Nairobi National Park was the first ever National Park of Kenya that which was inaugurated in 1946. The park is situated on a distance of about 7 kilometres in the southern-centre of the capital (Nairobi) with just a fence that separates the metropolis from the wild animals of the park. The most stunning feature of the park is that the skyscrapers of the city are easily visible from the park and also it boasts an agglomeration of wildlife. Many researchers and tourists are always ready to take flights to Nairobi for visiting this mesmerizing area which is declared as one of the biggest sanctuaries of Africa.
The park is stretched over the land of about 117.21 square kilometres and is elevated at the height ranging between 5,030 -5,774 feet and is well-known for housing a diverse range of flora and fauna. The park was actually established by the conservationist Mervyn Cowie, as the wildlife was confined to the limited area due to the increasing conflicts between animals and humans that made hundreds of animals to get disappear but now it displays a rich collection of both plant life and animal life. The animal breeds commonly found in the park are waterbuck, vulture, ostrich, giraffe, Masai, impala, eland, Thomson’s gazelle, lion, leopard, hippopotamus, Grant’s gazelle, Coke’s hartebeest, cheetah, Burchell’s zebra, black rhinoceros, baboon and African buffalo.
Throughout the park you will find Acacia bushes and grass plains with its western part featuring the dry forests populated with Calodendrum., Brachylaena hutchinsii,, Croton dichogamus and Olea africana. Moving towards the lower slopes, the land is blanketed with Cynodon , Digitaria, Cypress and Themeda. If you need some adventure just pop in to that part of the park which is famous for gorges and steep valleys where the species of Newtonia , Rhus natalensis, Aspilia mossambicensis, Ficus eriocarpa, Elaeodendron buchananii, Canthium schimperiana, and Apodytes dimidiata can be found.
The herbivores such as zebra and wildebeest migrate towards the Athi-Kapiti plains, by entering from the Kitengela conservation area. During the rainy season, they are found scattered over the plains and return as soon as the dry season starts so during the dry weather you can view the highest concentration of the wild animals. Some small dams constructed on the side of Mbagathi River, act as the source of great attraction for many herbivores that survive on water.
Besides, the park also shelters around 500 species of birds including both migratory and the permanent ones. A sanctuary is located in the close vicinity of the park that serves as the homesick and orphaned rhinoceros and elephants that why the park is occasionally called as Kifaru Ark, meaning ‘Rhinoceros Sanctuary’ which is the most successful sanctuary of Kenya where you can observe the life of black rhinoceros in their actual habitat.
The best time to see the game and migration are the months of July and August and apart from it the other temptations at the park are an animal orphanage, Nairobi Safari Walk and Ivory Burning Site Monument. Don’t worry about the paths and tracks, the park offers you the assistance of many professional guides so get ready and pack up your bags for an exciting excursion.
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