Nairobi has wildlife too - within an hour of your hotel
Lion, rhino and giraffe in a national park inside the city, baby elephants at a rescue centre, and the farmhouse behind "Out of Africa" - all in half a day.
The only national park inside a capital city
15 minutes from downtown, lion, rhino, buffalo, giraffe and zebra roam savannah with Nairobi's skyline visible in the distance - a safari most visitors don't expect to find in a city.
A half-day game drive fits easily around a flight connection or a business trip, with no need to leave Nairobi at all.
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Baby elephants, bottle-fed and full of mischief
This rescue centre cares for orphaned elephant and rhino calves, most abandoned after poaching or drought. At feeding time, keepers bottle-feed the babies as they play in the mud like any toddler would.
Every animal here is raised until old enough to return to the wild - visitors can support that work directly by adopting a calf during their visit.
Feed an endangered Rothschild's giraffe, eye to eye
Climb a raised platform and a curious giraffe will take food pellets straight from your hand - sometimes with a giraffe "kiss" in return. The centre protects this endangered giraffe subspecies through breeding and education.
Most Nairobi day tours include a stop here alongside nature trails that are also popular with local school groups.
The farm behind "Out of Africa", and beadwork with purpose
The Karen Blixen Museum preserves the coffee farm and manor house where the Danish author wrote her famous memoir of colonial-era Kenya - now open with original artefacts on display.
Nearby, Kazuri Beads is a workshop and shop built by local women creating handmade pottery and jewellery - a chance to see the craft made and take home a souvenir that supports the makers directly.
Half-day and full-day tour options
Nairobi National Park Half Day Private Tour
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Nairobi National Park & City Tour
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Nairobi "Into Africa" Tour
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Nairobi National Park - Half Day Group Tour
Learn more →Nairobi excursions - your questions answered
What are the best places to visit near Nairobi?
Nairobi National Park for an urban safari, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for baby elephants, and the Giraffe Centre for close-up encounters with Rothschild's giraffe - all within a short drive of the city.
Where can I see elephants in Nairobi?
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for rescued baby elephants during feeding sessions, and Nairobi National Park, where wild elephants roam freely with the city skyline as a backdrop.
What is the weather like in Nairobi?
Mild year-round. Dry seasons (January-March, July-October) bring 20-26°C and clear skies - ideal for game drives. Wet seasons (April-June, November-December) are cooler and greener, with short showers.
What is Nairobi's main airport?
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), 15km southeast of the city centre - East Africa's busiest hub and the starting point for most Kenya safaris.
Where can I go on a Nairobi half-day trip?
A half-day at Nairobi National Park is the classic option - enough time for a proper game drive covering lion, giraffe, rhino and zebra without needing a full day.
Who was Karen Blixen?
A Danish author who farmed coffee near Nairobi in the early 20th century and wrote the memoir "Out of Africa" under the pen name Isak Dinesen. Her former farmhouse is now a museum.