2026 | Excellent | Great to see white rhino for the first time! Our guide Rebecca was very... |
| 53 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 9 Feb 2026 | Good | As I mentioned before, animal spotting was not always easy in the Park. The... |
| 54 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 13 Jan 2026 | Excellent | We had a very enjoyable morning in the park prior to our visit to... |
| 55 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 3 Jan 2026 | Excellent | Really unique and beautiful park, with wild animals and the city sky line in... |
| 56 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 26 Aug 2025 | Excellent | Great first experience to the safari experience.... |
| 57 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 24 Aug 2025 | Average | A good and very convenient way to begin exploring Kenya's wildlife. A wonderful variety... |
| 58 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 6 Jul 2025 | Average | We didn't see much - only a sole female lion that was surrounded by... |
| 59 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 12 Feb 2025 | Good | We saw a lot of rhinos here. Unfortunately, the game drive was a bit... |
| 60 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 31 Jan 2025 | Excellent | Rebecca was a great safari guide. We saw a serval and a baby rhino... |
| 61 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 6 Jan 2025 | Excellent | We hadn't expected to see so much on the first day - a great... |
| 62 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 24 Dec 2024 | Excellent | Lost track of the amount of black and white rhinos we saw (about 15-20),... |
| 63 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 8 Nov 2024 | Excellent | We saw a group of 5 white rhino and had lots of amazing animal... |
| 64 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 27 Oct 2024 | Good | It is a warm up excursion for those who are enroute to actual safari... |
| 65 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 5 Oct 2024 | Excellent | A great way to start a trip to Kenya and a gentle introduction to... |
| 66 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 1 Oct 2024 | Excellent | We did not see many of the big 5 here but, as we already... |
| 67 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 22 Sep 2024 | Excellent | This was a real surprise, so much wildlife, so close to the city. I... |
| 68 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 13 Aug 2024 | Good | The novelty here is that the park is right in the middle of the... |
| 69 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 9 May 2024 | Good | Good start to our trip, saw both white and black rhinos. A morning game... |
| 70 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 15 Jan 2024 | Excellent | Since this is my first safari, starting in Nairobi National Park is perfect--enough animals... |
| 71 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 15 Jan 2024 | Average | We enjoyed the game drives in the park, but it was more limited than... |
| 72 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 30 Aug 2023 | Excellent | We chose Nairobi's Park for our first game drive after we arrived in Kenya,... |
| 73 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 7 Jul 2023 | Excellent | Fantastic. weather was drizzly and cool the first few hours there, but made for... |
| 74 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 22 Jan 2023 | Excellent | Unbelievable to find this in a large capital city!... |
| 75 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 4 Jan 2023 | Excellent | Such an amazing way to start one’s day…by visiting the Nairobi National Park, which... |
| 76 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 17 Aug 2022 | Excellent | Why does this page not ask us for our sighting information? We had the... |
| 77 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 2 Oct 2021 | Excellent | As I have mentioned, Freddy made sure that we were comfortable and that we... |
| 78 | Expert Africa (traveller feedback) | 12 Feb 2019 | Excellent | At last we saw rhinos, and very close up. Driver was excellent.... |
| 79 | Tripadvisor | Jul 2026 | - | Very nice park, very close to the city the most striking thing is the... |
| 80 | Tripadvisor | Jul 2026 | - | Awesome to see so many wild animals but also bring in the city. The... |
| 81 | Tripadvisor | Jun 2026 | - | It was a place where for the first time of my life I saw... |
| 82 | Tripadvisor | Jun 2026 | - | Apparently lions, hyenas and cheetah more often seen in the early morning - though... |
| 83 | Tripadvisor | Aug 2026 | - | The entrance fee offers good value considering the quality of the park, wildlife, and... |
| 84 | Tripadvisor | Aug 2026 | - | Altogether, the cost for three people exceeded €350, which felt extremely expensive. That being... |
| 85 | Tripadvisor | Aug 2026 | - | Take your own car, drive where you want, use the map as a helpful... |
| 86 | Tripadvisor | Aug 2026 | - | We went very early around 6am, and we had a private tour guide who... |
| 87 | Tripadvisor | Jun 2026 | - | If you are on a tight timeline and can't make it to the bigger... |
| 88 | Tripadvisor | Oct 19, 2014 | - | Terrific animal viewing on the day we went. Great variety, No crowds. Amazing site... |
| 89 | Tripadvisor | Oct 18, 2014 | - | Living nearby and being able to zip into the park to get away from... |
| 90 | Tripadvisor | Oct 13, 2014 | - | I was totally overwhelmed by seeing animals in their natural environment. Meeting a family... |
| 91 | Tripadvisor | Oct 12, 2014 | - | It is bizarre being in a park so close to the bustling city and... |
| 92 | Tripadvisor | Oct 11, 2014 | - | I saw 8 lions, countless giraffes and plenty of antelopes and birds in one... |
| 93 | Tripadvisor | May 19, 2015 | - | Best time to show up is real early in the morning, preferably, at 5:30am.... |
| 94 | Tripadvisor | May 19, 2015 | - | Start early as once the sun is high, all cats disappear and you might... |
| 95 | Tripadvisor | May 23, 2016 | - | With more luck, you get a great shot of a Giraffe, Lion or even... |
| 96 | Reddit r/Kenya | Nov 16, 2023 | - | Nairobi National Park got it all. No need to waste your day on the... |
| 97 | Reddit r/Kenya | Nov 16, 2023 | - | Ensure you are in the park by 6:30 otherwise you might miss the lions.... |
| 98 | Reddit r/Kenya | Jun 12, 2024 | - | The National Park in Nairobi is nice but being in the City it just... |
| 99 | Reddit r/Kenya | Jul 21, 2026 | - | Early morning drives are recommended. Day time drives are disappointing.... |
| 100 | Reddit r/Kenya | Jul 21, 2026 | - | went at daytime and the most I can recall is herds of buffalo.... |
Nairobi National Park reviews FAQ
Is Nairobi National Park worth visiting?
For most visitors with a free morning in Nairobi, yes. 71 of the 78 rated reviews gave the top or second-top score. People who already did a long safari in the Mara were the least impressed.
What is the best time of day to visit Nairobi National Park?
Early morning. 13 of 100 reviews stress arriving early, and several who went at midday saw little. Our tours pick up at 05:00 to be at the gate at 06:00.
Will I see lions in Nairobi National Park?
Possibly, not certainly. 20 of 100 reviews mention lions; most who saw them went early, and some who went later saw none.
Are there elephants in Nairobi National Park?
No wild elephants. See orphaned elephants at the Sheldrick nursery next to the park.
Is Nairobi National Park better than the Masai Mara?
No, and reviewers do not claim it is. It is smaller and close to the city. Reviewers rate it highly as a short trip or a first taste of safari, not as a replacement for the Mara.
Are these reviews of your tours?
No. These are public reviews of the park itself.
Our guests
Reviews of our own tours: (add your Google Business Profile, Tripadvisor and SafariBookings links here)
-->Plan an early start
Most reviewers who saw lions were at the gate early. Our private tours pick you up at 05:00 so you are at the gate when it opens at 06:00. Tours are priced per group, your group travels alone, and park fees are paid separately to Kenya Wildlife Service.