Nairobi National Park & Giraffe Center day tour: Big five safari

Five hours hunting the big five, then face-to-face with endangered giraffes

A day tour from Nairobi combining a 5-hour game drive through Nairobi National Park (the only national park inside a capital city) with a visit to Giraffe Centre to learn about conservation efforts for the endangered Rothschild subspecies. Hotel pickup at 6:30 am, van or 4x4 with pop-up roof, English-speaking guide, bottled water and park entry included. The tour runs 9 hours total with 2 hours of travel time built in.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Nairobi National Park5h · entry included
2. Giraffe Centre2h · entry included
3. Maasai Market2h

Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Center visit

• Pick up from hotel at 6:30 am
• Enter Nairobi National Park main gate
• Enjoy 5-hour game drive spotting big five
• Visit Giraffe Centre and learn conservation
• Include 2 hours travel time total

The experience

Your guide picks you up at your hotel at 6:30 am and drives you to Nairobi National Park's main gate. The 5-hour game drive is built around spotting as much variety as possible: lions, rhinos, buffalo herds and other wildlife move through a landscape that shifts from grassland to acacia woodland. The park sits on the edge of the city, so you're watching animals against a skyline of high-rises, a sight most safaris don't offer. Your guide navigates the routes and reads the animals' movements to position you where the sightings happen.

After the park, you head to Giraffe Centre to spend time with the giraffes up close. The center runs a breeding program focused on saving the endangered Rothschild subspecies from extinction. You'll learn what that work involves and handle the animals directly. They're accustomed to visitors and will eat from your hand. It's a different kind of wildlife encounter than the game drive: intimate instead of distant, and built around conservation rather than spotting.

The van or 4x4 you travel in has a pop-up roof, so you can stand and photograph during the game drive without climbing in and out. Bottled water is provided throughout the day. The 2 hours of travel time between sites is factored into the 9-hour total, so you're not caught off guard by the clock.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entrance to Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Centre.
• 5-hour game drive in a van or 4x4 jeep with pop-up roof.
• English-speaking guide.
• bottled drinking water.

Options for this experience

2 options

Nairobi National Park and giraffe visitGuide in English · 8 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:00A day excursion to Nairobi National Park and the giraffe sanctuary, travelling in a four-wheel-drive Land Cruiser. Pickup is included.

Day Trip to Nairobi National Park and Giraffe CenterGuide in English · 8 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:00Safari van option, with pickup included

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupPrivate

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.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Perfect Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both a game drive and hands-on giraffe feeding in one day: the early 6:30 am start catches peak animal activity while the fixed itinerary lets you experience both without splitting into separate trips.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What animals will I actually see on the game drive through Nairobi National Park?

The guide aims to show you at least three of the big five (lions, rhinos and buffalo are the ones most commonly spotted) plus other wildlife the park holds. The sightings depend on where the animals are on the day you visit, but the guide knows the routes and movements.

How does the Giraffe Centre breeding program work?

Giraffe Centre runs a captive breeding effort to save the Rothschild subspecies, which is endangered in the wild. During your visit you'll learn about the program and interact directly with the giraffes, including hand-feeding them.

What time does the tour start and end?

Pickup is at 6:30 am from your hotel. The full tour runs 9 hours, including 2 hours of travel time between Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Centre, so you'll be back at your hotel in the early afternoon.

Is lunch included, and what about drinks during the day?

Bottled drinking water is provided throughout the tour. Food and drinks beyond water are not included, so plan to bring snacks or eat before pickup if you prefer.

Can I choose between a van and a 4x4 jeep?

Yes, your booking option lets you select either a van or a 4x4 with a pop-up roof. The 4x4 gives you a higher vantage point for photography during the game drive.