Discover the best safari parks and game reserves near Nairobi, Kenya, offering unparalleled wildlife experiences just a short drive from the capital. Explore Amboseli National Park, Maasai Mara National Reserve, and more iconic destinations for thrilling safaris and close encounters with Africa’s magnificent wildlife.

Nairobi, Kenya, is one of Africa’s most exciting and exotic cities. While it’s not known for beaches or warm weather, there are still plenty of amazing things to do in Nairobi. It is close to so many fantastic safari parks and nature preserves you can visit when you travel here. Here are some of our favorite places to go:

Maasai Mara

Maasai Mara National Wildlife Reserve is one of Kenya’s best places to go on safari. The reserve is located just north of the city of Nairobi, and it’s home to several wildlife species, including lions, cheetahs, and leopards. You’ll also see giraffes roaming around their open plains, rhinos grazing in their habitats, or elephants wandering through trees.

If you’re looking for something more adventurous than watching animals from afar, then head out into the bush with your guide as they take you on an exciting game drive; they will likely show off some fantastic views while they do so! If spending time with animals isn’t quite your cup of tea, then make sure that you have enough energy left over afterward because there are plenty more things that can be done here, such as walking along footpaths (which are great exercise) or even climbing up mountains if that sounds appealing!

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the best safari parks in Kenya. It’s close to the city of Nairobi, and you can quickly get there by bus or car. The park encompasses around 568 square miles (1,500 km2) with over 200 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

The park has been designated as a Ramsar site since 1985 due to its unique ecosystem, which contains many endangered species such as lions and cheetahs; moreover, over 400 species of butterflies inhabit this area!

You can expect to see hippos wallowing in waterholes at dusk when they come out from under shrubbery during their evening bath before bedtime; other animals, such as buffalo, roam freely throughout most parts except for areas where human beings live – these areas will be marked out so visitors know what areas not suitable for walking on foot because there may be crocodiles lurking nearby!

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is a protected area in Kenya. The park is located in the Southern Highlands of Kenya and is famous for its elephants. It is also home to lions, leopards, zebras, buffaloes, and antelopes.

This national park was founded in 1932 as a hunting reserve by two British men, William Henry and Pardess Pennycuick, who wanted to protect their property from poaching. Over time it grew into what we know today as Amboseli National Park, with an area of about 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles).

Hell’s Gate National Park

Hell’s Gate National Park is a national park in Kenya. It was established in 1918 and covered an area of just over 1,000 km². The national park is also home to five geothermal power stations at Olkaria. Campsites within this park include the Maasai Cultural Center, that provides education about the Maasai tribe’s culture and traditions.

The wildlife found in Hell’s Gate includes elephants (as well as chimpanzees), lions, cheetahs, and many migratory birds like flamingos that nest in the wetlands during the dry season. There are also many different species of monkeys including endangered ones such as black colobus monkeys living within tree canopies but can be seen at night time when they sleep on branches or rocks deep within forested areas near water sources like ponds or streams where they drink from them regularly throughout day time hours; these animals won’t harm humans unless provoked first so please don’t touch any animals without asking first!

Aberdare National Park

Aberdare National Park is located in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. The park is home to a large variety of wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, leopards, crocodiles, hippos, and lions.

The park offers visitors various activities, such as hiking through scenic trails or riding an elephant through their private forest reserve. Visitors can also visit their animal rehabilitation center, where they will see how they care for injured animals that have been injured by poachers or other tourists who have lost control while driving on the roads through our beautiful country!

Visitors should wear comfortable clothing that allows them to move freely without being restricted by tight clothes or straps (like sandals). You should bring plenty of water along with some snacks since there are no restaurants available within this beautiful nature reserve!

Meru National Park

Meru National Park is a national park in Kenya. It is located in the foothills of Mount Kenya and is known for its wildlife diversity. The park is 17,000 acres (69 square kilometers) in size and covers parts of the former Meru County and parts of Kiambu District and Nyeri District.

The main attractions inside the park include:

• Lake Naivasha – This lake has been formed by damming up one branch of the Kagera River at Naivasha town, which flows into Tsavo East National Park (TENP). This lake was declared as a Ramsar Site on May 8th, 2015, due to its wetland status; it also serves as an essential source of the fish population throughout most parts of this area, especially during the rainy season when water levels rise significantly due to rainfall generated from nearby mountainsides causing flooding along rivers leading towards Nile River system where some townships were damaged due to high-velocity winds blowing across them during typhoon season between November till February every year!

Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya National Park is a national park in the Great Rift Valley, in the Kenyan section of the Eastern Africa Rift. It has an area of 1,038 km2 (405 sq mi), and its highest peak is 25,341 ft (7,620 m). Mount Kenya National Park was established on April 1st, 1948, by an Act of Parliament to protect it from being logged for timber or farming land. The park is also one of East Africa’s most scenic wildernesses. It contains many different ecosystems, with some parts having never been fully explored due to their remoteness from human settlement.

Samburu Game Reserve

Samburu Game Reserve is located in Northern Kenya and is the largest wildlife reserve in Kenya. It’s home to the Samburu people and has over 7,000 square kilometers of protected land. The reserve is home to various wildlife, including elephants, lions, and leopards.

The park was established in 1962 as an impenetrable sanctuary for endangered animals; today, it covers more than 4500 square kilometers across both sides of Lake Turkana (the largest single source of fresh water on earth). This makes it one of Africa’s most famous safari parks because you can see some spectacular sights!

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park is a park in the city of Nairobi, Kenya. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a wide variety of wildlife, including lions and leopards.

The park was established in 1954 by the colonial government as an extension of the Aberdare National Park on land owned by Kenyatta University College (now named Kenyatta University). The area was declared a game reserve in 1961 by President Jomo Kenyatta after he visited Tanzania, where he saw how successful these reserves were for conservation purposes; however, it wasn’t until 1965 when his son Tom Mboya became Minister for Natural Resources Development that plans began for creating Nairobi National Park from scratch!

Shimba Hills National Reserve

Shimba Hills National Reserve is a reserve in Kenya. It is located on the South Coast of Kenya, on the border with Tanzania. The park was established in 1971 and covered an area of 1,700 km² (619 sq mi). As a zebra breeding sanctuary, it is home to about 2000 zebra, which can be seen freely roaming through their natural habitat anytime during daylight hours.

Shimba Hills National Reserve has many exciting animals like elephants and lions and over 200 bird species, including some rare ones like black-crowned night heron and a brown hornbill, which are found only here or nowhere else on earth!

Conclusion

Exploring the best safari parks and game reserves near Nairobi unveils a world of natural wonders and diverse wildlife encounters. From the iconic Amboseli with its majestic elephants to the legendary Maasai Mara teeming with the Big Five, these destinations offer unforgettable safari experiences just a stone’s throw from Kenya’s bustling capital. Whether witnessing the Great Migration or marveling at the scenic landscapes, these parks near Nairobi promise adventure and wildlife conservation efforts that ensure future generations can continue to enjoy Africa’s wildlife in their natural habitats.