A little safari, right here
Enjoy time in a real wildlife habitat before moving on to Nairobi's conservation and heritage attractions.
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Your own guide · A day to rememberPrivate Nairobi City Tour:
Wildlife, Culture & You
Only have a day in Nairobi? Let's make it a wonderful one. Start with wildlife against the city skyline, meet the elephants at the nursery, visit the giraffes and enjoy a little history in Karen. Your own vehicle, your own guide and a day full of stories to take home.
Request your private tour quote
Highlights
- An early game drive in Nairobi National Park, looking for rhinos, lions, giraffes and more.
- The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's elephant nursery visit, with an advance reservation.
- Giraffe Centre conservation stories and a close view from the visitor platform.
- Karen Blixen Museum and the story behind Out of Africa.
- A relaxed lunch stop, with the restaurant chosen around your tastes.
- Your own private vehicle and English-speaking driver guide.
Visiting before your safari, enjoying a free day on a business trip or bringing the family along? This is a lovely way to get to know Nairobi beyond the airport and hotel.
Your tour at a glance
| Duration | One full day, approximately 6am to 5–6pm |
|---|---|
| Tour style | Private vehicle and guide for your party |
| Starts / ends | Nairobi hotel; airport arrangements on request |
| Main stops | Nairobi National Park, Sheldrick nursery, Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen Museum |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch stops available; meals paid separately |
| Availability | On request, with nursery reservation confirmed before booking |
| Price | Personalised quote for your dates and group |
Local people, personal care
Plan directly with our Nairobi team and travel with a guide who helps bring the day's places and stories together.
A plan that fits you
Tell us your priorities, children's ages and available hours. We can suggest a shorter version if a full day feels too much.
One day · Plenty to discover
Your Nairobi adventure, from morning to evening
Here is how your day can unfold. We plan the route around the nursery's confirmed visiting hour, traffic and your pickup point, leaving time for meals and a comfortable return.
Nairobi pickup → National Park → Elephant nursery → Lunch → Giraffe Centre → Karen Blixen Museum → Nairobi drop-off
6:00amApproximate pickup
A friendly welcome and an early start
Your driver guide meets you at your Nairobi hotel and you set off towards the park. Bring a light layer for the cool morning, your camera and a little excitement for the day ahead. Airport pickup can be arranged once we have checked your flight details and luggage needs.
6:30amMorning game drive
Wildlife with a city skyline
Leave the busy streets behind for the open spaces of Nairobi National Park. Your guide helps you look for rhinos, lions, buffalo, giraffes, zebra and birdlife, pausing when something special catches your eye. Sightings vary, which is part of the pleasure of a real game drive.
9:30amTime to pause
A breakfast break before the elephants
Enjoy a breakfast stop if you wish, paid directly at your chosen café. We keep the stop practical so there is time to reach the nursery before its fixed visiting hour. Your guide confirms the morning's timing with you.
11am–noonAdvance booking required
Meet the elephants and hear their stories
Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Nairobi Nursery during its public visiting hour. Watch the young elephants with their keepers and learn about their care and rehabilitation. It is a moving stop for many visitors and a chance to understand the work behind the animals' recovery.
The nursery visit depends on an advance reservation. If your date is unavailable, we will discuss an alternative plan with you before you book.
12:30pmLunch at your own cost
Something delicious in Karen or Lang'ata
Take a break over lunch at a restaurant that suits your tastes and budget. Prefer Kenyan flavours, a vegetarian meal or somewhere easy with children? Tell us when you enquire so we can suggest a suitable stop. Food and drinks are paid separately.
1:30pmGiraffe Centre
Come face to face with Nairobi's tall residents
At the Giraffe Centre, enjoy a closer view of the giraffes from the raised platform and learn about their conservation. Follow the centre team's guidance for any feeding or interaction. There is time to enjoy the moment, ask questions and take photographs.
3:00pmKaren Blixen Museum
A different chapter of Nairobi's story
Continue to the former home of author Karen Blixen. Explore the museum and grounds and discover the history connected with Out of Africa. It is a gentle change of pace after the morning's wildlife and conservation visits.
Late afternoonOptional stop, if time allows
A little browsing, or a comfortable journey home
If the day allows, ask about a craft or market stop for beadwork, gifts and keepsakes. Market locations and trading days vary. A cultural performance can also be discussed separately where a current programme is available; tickets and any extra arrangements are quoted separately.
