Nairobi Tented Camp
DoinDubai has personally spent time with GameWatchers staff, visited their offices in Nairobi and experienced one of the packages on offer from start to finish to ensure what you are getting is exactly what is offered. I have every confidence in the integrity and organization of Gamewatchers and so should you.
DoinDubai is delighted to offer our subscribers 30% off rack rates for some of the best safaris around including this brilliant safari at the Nairobi Tented Camp. Have a look at the OFFER. Our subscribers will be sent a newsletter with the unique offer code they can use to avail the discounts.
Safari in the City within Nairobi National Park
with Gamewatchers and Nairobi Tented Camp.
You don’t have to buy an expensive flying package to the Masaai Mara to experience a Kenyan wildlife safari. Nairobi – under 5 hours direct flight time away from Dubai – has it’s very own National Park that is home to Lions, Hyenas, Giraffe, Buffalos, Rhinos, Ostrich, Hippos and of course all manner of gazelles and plains game. The park is 117 square kilometers in size and entry to and from the park’s 2 official gates is strictly controlled by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Getting to the Nairobi Tented Camp
in Nairobi National Park
Our family chose to do an overnight stay at the only camp in the park – Nairobi Tented Camp – with Gamewatchers Safaris who organized everything very smoothly for us from start to finish. Gamewatchers can either pick you up with an English speaking driver and vehicle from your accommodation in Nairobi at an allocated time or collect you straight from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta international airport. That way you can travel direct to the park on arrival in Nairobi. If you arrive any time during the day, it’s possible for Gamewatchers to take you through to the park using the East gate on the Mombasa road resulting in a smooth 20 minute journey to start your safari (traffic permitting) If you arrive at night, you go through the main gate that’s still only around 45 minutes or so away.
Entry fees to the Nairobi National Park
Entry fees to the park are completely independent of any safari or game drive package as this money goes directly to the Kenya Wildlife Service. Expect to pay USD 85 for an adult and USD 50 for children aged between 3 and 18 years old if you are not Kenya citizens and are planning on spending the night in the park. We paid in cash. They have change in US dollars if you don’t have the exact money. Local Kenya citizens pay only USD 5!
Game drives and excursions within
the Nairobi Tented Camp
Upon arriving at the park, Gamewatchers transferred us and our over night bags to a real safari style open topped vehicle that would take us on all our game drives and deliver us to the Nairobi Tented Camp. Andrew Saruni, our guide who was also our driver was extremely competent and knowledgeable. There are some obvious but sensible rules you have to obey while in the park to ensure your safety and an enjoyable time. Do listen carefully to the driver and take the rules seriously to avoid any mishaps.
Your game drive starts as soon as you enter the park and some animals we saw at first were not what we expected! We first saw a very well camouflaged tortoise and plenty of different safari birds. There is a real atmosphere of excitement at spotting the animals and even adults become very competitive and eagle eyed from the moment they enter the park! There is nothing quite as majestic as when you see your first giraffe walking slowly down the road to meet you! Hyenas that cackle in the night are not so friendly!
It is incredible to see rhinos and buffalos against the backdrop of a developed city. This is one reason visiting this park is so special. It’s also remarkable how so many species literally live side by side in such harmony! I didn’t realize that the park is open from the South side so animals can wander into the grounds of the park from Amboseli.
Nairobi Tented Camp in the park
Game drives can last from between 2 to 3 hours and you will be incredibly relieved at the site of the camp where you can unwind and relax for a while. Nairobi Tented Camp has been open for the 6 years and has been managed by Gamewatchers for the last 4. It has 9 sleeping tents and I would class them as comfortable more than luxurious, but the hot water bottles in your bed under soft duvets on a cold night are getting pretty close to luxury in the bush! Tents have their own en suite washroom facilities and safari style showers. It’s very atmospheric to be woken up with a tray or coffee, tea or hot chocolate before dawn being slipped into your tent! We felt completely safe throughout our stay. Meals and snacks are taken in the dining or the Mess tents which are a minute or so walk from the accommodation tents. Food is of a very good standard and there is a generous drinks allowance included in the package. We all loved sitting round the fire after dinner but do bring your own marshmallows for toasting though!
What to expect at Nairobi Tented Camp
Good quality, comfortable accommodation with meals and excellent game drives. If you have any special dietary requirements then do inform Gamewatchers before hand and they will do their best to cater to your needs. Expect to experience bush life without the inconveniences of roughing it out in the wild. I was very impressed with our guide’s knowledge of the animals and the park. Although there are 135 lions in the park, you are not guaranteed to see them especially if you only do one game drive. You will however be guaranteed to see plenty of other animals. Running water is available in all tents. Gamewatchers also provide you with a very thoughtful flask of drinking water. Remember roads are very rough and rugged so you will feel a little like washing does in a machine at times!
What to take with you to
the Nairobi Tented Camp
A small overnight bag with a change of clothes and basic toiletries, that way if you do go from the airport, you don’t have to unpack your main suitcase. Good, comfortable walking shoes are essential. I suggest you bring hiking boots or at least trainers and a few good pairs of thick, cotton socks. Do bring layers with you, it’s cold in the mornings so we needed warm fleeces and jackets, but as it warms up, you need to de layer quite a bit. Do bring all your camera equipment, binoculars and a good pair of sunglasses with a string around them. I also suggest bringing some mosquito repellent to have handy. Gamewatchers also own and manage a number of other camps in different conservancies outside the Mara, the most luxurious of which is Porini Lion Camp.
Want to know more about Nairobi ?
Then link to the Visiting Nairobi post. You’ll read about off the beaten track places to eat and stay as well as ideas for the best bits of Kenya’s coast.
Have a super city Safari and Nairobi break!
