Unleash the Fun

Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is perhaps the only capital city with a national park within its boundaries.

Apart from viewing animals at the park, the town offers a chance to enjoy a unique, close encounter with elephants and snakes and even to adopt an elephant. The city’s mild weather allows you to visit at any time of the year.

What to do in Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, is unique. A mere 15 minutes outside the bustling central business district is the Nairobi National Park.

This open grassland dotted with acacia and other dryland trees hosts an array of wildlife.

What’s the park all about, and what else does the city offer visitors?

1. Nairobi National Park

The park is seven kilometers (four miles)) from the central business district. Despite being within the boundaries of Nairobi, the park is inhabited by a large and diverse wildlife population.

It is home to big cats—lions, cheetahs, leopards—as well as giraffes, zebras, and buffalos.

Baboons and monkeys, waterbucks, hartebeests, elands, and gazelles are in plenty.

And since the park is a sanctuary for endangered black rhinos, you will surely see them.

Over 400 species of birds, including the biggies – ostriches and vultures – live there. In addition, if you are so inclined, you can enjoy a picnic lunch or camping at selected sites.

2. Nairobi Safari Walk

The Nairobi Safari Walk is located at the main entrance to Nairobi National Park. Here, you can observe animal and plant life in a setting that mimics their natural surroundings.

The Safari Walk has an elevated wooden boardwalk that allows you to observe wildlife comfortably and safely.

The Safari Walk has recreated three ecosystems: wetland, savannah grassland, and woodland. Crocodiles and pygmy hippos inhabit the wetland.

The savannah grassland ecosystem is home to white rhinoceros, albino zebras, and the rare bongo, an assortment of primates, antelopes, and big cats.

Stay the course and tour the woodlands, and you will scrutinize some 150 species of indigenous trees, with their use explained.

3. The David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Still near the park, plan your time to allow for a visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, a sanctuary for orphaned and sick elephants and rhinos.

Established in 1977, the orphanage nurses and rehabilitates the animals before releasing them into the wild.

Visitors are allowed in between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to watch the animals being fed. You will encounter elephants closely and may even be moved to adopt one.

4. The National Museum

Visit the Nairobi National Museum for a glimpse of Kenya’s history, cultures, and nature while you enjoy contemporary art.

The culture pillar displays creativity and cultural dynamism, while geology, ecology, human origin, and diversity fall under nature. Kenya’s history is covered under the history pillar.

At the end of your museum tour, relax and take in the beauty of nature at the flourishing botanical gardens. The museum also offers dining and shopping facilities.

5. The Snake Park

Pop in at the Nairobi Snake Park next to the main museum. Here, you will be fascinated by the array and range of snakes, tortoises, crocodiles, and other reptiles, amphibians, freshwater and marine fish, birds, and even mammals.

The Snake Park also rescues and rehabilitates abandoned and confiscated reptiles.

In addition to the closed displays, some open pits give a peek at the lives of lizards and snakes in their natural environment. And if snakes are your thing, you can even handle them.

Final Thoughts

The above are just a few of Nairobi's tourist attractions. The city enjoys mild weather throughout the year, with rains mainly falling from March to May and October to November.

However, the rains are moderate (except in unusual years) and would not hamper your sightseeing.

You could use Nairobi as a landing or central planning center for touring the coast, the Maasai Mara, the Rift Valley, and the mountains, organizing your game safaris, and visiting the lake region.

Thank you for reading!

If you liked this, please add your Insights, leave a Comment, click on a Heart, Share, give a Tip, Pledge, or Subscribe. I appreciate any support for my work.

You can find more of my poems, stories, and articles at https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/wanjiru-ciira%3C/strong%3E%3C/em%3E%3C/a%3E