Of the 24 national parks in Kenya, the oldest one is in its capital, Nairobi, which is Nairobi National Park, established and gazetted in 1946 before the country had even gained independence.
And since it is the only national park within a capital city in the world, thanks to it, it has earned Nairobi recognition as “The World’s only Wildlife Capital.” It is a short drive out of Nairobi’s central business district.
The boundary of this Nairobi National Park encompasses approximately 78,000 acres, nearly half of which belongs to all the people of Nairobi County after the government increased its size from 29,000 acres to meet the ecological requirements of its wildlife populations throughout the year.
What animals live in Nairobi National Park?
The Nairobi National Park, managed by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), is best known for its expansive and pristine forests, consisting partly of thick woods and leafy bushes in a beautiful wide-open but mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem of savanna, and visitors enjoy exploring its lands and waters and experiencing its wildlife.
Inside it, there are 100 known species of mammals, 400 migratory and endemic bird species, and countless insects. Some of the most iconic animals that live in the Nairobi National Park include lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and baboons.
However, lions and cheetahs are hard to spot when you visit in the afternoons, and elephants are missing in this park.
Nairobi National Park Fees 2024
An entrance fee is required to visit Nairobi National Park year-round. These fees help fund the government’s maintenance of the park’s spaces for millions of annual visitors, and they are Ksh2,000 for Kenyan citizens and Ksh500 for their children or students after an upward review from Ksh430/resident and Ksh215/child park entry cost of the period 2022-2023 to bring Conservation Fees 2024-2025.
Today, international visitors pay $100 and $20 for kids, up from $43 and $22, respectively, when visiting this park during high seasons from July to March. A similar $100 is the entry fee for adult foreigners visiting during the low seasons of March to June, in which the park charges $20 per child.
There are additional fees when visitors access the park by private means using cars, and those with vehicles with less than six seats are billed Ksh1,000, Ksh1,500 for those having up to 14 seats, Ksh2,500 for vehicles having between 15 and 20 seats, and Ksh3,500 for those with a microbus or a bus with 21 seats and above.
Camping fees at Nairobi National Park generally range between $35 and $20 for foreign tourists and Ksh250 and Ksh200 for residents or citizens.
When visiting, citizens of Kenya are advised to carry identification documents or any other qualifying proof of residence to get cheaper resident rates to access the park.
How do I pay for Nairobi National Park online?
The access pass to Nairobi National Park is obtainable online via the eCitizen Government platform;
1. Visit kws.ecitizen.go.ke
2. Enter your login credentials to access the Kenya Wildlife Service eCitizen portal
3. Read the instructions carefully, then fill out the park entry application form
4. Follow the process to checkout and pay Nairobi National Park fees via mobile money, credit/debit cards, or online banking
5. Download and print the application invoice (receipt)
During your visit, carry your Original National Identification Card, Original Alien Identification Card, or Passport for easier processing of your details before entry.
