Nairobi Orphanage, also known as the Nairobi Safari Walk, gets an average of 200,000 visitors each year. The Orphanage is an educational part of the trip to Nairobi National Park. It primarily serves as a least-cost attraction for common Kenyans including many school children who may not be able to visit the park.
The orphanage is one of the most famous attractions in Nairobi and one of the best things to visit in Kenya.
Located just inside Nairobi National Park, Nairobi Animal Orphanage is just 20 minutes from the center of Nairobi.
The orphanage is situated near Kenya Wildlife Service, along Langata Road. It is about a 7 km walk or drive from the city centre.
Public Transportation: You can get matato or a bus at the Nairobi Railway Station. Take the one headed to Rongai, it will charge you KES 40.
Private Transportation: You can request an uber or take a cab to the orphanage.
The Nairobi Animal Orphanage is open daily from 8am to 5pm.
Nairobi Tented Camp is the only accommodation inside the park. Located in the west of the park, it includes nine luxurious permanent tents. Meals are served in the dining tent or in the bush, under the skies and stars. It is an unforgettable experience.
Located in Nairobi National Park, the orphanage has the same climate conditions. The climate in the orphanage is dry except during the rainy season. Nairobi tends to be mild all year round, due to being at an elevation of 5450 feet.
From December to March, the average temperatures are 77-82 F (25-28 C) during the day. At nights, the temperatures decrease to 55 F (13 C). This is the best time to enjoy a warm spring.
July to September are the cooler dry months, the average day temperatures range between 70-77 F (21-25 C), and decreases at night to 52 (11 C).
The area experiences two rainy seasons. The long season is from mid-March to May while the short one is from late October to November and December.
The best time to visit Nairobi Animal Orphanage is all year-long, as the park has mild temperatures. However, it is better during the dry months, from July to October, and also January and February.
The orphanage serves as both a conservation facility for animals in need for care, and also an educational resource for the public, especially kids who do not have the chance to observe these animals in the wild.
Established in 1964, the Orphanage is the oldest one of its kind in Kenya. Nairobi Animal Orphanage offers educational and training services where more than 20 species of animals and bird species are rehabilitated back to health after being abandoned and injured.
Each of the animals in the orphanage has been taken by park rangers and been provided with medical treatment. After that, they get placed in an individual rehabilitation program, giving them a second chance of life. Just like Elephant and Rhino Nursery, the purpose of treating the animals well and helping them get back their health is releasing them to the African wild again.
The Orphanage helps herbivores such as monkeys, baboon, buffalo, warthog as well as carnivores such as lion, cheetah, rare Sokoke cat, jackal, serval, hyena, and many others.
Like mammals, Ostrich, parrot, guinea fowl and crown crane are just some of the avifauna that are rescued and treated by the orphanage. All of the animals receive medical examinations and necessary treatment before being placed in a feeding and rehabilitation program based on the individual needs.
Observing animals at the orphanage is different and not as majestic as spotting them roaming in the wild in healthy conditions. However, the experience of visiting Nairobi Animal Orphanage is one of a kind. It is exciting to interact close-up with the wildlife and also knowing that these animals are survivors.
While being there, you don’t need a guide. All animals’ cages are labelled with information for you, from the smallest bird to lions. The label mentions their stories, how they were rescued, where they came from, who took care of them in the orphanage, and lastly whether they were injured and abandoned.