Nairobi National Park


The reserve is located at a distance of only 7 km from the center of the Kenyan capital - the city ​​of Nairobi . From the park you can even observe the city panoramas. The territory of the reserve is relatively small, its area is slightly more than 117 square meters. km, elevation difference from 1533 to 1760 meters. From the north, east and west the park has a fence, in the south the border is the Mbagati river, along which large species of animals migrate. Another peculiarity of the location of the park is the fact that one of the airport exits will take you directly to the protected area.

From the history of the park

The Nairobi National Park was opened to visitors in 1946 and became the first among the reserves of Kenya . He was created thanks to the efforts of the very well-known defender of natural resources of Mervyn Cowie. For several years Mervyn did not live in the country, and when he returned to his homeland, he learned of the sad fact of a sharp decline in the number of animals and birds in the Atkhi plain. This circumstance served as the beginning for the active work of Cowie on the creation in these parts of the national park, the protection of rare representatives of the animal and plant world. Today, about 80 mammal species and nearly 400 bird species can be found in the Nairobi reserve.

What is interesting in the reserve?

Speaking about the landscape of the area in the National Park of Nairobi, it is worth noting that open plains with rare acacia bushes prevail here, although there are also deep stony valleys and gorges. Dams along the Mbagati River provide water to the herbivorous representatives of the animal world.

Despite its proximity to Nairobi , in the reserve you can see a significant number and variety of animals and birds. Here live lions, leopards, African buffaloes, Masai giraffes, Thomson ghazals, Kanna antelopes, Burchell zebras, water goats, etc. In addition, one of the features of the fauna presented in this park is a large number of rhinoceroses - their number reaches 50 individuals.

In the wooded part of the reserve you can see monkeys and a lot of birds, including local ostriches, white-faced wooden ducks, astrids, African sip, dwarf bilberries. Hippos and crocodiles live in the Nairobi Park, which flows through the territory of the Atka River.

The Flora of the National Park is less diverse and typical of the savannah. On the elevation in the western part dry dry forests of the high mountain range, represented by Brahilena, Olive African and Croton, grow on some slopes and can be seen ficus or yellow acacia. In the southern part of the park, where the Mbagati River flows, you will see already really dense tropical forests, along the river you will meet Euphorbia candelabrum and acacia. It is worth noting also the unique for these edges plants Murdannia clarkeana, Drimia calcarata and Euphorbia brevitorta.

A special mention is the monument to the site of the burning of ivory. In 2011, under the order of President Daniel Moi, 10 tons of ivory were publicly burned at this site. The problem of poaching is still relevant for Kenya , tusk hunters, and to this day, plenty. The act of burning bones was a call to pay attention to the ban on hunting elephants and the need to strengthen measures to protect wildlife habitats.

Since 1963 in the National Park of Nairobi there is a veterinary clinic-shelter for small elephants and rhinos orphaned after the death of their parents at the hands of poachers. In the orphanage these cubs are fed, and then in adulthood they are released into the savannah. You can watch the little elephants playing right in the mud, pat and even feed them.

There is also an educational center in Nairobi Park, where visitors are invited to listen to lectures and get acquainted with the video about the wild nature of the reserve, as well as tours on it.

To the tourist on a note

To visit the park you need to fly by plane to Nairobi, and from there by taxi or public transport you can reach the reserve. On the outskirts of the park you will find the streets of Langata Road and Magadiy Road, along which public transport moves. On the above streets there are 4 entrances to the Nairobi National Park, three of them to Magadiy Road and one to Langata Road.

The territory of the Nairobi National Park in Kenya is mostly dry, warm and sunny. In the period from July to March there is very little precipitation. This is the most favorable time for walking around the reserve. From April to June, the rainy season usually lasts in these parts. The probability of precipitation is also great in October-December.