In Nairobi National Park, Wild Lions, Leopards and Rhinos a Stone's Throw from the City Center

Nairobi National Park has the enviable distinction of being the only national park in the world that is so close to the city center.

In fact, 117 square kilometers (45 square miles) of prime city land are carved out as a habitat for a variety of Kenya animal species.

Because of its close proximity to the city center of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, it has become one of the top Nairobi tourist destinations and popular tourist attractions in Kenya.

The landscape of the park comprises forests populated with lots of yellow acacias, plains, streams and rocky gorges. Rivers running throughout the park keep it well-watered, even during the dry season.

Attractions

Here are my leading attractions of the Nairobi game park...

• The Impala Observation Point is located in the western highlands of the park.

  On a clear day, it will thrill you with panoramic views of the endless Athi plains and Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak located in neighboring Tanzania.

  Bring a pair of binoculars as many zebras can be spotted on the plains and antelopes and gazelle amongst the acacia trees.

  You might be so smitten by the Point's offerings that you will, like many others have, arrange to have a champagne breakfast or sundowner cocktails here. If you can't wait, simply carry your lunch as it is a lovely picnic site.

• The Baboon Escarpment is located in the southern portion of the park. The plateau looks out over the vegetation and onto the Mbagathi River.

  There are picnic huts but the baboons can be quite a nuisance to picnickers. The rock hyrax are rather amusing and less intrusive than the baboons.

• While hippos are seldom seen at the Hippo Pool, the occasional glimpse of the crocodiles and the natural African vegetation will somewhat make up for the disappointment.

  Keep an eye out for Vervet monkeys as they populate the trees and their antics are quite amusing.

• Be on the lookout for African lions in the vicinity of the Lone Tree. The tree owes its diminutive and twisted stature to the bombing experiments it had to endure in the wake of World War II.

• Black Rhino Point is an excellent place to see some of the 50 or so black rhinos that call Nairobi National Park home.

  The park has been successfully dedicated to the repopulating of this extremely endangered species. Keep a safe distance from these rhinos though, as they are quite temperamental and have been known to do serious damage to cars that get too close.

• The Narogoman Dam, the largest in the park, is adjacent the Ivory Memorial Burning Site...

  Although upwards of 400 Kenya bird species can be spotted in the entire park's bushes, trees and skies, many of these seem to be concentrated here.

  The dam is therefore a favorite spot for bird lovers...

  You will likely be beguiled the Nairobi game park's spectacular birdlife.

  Even a novice ornithologist like myself (if ever there was one!) can identify ostriches, marabou storks, secretary birds, crested cranes, martial eagles without help. But there are hundreds of other colorful and less known species besides.

• The Ivory Memorial Burning Site is the Nairobi National Park's most poignant landmark. A mound of ash and plaque at the site commemorates former President Moi's 1989 torching of 60 tons of ivory recovered from poachers.

  This was in a bid to signal Kenya's disapproval of the then thriving illegal trade in trophies of endangered species such as African elephants and rhinos.

  As a result of this and the country's strong support of the continued ban of ivory trading, both the rhino and elephant populations are on the rise again in Kenya.

Nairobi National Park Wildlife

The park's inhabitants include several gazelle and antelope species - impala, gnu, gazelles, dik-dik, hartebeest, waterbuck and bushbuck.

Other mammals that can be seen in the park include buffaloes, hippos, giraffes, hyrax, warthogs, rhinos, and zebras. Baboons are another common sight as are Vervet Monkeys.

An occasional Aardvark with its characteristic donkey ears and long snout can be seen sniffing around the plains for a termite or an ant hill.

Some of the carnivores that call Nairobi National Park home are the lion, cheetah, mongoose and hyena. Harder to spot but also in residence are leopards and servals.

For the ornithologist, there are plenty of avian species. The "king of the birds," the ostrich can be clearly seen towering over the plains. Vultures and eagles are seen soaring in the sky and waterbirds grace the lakes, rivers and wetlands in abundance.

Note though, that what animals you will see in the park is dependent on their annual migratory patterns. In addition to following your instinct, be sure to ask the very knowledgeable rangers about the day's sightings.

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