Early Morning Game Drive Nairobi National Park: Rhinos & Lions

Three hours hunting rhinos and lions before the park wakes up

An early morning game drive through Nairobi National Park, 15 minutes from downtown Nairobi, with a professional English-speaking guide and private 4WD transport. You spend three hours on open roads searching for rhinos, lions and the park's 80+ mammal species as they move through the dawn. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with bottled water and all park fees.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Nairobi National Park4h · entry included
2. Maasai Market20m · entry included

Morning game drive and conservation site visit

• Enter Nairobi National Park main gate
• Enjoy 3-hour game drive spotting wildlife
• Visit ivory burning site inside park

The experience

Nairobi National Park sits closer to the city center than most travelers expect, a 15-minute drive from downtown, yet it holds over 80 species of mammals roaming free across 117 square kilometers. The early morning departure is the reason you'll see them: lions and rhinos are most active before the heat sets in, and your guide will spend the full three hours of the game drive positioning the vehicle to catch them. The park was Kenya's first, established in 1945, and the wildlife here move without fences or barriers, so sightings depend on timing and luck rather than a guaranteed route.

Your guide drives a private Landcruiser with a pop-up roof, which means you can stand and photograph without leaving the vehicle or blocking other passengers. Hotel pickup happens in the Nairobi CBD and includes airport collection if that's where you're staying. The drive covers the main gate entrance and the conservation site inside the park where Kenya burned seized ivory (11 tonnes in 1989 and 100 tonnes in 2016) a landmark moment in the country's fight against poaching. Bottled water comes with you. The tour wraps by mid-morning so you can move on to other plans in the city.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide and driver.
• private Landcruiser 4WD with pop-up roof.
• hotel pickup and drop-off within Nairobi CBD.
• airport pickup and drop-off.
• all park fees and taxes.
• bottled drinking water.

Options for this experience

2 options

4x4 Landcruiser jeepGuide in English · 06:00 and 09:00The tour uses a 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser jeep with a pop-up roof that makes it easy to see game; pickup is included.

Game drive at dawn in Nairobi National ParkGuide in English · 06:00 and 09:00Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00 and 09:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by PERFECT WILDERNESS TOURS AND SAFARIS

Is this one for you?The three-hour window and early departure time are what let you see the animals at their most active, so book this if your schedule allows an early start and you want the best chance of spotting rhinos and lions before heading into the city for the rest of your day.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What animals am I likely to see on the early morning game drive in Nairobi National Park?

The park holds over 80 mammal species and more bird species than exist in the entire British Isles. Rhinos and lions are the highlight your guide will search for during the three-hour drive, though sightings depend on where the animals are moving that morning. The early departure is timed to their most active hours.

How far is Nairobi National Park from the city center, and how do I get there?

The park sits 15 minutes from downtown Nairobi. Hotel pickup is included in your booking, and if you're arriving by air, airport collection is also part of the tour, so you don't arrange separate transport.

What's included in the early morning game drive tour?

Your booking covers the professional English-speaking guide and driver, private Landcruiser transport with a pop-up roof for photography, all park entry fees and taxes, bottled drinking water, and hotel or airport pickup and drop-off within Nairobi CBD.

How long does the game drive last, and what time does it start?

The game drive runs for three hours. The early morning timing is what makes it effective for spotting wildlife, though the exact start time coordinates with your hotel pickup.

Why was the ivory burning site inside Nairobi National Park historically important?

In 1989, Kenya's president burned 11 tonnes of seized ivory at this site as a statement against poaching. In 2016, 100 tonnes were burned here: tusks from 6,000 elephants representing 5% of global ivory stocks. The site marks a turning point in Kenya's conservation efforts and sits just inside the park's main Langata Road gate.