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1-Day Safari From Nairobi - Compare 138 Tours

4.6/5  –  1,708 Kenya Reviews

Most Kenyan safaris begin in Nairobi, and there’s no better place in the country for going on a 1-Day safari. How far you can go depends on whether you drive or fly (the latter is more expensive but greatly increases your options). And don’t forget that Nairobi has its very own national park and that means you can even go on safari without leaving the city. Also working in your favor is that many Nairobi tour operators have plenty of experience in organizing day safaris or packages from the city, and they should be able to give you a range of possibilities to consider.

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6 Questions About 1-Day Safari From Nairobi

1. Which parks can I visit on a 1-Day safari from Nairobi?
2. Can I see the Big Five on a 1-Day trip?
3. Is it possible to visit Masai Mara NR on a day trip from Nairobi?
4. Is 1 day a good amount of time for a safari from Nairobi?
5. What is the best time of year for a day trip from Nairobi?
6. What other day tours can be done from Nairobi?
 
 

6 Questions About 1-Day Safari From Nairobi

Answered by Anthony Ham

Which parks can I visit on a 1-Day safari from Nairobi?

“The most commonly visited national park on a day safari from Kenya’s capital is, of course, Nairobi National Park. It’s right on the southern fringe of the city and, if you’re lucky, you might even get a picture of a rhino, lion, buffalo, giraffe or zebra with the city skyscrapers in the background. If you do visit Nairobi NP, make sure that you visit both early in the morning and late in the afternoon to maximize your chances of seeing animals. Other parks that can be reached on a day trip from Nairobi include Lake Nakuru and Amboseli National Parks and even (if you fly) Masai Mara National Reserve. In fact, for any parks that you can reach in a day from Nairobi, flying is recommended. Otherwise, you will spend all day traveling to and from your destination, which takes away from the time you can spend in the park itself. And, of course, if you fly early in the morning, you might even be out looking for animals before the sun gets too high in the sky.”

1

Can I see the Big Five on a 1-Day trip?

“In theory you could see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) on a 1-Day safari from Nairobi, but you’d have to be incredibly lucky. The main difficulty is that in parks where it is relatively easy to see rhinos (e.g. Nairobi and Lake Nakuru National Parks) you won’t see elephants, and vice versa: in Amboseli there are lots of elephants but no rhinos. Similarly, in the parks with the best chance of seeing big cats (lion, leopard and cheetah), such as Masai Mara, you’re very unlikely to see rhinos, which are found only in the park’s north and rarely seen except very early in the morning and in the late afternoon. Perhaps the best chance of seeing all of the Big Five in one place is Ol Pejeta Conservancy, but seeing them all in just a day is very rare. Leaving aside the Big Five, there are still lots of other wonderful safari animals to see, perhaps including giraffe, zebra, hippo and different antelope species.”

2

Is it possible to visit Masai Mara NR on a day trip from Nairobi?

“Yes, you could visit the Masai Mara NR on a day trip from Nairobi. However, considering that it takes around four to five hours to drive to the reserve from Nairobi, and the same to return, it really only works if you’re willing (and can afford) to fly. If you were to fly from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport very early in the morning and into one of the airstrips inside the Masai Mara, you could set yourself up for an excellent safari day. You’d need to leave in the late afternoon for the return flight, but on both flights you’d have wonderful views of the reserve (and possibly even see some animals from the plane!).”

3

Is 1 day a good amount of time for a safari from Nairobi?

“One day is a very short amount of time for a safari from Nairobi, and you’ll certainly wish that you had more time. But if 1 day is all you have, you can still enjoy an excellent safari. Or to put it another way, if you only have 1 day in Nairobi, then there’s no better way to spend it than on a safari day trip. To ensure you make the most of your day, plan it in advance. Spend as much time as you can discussing the various options with prospective tour operators, and make sure you understand exactly where you’ll be going and what you’ll be doing.”