Return to your Nairobi hotel around 5–6pm, depending on traffic and the agreed stops. For an airport drop-off, we work backwards from your flight and allow the necessary check-in buffer.
Planning around the elephants: the nursery's public visit runs from 11am to noon and requires advance booking. Its admission donation is separate from Kenya Wildlife Service park entry. Our written quote will identify both charges and explain payment arrangements, so you know exactly what is covered.
What's included in your private day tour?
Included in the full tour proposal
- Private safari vehicle for your travelling party, with vehicle type confirmed in your quote.
- Professional English-speaking driver guide.
- Nairobi hotel pickup and drop-off at the agreed locations.
- Drinking water during the tour.
- Nairobi National Park game drive.
- Park entry and admission arrangements for the four main stops: National Park, Sheldrick nursery, Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen Museum.
- PMK assistance with the nursery reservation, subject to availability.
Paid separately
- Breakfast, lunch, drinks and personal purchases.
- Optional craft shopping or cultural show tickets and any extra arrangements.
- Voluntary elephant adoptions or donations beyond the quoted admission.
- Guide gratuities.
- Flights, travel insurance and accommodation.
- Additional transfers or hours beyond the agreed itinerary.
Your dated quote confirms the admission charges, visitor categories, reservation status and pickup arrangements. Any airport transfer charge is identified before booking. Review PMK's booking terms alongside your proposal.
Plan directly with our Nairobi teamYour day. Your party.
Your day. Your party.
Your personal quote.
Tell us your date and how many people are coming. We will check the nursery reservation and prepare a clear quote for your private tour.
Children's ages and visitor categories affect admission charges. Your pickup point, vehicle choice and any extra stops also shape the final price.
Request a quote for the complete day, with the main attraction fees and optional costs explained.
Flying in or out the same day?
Send your flight numbers and times before confirming. This full-day tour is best enjoyed with a full free day; for a shorter stopover, we can suggest a practical selection of visits.
Discuss my day on WhatsApp →Let's plan your Nairobi day
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A friendly face from the start
Enjoy Nairobi with people who call it home.
Share what you are looking forward to and let our team handle the day's arrangements. We want you to feel welcomed, informed and comfortable from your first message to your drop-off.
Meet the PMK team and read independent guest feedback before you decide.
Your Nairobi city tour questions
Is this tour private?
Yes. The vehicle and driver guide are reserved for your party. We agree your pickup, main stops and any changes before you book.
Can you guarantee the elephant nursery visit?
The Sheldrick nursery requires an advance reservation for its 11am to noon public visit. We check availability before confirming that stop. If it is unavailable, we will discuss a revised itinerary and quote with you.
Will we see the Big Five in Nairobi National Park?
The park offers opportunities to look for rhinos, lions, buffalo, giraffes and other wildlife. It is not an elephant destination, so we do not promise a Big Five game drive. The elephant nursery is a separate, pre-booked visit.
Are meals and entry fees included?
The full tour proposal covers admission arrangements for the four main attractions, with park entry and the nursery admission donation identified separately. Breakfast and lunch are paid separately. Your written quote confirms the amounts and payment arrangements.
Can I do this during an airport layover?
Send your arrival and departure details first. We check the time available, traffic, airport procedures and nursery reservation before recommending a route. A short layover may be better suited to fewer stops.
Can children join the tour?
Yes. Share their ages, any child-seat requirements and your preferred pace before booking. It is a long day, so we can discuss fewer stops and more breaks for younger children.
Can we add a cultural show or market?
We can discuss an optional stop if it fits the day's timing. Market days and performance schedules must be checked, and any additional tickets or arrangements are quoted separately.
What should we bring?
Comfortable shoes, a light morning layer, sun protection, a camera and any personal essentials. Ask us about luggage arrangements if you need an airport transfer.
Visitor arrangements checked 21 October 2026: Sheldrick nursery visitor information, Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen Museum. Reservations and access are reconfirmed for your date.
Have a few more days in Kenya?
Pair your Nairobi day with our 3-day private Masai Mara safari, or compare the 7-day Kenya safari and 10-day private safari. We will help the city day and your wider trip fit together.
Plan my Nairobi city tour