Nairobi Full-Day Safari: National Park, Elephants, Giraffes & Karen Blixen

Quick Facts

• Duration: Full Day (8–9 hours)
• Location: Nairobi National Park • David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust • Karen Blixen • Giraffe Centre
• Start Time: Early morning recommended
• Vehicle: Private 4×4 Land Cruiser or safari van with pop-up roof
• Guide: Professional, English-speaking safari guide
• Group Size: Private tour or small group
• Ideal For: First-time visitors, families, impact travelers
• Travel Style: Wildlife • Conservation • Culture

Tour Overview: Nairobi’s Best Full-Day Wildlife & Conservation Safari

This full-day Nairobi conservation safari is designed for travelers who want more than a game drive. It’s for those who want to understand how wildlife protection, community involvement, and heritage come together in modern Kenya.

The tour features wildlife in its natural habitat, hands-on conservation experiences, and quiet, reflective landscapes in Karen. It’s a day that balances excitement, learning, and unhurried moments, all while directly supporting conservation efforts.

This tour is ideal for first-time visitors, families, purpose-driven travelers, and anyone who wants to make a positive impact while exploring Nairobi.

Morning Game Drive in Nairobi National Park

We begin early with a guided game drive through Nairobi National Park, the world’s only national park set within a capital city.

Despite the city skyline in the distance, the park protects a thriving ecosystem where black rhinos, lions, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and antelope roam freely. Early morning offers the best wildlife activity, and your professional safari guide uses tracking skills and local knowledge to maximize sightings.

A stop at the Ivory Burning Site Monument adds powerful context, marking Kenya’s stand against the ivory trade and its commitment to wildlife protection. Park entry fees directly support conservation, habitat management, and anti-poaching initiatives.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: Elephant Conservation Experience

Next, we head to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Nairobi Nursery for the public visit, carefully timed around the orphans’ midday milk feed and mud bath.

From designated viewing areas, you’ll watch young elephants emerge from the forest for their bottles before gathering for playtime. Watch as they splash in the mud, dust bathe, and interact with one another. And the best part? Each visit is unique.

A senior keeper introduces each orphan, sharing their rescue story, personality, and how they are being rehabilitated for eventual reintegration into the wild. Time is set aside for questions, allowing guests to understand the broader conservation work happening across Kenya.

Guests may also choose to adopt an orphan, directly supporting the long-term care of rescued elephants and receiving ongoing updates.

Lunch in Karen & Optional Karen Blixen Museum Tour

Lunch is enjoyed in the leafy suburb of Karen, a tranquil escape at the foot of the Ngong Hills.

Guests may choose to add an optional visit to the Karen Blixen Museum, located on the former coffee estate where the author of Out of Africa lived between 1917 and 1931. Walking through the house feels like stepping into a preserved chapter of Kenyan history.

Guides share stories of Blixen’s life, resilience, and relationships, while original furnishings, books, and photographs bring the era to life. The surrounding gardens invite guests to slow down, wander, and take in sweeping views toward the Ngong Hills.

The museum is open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and is family-friendly. Photography is allowed, with some restrictions indoors.

Giraffe Centre Nairobi: Rothschild’s Giraffe Conservation Visit

The journey continues to the Giraffe Centre, dedicated to protecting the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.

Guided by on-site educators, you’ll enter the browsing area where giraffes are fed specially prepared pellets made from natural ingredients. Feeding takes place from a raised platform, allowing safe, respectful interaction and close observation of giraffe behavior.

A short conservation talk at the Information Centre explains:

• Why Rothschild’s giraffes are endangered
• How habitat loss affects wildlife
• How conservation programs protect giraffes across Kenya

Guests may also explore the 1.5-kilometre nature trail, winding through indigenous forest, bird habitats, and scenic viewpoints overlooking the Ngong Hills. Small wildlife sightings are common, and the walk offers a peaceful contrast to the city.

Before departure, visitors can relax at the Tea House or browse the Daisy Zoovenir Gift Shop. It’s a meaningful way to support conservation, as approximately 90% of the Centre’s funding comes from entrance fees and on-site purchases.

Why This Nairobi Full-Day Safari Makes an Impact

This isn’t just a sightseeing tour but a day spent actively supporting Kenya’s wildlife, people, and conservation future.

Every stop on this full-day Nairobi safari has been chosen because it contributes directly to wildlife protection, habitat conservation, and community empowerment. When you join this experience, your visit becomes part of a larger conservation story.

Supporting Elephant Rescue & Rehabilitation

Your visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust directly funds the rescue, veterinary care, and long-term reintegration of orphaned elephants affected by poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. Entrance fees, adoptions, and donations go straight into caring for elephants until they are strong enough to return to the wild.

Protecting Endangered Rothschild’s Giraffes

At the Giraffe Centre, your entrance fee helps protect one of the world’s most endangered giraffe species. Approximately 90% of the Centre’s funding comes from visitor support, including entrance fees, the Tea House, and the Daisy Zoovenir Shop. These funds support giraffe breeding programs, habitat protection, and conservation education across Kenya.

Conserving Urban Wildlife at Nairobi National Park

By visiting Nairobi National Park, you help sustain one of Africa’s most unique conservation successes, a fully functioning ecosystem coexisting beside a capital city. Park fees support anti-poaching efforts, wildlife monitoring, ranger patrols, and habitat management for species like black rhinos, lions, and cheetahs.

Ethical Tourism That Benefits Local Communities

We work exclusively with local, professional safari guides, pay fair wages, and prioritize responsible tourism partners. Your tour supports Kenyan livelihoods while encouraging conservation-first travel choices.

Travel That Leaves a Positive Footprint

This safari proves that meaningful impact doesn’t require long distances or luxury excess; instead, it begins with thoughtful choices, responsible partners, and informed travelers.

When you travel with us, you don’t just witness conservation, you become part of it.

What to Bring

• Passport or ID
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
• Camera (no flash at conservation sites)
• Reusable water bottle
• Light jacket for early morning