4

What is the best time of year for a day trip from Nairobi?

“If your 1-Day safari involves time spent in Nairobi NP, then the time of year shouldn’t have too much impact on whether you’re able to enjoy your safari to the fullest. Yes, it’s more likely to rain in November, or from March to May, but very often during these months you’ll enjoy clear skies and very few other safari vehicles. If you’re visiting a park beyond Nairobi, then the best months are usually during the June-to-October Dry season. This can vary from one park or region of the country to the next, so check the weather conditions before deciding where to go. The Dry season is also usually high season, so prices may be higher, but the upsides are the blue skies and milder temperatures. Throughout Kenya, January and February can be very hot.”

5

What other day tours can be done from Nairobi?

“Other possible day tours from Nairobi include a tour of Kiambethu Tea Farm, or a trip to Mount Longonot National Park, where you can climb to the summit of a volcano and then circumnavigate the crater rim before climbing back down. If you get an early start, you might even be able to combine this with a cycle through Hell’s Gate National Park. Alternatively, you could visit Lake Magadi with a stop at Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site en route. The old colonial town of Thika, northeast of Nairobi, is another option, with a pretty waterfall nearby. Nairobi itself also has many attractions of its own to fill a day if you don’t feel like straying too far. Highlights include Karen Blixen Museum (where you can relive your fantasies from the film ‘Out of Africa’) and the Giraffe Centre (where you’ll come face to face with an Endangered Rothschild’s giraffe). Or visit Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, home to Kenya’s cutest elephant orphans. Factor in lunch at the world-famous Carnivore Restaurant.”

6

Kenya Reviews

4.6/5 1,708 Reviews
Expert
Nana Luckham  –  
United Kingdom UK

Nana is a travel writer and author of multiple guidebooks, including the Lonely Planet guides to Africa, Zambia & Malawi and South Africa.

From Game-Packed Hot Spots to Little-Known Wilderness
5/5

Kenya’s stunning landscapes include rainforest, beaches, deserts and mountains, but it’s the first-class wildlife watching that keeps so many visitors flocking back. Not only is it one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five,...

Full Review

Expert
Anthony Ham  –  
Australia AU

Anthony is a photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet, including the guides to Kenya and Botswana & Namibia.

Kenya: Home of the East African Safari
5/5

When you’re talking safaris, there’s really nowhere quite like Kenya, and that’s largely because Kenya’s portfolio of wildlife is outstanding. It was here that elephants and rhinos were pushed to the brink of extinction by poachers...

Full Review

Margaret  –  
United States US
Reviewed: May 8, 2026
Exceeded every expectation that I had!
5/5

I have always dreamed of going on a safari in Africa, but thought it would be unattainable. I started researching some tour operators and found that the cost was not as much as I thought! We chose a company with mid-range accommodations...

Full Review

Norbert  –  
Germany DE
Reviewed: May 5, 2026
Kenya – a country and its people that are well worth getting to know
5/5

We thought Kenya and its people were wonderful. We were fascinated by the people’s calm demeanour. The landscape was breathtaking. We had booked a safari in the Maasai Mara, Lake Naivasha und Lake Nakuru including Hells Gate. We were...

Full Review

SM  –  
Japan JP
Reviewed: May 5, 2026
Unforgettable Safari Experience with Incredible Wildlife and Sunsets
5/5

Kenya exceeded all my expectations. We were incredibly lucky to see four of the "Big Five" (everything except the rhino), along with rare sightings like the Serval cat, which was a real highlight. The accommodations were outstanding. The...

Full Review

Tom  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Apr 11, 2026
We experienced the best and worst of what Kenya has to offer
4/5

We visited Kenya for roughly two weeks in March, 2026. We were on a fantastic safari for seven days which brought us to Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Hells Gate and Masai Mara Parks/Preserves. The lodging, all Sopa Lodges, was...

Full Review

All 1708 Kenya Reviews