Nairobi National Park
"We had a couple of hours to spare on Sunday, so we popped into the park, and saw a leopard, a rhino and a giraffe giving birth." This comment was made by a local resident about Nairobi National Park, Kenya's oldest animal sanctuary, a glorious stretch of savannah set against dramatic skyline of Nairobi, the cosmopolitan capital city of Kenya.
The only city in the world which neighbours a natural game protection area, harbouring more than 100 species of mammals.
The park borders the traditional South Kapiti Plains and Kitengela Migration Corridor and attracts a range of exciting game. Although it is a seasonal park, most of the game, including the indigenous Black Rhino, live in the protection of the park all year round.
Herds of plains zebra, wildebeest and eland enter the park during the great migration in July and August to enjoy the rich grazing until the next rains come.
In recent years a unique trend has been recorded: with increasing frequency a cheetah has successfully raised seven cubs in the park to the delight of local and international visitors.
The park is also an ideal starting point for ornithological safaris, with more than 400 species of birds.
Nairobi National Park was Kenya's first ever national park. Its golden anniversary occured in 1996/97. It is the site of President Daniel Arap Moi's dramatic ivory bonfire, when in 1989 he torched 10 tons of ivory worth Kshs. 60 million (US$1 million), in a bid to eliminate the mass slaughter of Africa's elephants for their tusks.
The site, near the main gate bears a commemorative plaque with the legendary words "Great objectives often require great sacrifices." Since then, the great fire has been lit twice more to destroy confiscated stocks of poached rhino horn and ivory.
There is no accommodation within the park, but Nairobi offers a wide selection of excellent accommodation to suit all visitor preferences. Many other tourist attractions are located close to the park, making it an ideal day trip venue.
Central Kenya, the Highlands and the Great Rift Valley
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