Day safaris
Nairobi National Park day safaris
Half-day, full-day and specialist day trips built around how close the park sits to the city.
No other capital city in the world offers a safari like this. Nairobi National Park sits just 7km from the city centre, so a genuine game drive — with black rhino, lion, cheetah, buffalo and Maasai giraffe — can be slotted around a flight connection at Wilson Airport or JKIA, a business trip, or a spare morning before you head elsewhere in Kenya.
Every safari below can be adapted to your timing. Book a half-day safari instantly in our booking engine, or send us an enquiry and we will quote your chosen option based on your dates and, where relevant, the camp or lodge you choose.
By the hour
Our day safaris and prices
Private 4x4, driver-guide and park entry included. Prices are per person and fall as your group grows, up to eight guests.
6am – 11am or 3pm – 6:30pm · Half day safari
Half Day Safari
A morning or afternoon game drive through the plains and river circuits of Nairobi National Park, with hotel or airport transfers. Choose the time that suits your day.
Itinerary
Pick-up
Collection from your Nairobi hotel, Wilson Airport or JKIA in a private 4x4, roughly 20 to 40 minutes to the Main Gate depending on traffic.
Game drive
Four to five hours exploring the plains and river circuits, searching for black rhino, lion, cheetah, buffalo and Maasai giraffe.
Drop-off
Return transfer to your hotel or straight to the airport, timed to your onward flight or schedule.
Pricing
- 1 guest$240 USD per person
- 2–4 guests$140 USD per person
- 5–8 guests$100 USD per person
Included
- Private 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
- Hotel, Wilson or JKIA transfers
- Bottled water and binoculars
6am – 4pm, packed picnic lunch included · Full day safari
Full Day Wildlife Safari
A full day inside the park with a packed picnic lunch, covering every circuit from the open plains to the Athi River gorges for the best chance at rhino, lion and cheetah.
Itinerary
6:00am
Pick-up and entry at the Main Gate for the best light and most active wildlife.
Midday
Packed picnic lunch at one of the park's designated picnic sites overlooking the plains.
Afternoon
A second loop on different circuits — the Athi River gorges, Hippo Pools and the Ivory Burning Site — before a 4pm return.
Pricing
- 1 guest$290 USD per person
- 2–4 guests$160 USD per person
- 5–8 guests$120 USD per person
Included
- Private 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
- Packed picnic lunch
- Hotel, Wilson or JKIA transfers
Full day · Combined day tour
Safari, Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Centre
A morning game drive in Nairobi National Park followed by the Sheldrick elephant orphanage feeding hour and hand-feeding Rothschild's giraffe at the Giraffe Centre.
Itinerary
Morning
Sunrise game drive in Nairobi National Park, focused on rhino and big cats.
Midday
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage for the daily public feeding hour.
Afternoon
Hand-feed Rothschild's giraffe at the Giraffe Centre before returning to your hotel.
Pricing
- 1 guest$300 USD per person
- 2–4 guests$160 USD per person
- 5–8 guests$120 USD per person
Included
- Private 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
- Elephant orphanage and Giraffe Centre entry
- Hotel, Wilson or JKIA transfers
Where to stay
Lodges inside Nairobi National Park
Add a night inside the park before or after your day safari. Ololo Safari Lodge and Farm and The Emakoko both have their own access points into the park.
Boutique lodge and working farm
Ololo Safari Lodge and Farm
A converted 1930s farmstead on the Mbagathi River with a private bridge into Nairobi National Park, a working organic farm and some of the best food in Kenya.
Location
On the southern boundary of Nairobi National Park, along the Mbagathi River, with its own private park gate
Luxury boutique safari lodge
The Emakoko
A luxury ten-suite lodge terraced into a river gorge on the park boundary, with cliff and river suites, a private house and direct access onto the plains.
Location
Built into the Mbagathi River gorge on the northern boundary of Nairobi National Park, with private park access
Safari vehicles
All our Nairobi National Park drives use a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a game-viewing roof hatch, giving every guest a window seat — useful given how close wildlife often comes to the vehicle here. See our photography guide for lens and timing advice.
When to travel
Nairobi National Park is a genuine year-round destination, with drier, easier viewing from June to October and again from December to March. Read more on the best time to visit, or check current park fees and how to get there.
Good to know
What's included, excluded and how to prepare
Every safari is private. Bookings must be made at least 2 days in advance so we can prepare your vehicle and guide.
Included
- Private safari — your vehicle is yours alone
- 4x4 safari vehicle and professional English-speaking guide
- Bottled drinking water
- All fuel, vehicle and guide entry costs
- Timings are estimates and can depend on the weather and the sightings of the day
Excluded
Pick-up and drop-off
All safaris start and finish at the Nairobi National Park Main Gate. A hotel or airport pick-up and drop-off can be added for $50 USD extra in total.
Cancellation & rescheduling
- Free cancellation up to 3 days (72 hours) before your trip's start time — you'll receive a full refund.
- To cancel, email us so your notice is received at least 72 hours before the start time.
- Cancellations with less than 72 hours' notice are non-refundable.
- Rescheduling is free up to 72 hours before your start time. To reschedule, email us and we will move your booking to a new date, subject to availability.
- Reschedule requests with less than 72 hours' notice are treated as a cancellation and are non-refundable.
- No-shows are non-refundable.
Send cancellation or rescheduling requests by email to jim@ololosafaris.com.
How to prepare for the day
- Meeting point is here
- Pre-purchase your park tickets here
- Please bring your original ID or passport for entry
- Pack plenty of water and snacks
- Sunscreen and a hat
- Bring an open mind — wildlife is unpredictable, so sightings can never be guaranteed
- Please follow the instructions of your guide at all times
- We are not liable for any injuries or accidents
Enquire
Request a tailored safari quote
Tell us your dates, group size and which package interests you and we will send a detailed quote with timing and camp options.
Prefer to choose your camp first?
Browse every lodge and camp in and around Nairobi National Park and we will build the itinerary around it.