Day Trips & Fees
A lion resting on open grassland with Nairobi's skyscrapers rising directly behind it — the only game reserve in the world located within a capital city. Here are the 2026 entrance fees, the best gate to use, and every day-trip option from half-day game drives to full combined itineraries.
Nairobi National Park sits just 7 km from the city centre (20–25 minutes by road) and delivers lion, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and both black and white rhino — everything but elephant. Non-resident entry is ~$80 per adult, paid cashless via KWSPay/eCitizen. A shared half-day game drive totals roughly $150–220 per person all-in, and the park is a realistic layover safari — the airport is only 20–30 minutes away.
For travellers with limited time — a layover, an early arrival before your main safari, or a departure-day gap — Nairobi National Park delivers a genuine wildlife experience without the multi-hour drive required to reach the Masai Mara or Amboseli. It's also an important black rhino sanctuary, maintaining one of the highest densities of black rhino in the country and playing a role in restocking rhino populations in other Kenyan parks and reserves.
Wildlife you can realistically expect to see includes lion, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and both black and white rhino. Elephants are the one Big Five member missing here, as the park's size can't support a herd.
A Nairobi National Park game drive pairs naturally with the city's other wildlife stops — the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the Nairobi Safari Walk all fit into one combined day tour. If it's your first stop in Kenya, most travellers continue on to the Masai Mara for the big predators, Amboseli National Park for elephants beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, or Lake Nakuru National Park for rhinos and flamingos. Browse live availability for related Nairobi and Kenya safari tours below:
Fees are set by the Kenya Wildlife Service and vary by residency category. As of 2026, park entry is fully cashless — payment is made in advance or at the gate via the KWSPay/eCitizen portal, using a card or M-Pesa.
| Visitor Category | Adult | Child / Student |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Resident (foreign tourist) | ~$80 USD | ~$40 USD |
| African Citizen (non-East African) | ~$40 USD | ~$20 USD |
| East African Citizen | ~KES 1,000 | ~KES 500 |
| Kenya Resident | ~KES 1,350 | ~KES 675 |
For how these fees compare across Kenya's parks, see our Kenya safari cost breakdown.
The most popular option for travellers short on time — typically an early morning or afternoon departure, covering the park's main game-viewing circuits. Ideal for a stopover before an evening flight or after landing in the morning.
Allows for a wider route across the park, more time at dams and viewpoints, and the flexibility to add a picnic stop. Recommended if you want the best odds of a rhino sighting, since covering more of the park increases your chances.
Many visitors pair a Nairobi National Park game drive with one or more nearby attractions in the same day:
Your total cost is the sum of the KWS park entry fee plus your tour/vehicle cost:
| Safari Type | Approx. Total Cost (per person) |
|---|---|
| Shared group vehicle, half-day | $150 – $220 |
| Private 4x4 with driver-guide, half-day | $210 – $300 |
| Private 4x4 with driver-guide, full-day | $280 – $400+ |
Prices typically include the vehicle, driver-guide, fuel, and hotel/airport pickup and drop-off, but usually exclude your personal park entry ticket, meals and tips unless stated otherwise. Planning a longer trip afterwards? Compare multi-day options in our Masai Mara packages from Nairobi guide.
Three well-reviewed ways to do it — the classic half-day game drive, a combined day with the elephant orphanage and Giraffe Centre, and a group safari option. All bookable instantly on GetYourGuide with free cancellation:
Yes, especially if you have a spare half-day around your main safari — it's a completely different experience (urban backdrop, rhino sanctuary) and requires none of the travel time the Mara does.
Four of the five — lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino are all present, though leopard sightings are less reliable. Elephants are absent due to the park's limited size. See our Big Five in Kenya guide for where to complete the set.
It's a short drive from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport — roughly 20–30 minutes depending on traffic, making it a realistic option for a same-day layover safari.
Booking your tour vehicle in advance is recommended, especially during busier periods, and pre-paying your park entry fee online is strongly advised to avoid gate delays.
Whether you need a quick half-day safari before your flight or a full day combining the park with the Sheldrick orphanage and Giraffe Centre, compare the tour formats above — or read the planning guides first.
Masai Mara Packages from Nairobi • Kenya Safari Cost Breakdown
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