Nairobi, Kenya
I booked a half day tour of Nairobi. Instead of doing the usual city tour routine, I decided to stay close to the airport in order to maximize my time (and not risk getting stuck in traffic both ways). Luckily, Nairobi National Park is very close to the airport, so I booked a game drive followed by a visit to the nearby Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. My onward flight was from WIL (not NBO), and these activities were conveniently located very close to the airport.
The game drive was really good. Obviously it's nothing compared to a safari in more remote (and game dense) areas, but it was really good for being so convenient and inexpensive. On the ride we saw: cape buffalo, baboons, black rhinos, white rhinos, gazelles, zebras, hartebeest, hippos, lions, eland, impala, giraffe, ostrich, waterbuck, Thomson's gazelle, jackals, warthogs and numerous bird species.
It was difficult to get good photos of some of the animals, as I only had an iPhone. It would've been good to have a telephoto lens, but I prefer not to travel with all that extra weight/bulk.
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park
Black Rhino
Black Rhino
Black Rhino
Black Rhino
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park
Impala
Ostrich
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park
Coke's hartebeest
Coke's hartebeest
Nairobi National Park
Coke's hartebeest
Coke's hartebeest & a Warthog
Eland
Eland
Eland
White Rhino Herd in distance
Two Jackals
Wildebeest, Hartebeest & Impala
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park
Impala
Wildebeest
Wildebeest, Coke's Hartebeest & Impala
Thomson's Gazelle
Guineafowl
Hippos in Distance
Pelicans and Egyptian Geese
Crocs
We got lucky and spotted this fellow from several hundred yards away. When driving by, you could almost feel his eyes on you and he was easy to spot despite his distance. He didn't move a muscle as we approached.
Lion
Lion
Lion
Jackal
Giraffe
Birds
Birds
Impala
Impala
Croc
Baboon
Baboon
Baboon
Hyrax
Hyrax
Nairobi National Park
Zebra
Giraffe
Giraffe
Giraffe
Giraffe
Giraffe
Impala
Warthog
Nairobi National Park
More Lions - Females this time
Lions
Lions
Lions
After that, we made a quick stop at the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage where they were doing their daily show with the baby elephants fooling around playing in the dirt and mud. The place was absolutely jam packed with tourists.
Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
It was then time to head to WIlson Airport for my onward flight to Zanzibar. I was very pleased with the tour; there was definitely some luck involved, as I got to see a large variety of animals. I'd highly recommend a stop at the park for those passing through Nairobi with some time to kill. Well worth it.