Nairobi National Park Safari & Giraffe Centre Half-Day Tour

Summary

Wildlife Safari Near Nairobi with Baby Elephants & Beads

Half a day out of Nairobi takes you from city streets to wild grasslands where lions roam and giraffes eat from your hand. Visit rescued elephants, meet local artisans at Kazuri Beads Factory, and travel comfortably with hotel pickup included—a mix of wildlife and real Kenyan life you’ll remember every time you unpack your suitcase.

What’s the experience like?

We were already bumping along the edge of Nairobi National Park before I’d even finished my coffee—city traffic fading behind us, just a few minutes from downtown. The air felt cooler out here, kind of sharp, and our guide Peter kept pointing at shapes in the grass. “Look—lioness,” he whispered, and honestly, I squinted for ages before I saw her tail flick. There’s something weirdly surreal about spotting zebras with office towers in the background. The van’s roof was open so you could stand up and feel the wind; it smelled faintly like dust and eucalyptus.

After that we headed to the Giraffe Centre on Langata Road. You hear them before you see them—sort of a deep snuffling sound—and then suddenly there’s this long-lashed face right in front of you. They handed us little food pellets and one giraffe (her name was Daisy) licked my whole palm with her huge blue tongue. Kids were laughing everywhere, and one local staff member told us how they rescue these Rothschild’s giraffes from all over Kenya.

The last stop was Kazuri Beads Factory. It’s quieter here, almost peaceful after the animals. We watched women shaping clay beads by hand, chatting in Swahili as they worked. The smell of wet earth mixed with something sweet from a nearby café—I think about that sometimes when I look at the necklace I bought there. By the time we got dropped back at our hotel, my shoes were dusty and my camera full.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Nairobi Wildlife and Cultural Tour

• Safari at Nairobi National Park
• Visit Giraffe Centre and feed giraffes
• Tour Kazuri Beads Factory

Top questions

How long does the Nairobi National Park safari take?

The whole tour usually takes about 5–6 hours including all stops—perfect for a half-day trip from central Nairobi.

Are elephants included on this private Nairobi National Park tour?

You won’t see wild elephants in the park itself but you’ll visit an orphanage for rescued baby elephants nearby.

Is hotel pickup included for this Nairobi safari tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included from any Nairobi hotel, apartment, Airbnb or even the airport if needed.

Can I feed giraffes during this tour?

Yes—you’ll get to hand-feed Rothschild’s giraffes at the Giraffe Centre under staff supervision.

What’s included

Your morning or afternoon includes roundtrip transport in an open-roof safari van for easy viewing, bottled water to keep cool, entry to each site, plus a friendly local guide who shares stories along the way—all starting with convenient pickup right at your door in Nairobi.