How to get to Nairobi National Park

By road from the city centre

The park's Main Gate sits on Langata Road, about 7km south of the city centre. Depending on the time of day, the drive takes 20 minutes outside rush hour or up to 40 minutes in heavier traffic. A private car, taxi or transfer arranged by your lodge or tour operator is the standard way to arrive.

• City centre to Main Gate: approximately 7km, 20 to 40 minutes
• Wilson Airport to Main Gate: approximately 10 to 15 minutes
• Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to East Gate: approximately 15 to 25 minutes

Why it suits layovers and short stops

The park's position next to Wilson Airport and close to JKIA makes it uniquely practical for travellers passing through Nairobi. A half-day game drive fits easily into a long layover, a gap between domestic flights, or a spare morning before a business meeting — no other major East African safari destination is this close to an international airport.

Park gates

• Main Gate — on Langata Road, the principal entrance and the site of the Nairobi Safari Walk and Animal Orphanage
• East Gate — off Airport South Road, the most convenient entrance when arriving from JKIA
• Cheetah Gate — on the southern side of the park, closest to the Kitengela dispersal area
• Masai Gate — also on the southern side, used for access towards Kitengela and Athi River

Gates open at 6am and close at 7pm. Entry fees are payable by card at the gate — see park fees.

Combining with other destinations

Nairobi National Park pairs naturally with a wider Kenya itinerary — fly onward from Wilson Airport to the Masai Mara, Amboseli or northern Kenya the same day, or add a morning here either side of a longer safari elsewhere in the country.