Safari Day Trips from Nairobi: Four Ways to See Wildlife in a Day
A layover, a business trip, or a spare day before a longer safari: you do not need a week to see Kenya's wildlife. Nairobi National Park sits on the edge of the city, about half an hour from most hotels, and the Rift Valley lakes are close enough to reach and return from in a day.
We run four day trips from Nairobi. Here they are side by side.
| Trip | Pick-up | What you see | 1 guest | 2 guests | 7 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi National Park Safari | 7:00 AM, back about 12:30 PM | A morning game drive | USD 403 | USD 278 | USD 189 |
| Wild Trails of Nairobi | 7:00 AM, back about 1:30 PM | The park, then the Giraffe Centre | USD 423 | USD 298 | USD 209 |
| Nairobi City Tour | 6:00 AM, back about 1:30 PM | The park, the elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre | USD 463 | USD 338 | USD 249 |
| Lake Naivasha Wildlife & Boat Adventure | Early morning, full day | A guided walk and a boat ride among hippos | USD 245 | USD 175 | USD 125 |
Prices are per person. They fall as the group grows because the vehicle, driver-guide and fuel cost the same for two people as for seven.
Nairobi National Park Safari
The simplest option, and the quickest. You are collected from your hotel at 7:00 AM and in the park by about 7:30, when the animals are most active. Look for lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, ostriches and warthogs, with the city skyline behind them. You are back by about 12:30 PM, so the afternoon is still yours.
The park entrance fee is included, and you travel in a 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with an English-speaking driver-guide.
One thing the park does not have is elephants. If you want to see them in a day, choose the City Tour below.
Wild Trails of Nairobi
The same morning game drive, followed by the Giraffe Centre, a conservation centre for the endangered Rothschild's giraffe, where you can get close to the giraffes from a raised platform. Back by about 1:30 PM.
Nairobi City Tour
Despite the name, this is a wildlife day rather than a tour of the city. It starts earlier, with a 6:00 AM pick-up and a sunrise game drive, because the day is timed around the elephant orphanage run by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where you watch the orphaned baby elephants being fed and taking their mud bath. The Giraffe Centre follows, and you are back by about 1:30 PM.
It is the most you can see in a single morning around Nairobi.
Lake Naivasha Wildlife & Boat Adventure
The one that leaves the city. An early departure takes you down into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake with hippos, fish eagles and plenty of water birds. You take a guided nature walk at Sanctuary Farm, stop for lunch, then go out on the lake by boat.
This trip uses a comfortable Esquire van rather than a Land Cruiser, and lunch is at your own cost. It is also the cheapest of the four, from USD 125 per person for a group of seven.
Which one should you choose?
- One free morning: Nairobi National Park Safari.
- You want to meet the giraffes: Wild Trails of Nairobi.
- You want elephants too, and do not mind an early start: Nairobi City Tour.
- You would rather get out of the city and onto the water: Lake Naivasha.
If one day turns into three, the Amboseli Safari and Explore Ol Pejeta are our shortest overnight trips. Every trip is compared in the Trip Guide.
Starting prices are per person, checked on 29 September 2026. Each trip page always shows the current price for your group size and season.
Common questions
Can I do a safari in one day from Nairobi?
Yes. Safari Boyz runs four day trips from Nairobi: Nairobi National Park Safari, Wild Trails of Nairobi, Nairobi City Tour and the Lake Naivasha Wildlife & Boat Adventure, from USD 125 per person.
How much does a Nairobi National Park day trip cost?
From USD 189 per person for a group of seven, rising to USD 403 for one person travelling alone. The park entrance fee, the Land Cruiser and the driver-guide are included.
Are there elephants in Nairobi National Park?
No. The park has lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, ostriches and warthogs, but no elephants. The Nairobi City Tour adds the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage to the game drive.
Is lunch included on the Lake Naivasha day trip?
No. The Lake Naivasha trip stops for lunch between the guided walk and the boat ride, and lunch is at your own cost.
Where do the Nairobi day trips pick you up?
The three Nairobi trips collect you from your hotel or another chosen location in Nairobi, at 7:00 AM, or 6:00 AM for the City Tour. The Lake Naivasha trip leaves Nairobi early in the morning.
