Nairobi National Park Directions: Your Guide to get to Kenya’s Wildlife Park

Getting to the Park: Entrance Points

Nairobi National Park has several entry points and the one that’s best for you will depend on where you are coming from and how you are getting there. From my experience, it really helps to know your options, so let’s walk through the most popular Nairobi National Park entrance gates:

Langata Gate: This is often considered the main entrance and is very convenient for those coming from the city centre or Langata suburb.

East Gate: Located along Mombasa Road, the East Gate is very convenient for those coming from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) or the eastern parts of Nairobi.

Mbagathi Gate: Situated on the southern periphery of the park, access to Mbagathi Gate is mainly via Mbagathi Road.

Kitengela Gate: Further south, this gate serves areas like Kitengela and its surroundings.

Pro tip: Use a visual aid to help you understand the park’s layout and the location of each gate, check out an online Nairobi National Park map. You can find one by doing a quick web search.

Getting Here: Detailed Directions

Whether you plan to drive yourself, hail a taxi or explore other options, here’s a breakdown of the best ways to get to Nairobi National Park:

Driving or Taxi

To get to the park from the city center: head southwest along Kenyatta Avenue and connect to Lang’ata road. Stay on Lang’ata Road and follow the signs until you reach the park entrance. This journey takes about 30-45 minutes depending on Nairobi’s traffic. For the East Gate, your route will be mainly southeast on Mombasa Road.

From Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), you can;

1. Drive west along Mombasa Road towards the city and follow the signs to the park’s entrance
2. You can also use the southern bypass which loops around the city and connects to Lang’ata, where you’ll find Lang’ata Gate.  

Ride-Hailing: Uber and Bolt operate widely in Nairobi and is a great way to get to your chosen Nairobi National Park location. Simply input “Nairobi National Park – Langata Gate” or “Nairobi National Park – East Gate” as your destination.

Public Transport

While there is limited direct public transport to the park gates, you can take a local minibus (matatu) to Langata. Alight near the park entrance and from there you might need a short taxi or motorcycle taxi (boda-boda) to get to the gate. However, for a more comfortable and hassle-free experience, especially considering park entry procedures and any luggage you may have, a private vehicle or taxi is generally the best option.