Nairobi National Park Game Drive from Nairobi: Open-Roofed Safari

Stand under an open roof and watch lions, rhinos and giraffes move across the park with the city skyline behind them.

A guided safari game drive in Nairobi National Park departs from your Nairobi hotel in an open-roofed Landcruiser 4x4 with a professional guide, covering 117 square kilometers of wildlife habitat in five hours. The open-sided vehicle gives you 360-degree views for photography, and the guide takes time to answer questions and locate animals. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Entrance fees vary by visitor status and are added at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided game drive in Nairobi National Park

• Pick up from Nairobi hotel
• Receive game drive overview
• Drive to Nairobi National Park
• Pay park entrance fees
• Start game drive in open-roofed vehicle
• Spot wildlife and birds
• Take panoramic views and photos

The experience

Your guide picks you up from your hotel early in the morning and briefs you on what to expect as you drive toward the park. The open-roofed Landcruiser 4x4 is built for this landscape. You stand or sit with nothing between you and the view, which means lions, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, crocodiles and hippos appear at eye level. The guide knows where animals tend to move and pauses when something worth watching appears, giving you time to frame shots and simply look.

Once inside the park, the drive follows the animals rather than a fixed route. You'll spot monkeys near the gate, then move deeper into the 117-square-kilometer reserve where the habitat shifts (grassland, acacia woodland, rocky outcrops), and different species appear. The guide points out behavior, identifies birds (the park holds over 400 species), and answers questions as they come. The open roof means you get the full panorama: animals in the foreground, landscape in the middle distance, and on clear days, Nairobi's skyline at the edge of the horizon.

The five-hour tour includes the guide, complimentary drinking water, and transport to and from your hotel. Park entrance fees are separate and depend on your visitor status: residents of Kenya, non-residents, and African citizens pay different rates, all shown at checkout. Bring a camera, sunscreen and a hat. The vehicle offers shade but you're exposed to the sun while standing for views.

What’s included

• Professional safari guide leading the drive.
• complimentary drinking water throughout the tour.
• open-roofed Landcruiser 4x4 vehicle with 360-degree viewing.
• round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off in Nairobi.
• five hours of guided wildlife viewing in the 117-square-kilometer park.

Options for this experience

3 options

Option by van to Nairobi ParkGuide in English · 06:00 and 14:00Van option, includes pickup

Tour of Nairobi National ParkGuide in English · 06:00 and 14:00Jeep 4X4, pickup is included

Private jeep to Nairobi ParkGuide in English · 06:00 and 14:00Pickup 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 14:00

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Senior (81 and older) · Youth (3 to 17 years) · Child (1 to 2 years): free

GroupUp to 70

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 199

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Kenyana Wildlife Safaris

Is this one for you?Choose the shared-vehicle option if you want a full safari experience at a lower price. Pick the private jeep if your group prefers flexibility and a dedicated guide without sharing stops or pace with other travelers. Either way, the open roof and guide's knowledge are what let you photograph and watch animal behavior instead of rushing between viewpoints.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (3 to 17 years); Child (1 to 2 years): free.

What animals am I most likely to see on a Nairobi National Park game drive?

Lions, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, crocodiles, hippos, jackals, gazelles, antelopes and ostrich are all present in the park. Over 400 bird species also live there, and your guide will point out what appears during your drive and explain behavior and habitat.

How does the open-roofed vehicle change the safari experience?

The open-roofed Landcruiser 4x4 gives you an unobstructed 360-degree view of the landscape and animals, which means wildlife appears at eye level and you can photograph without glass reflections. You stand or sit with the roof open the entire drive, so dress for sun and wind.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to Nairobi National Park?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Nairobi are included in the tour price. Your guide collects you early in the morning and returns you to your hotel after the five-hour drive.

What is the difference between the three purchase options?

The Nairobi National Park Tour and Van Option to Nairobi Park are shared-vehicle departures. The Private Jeep option is a dedicated vehicle for your group. Entrance fees vary by visitor status and are added separately at checkout for all three.

How much time does the guide spend helping with photography?

The guide takes time to locate animals, pause for viewing and answer questions: photography is built into the pace rather than rushed. The open roof and 360-degree sightlines are designed for camera work, and the guide will help you frame shots and identify what you're seeing.