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The 117 km2
Nairobi National Park is unique by being the only protected area in
the world with a variety of animals and birds close to a major city.
As expected, the park is a principal attraction for visitors to
Nairobi. The park also serves many residents and citizens living in
the city.
The park has a
diversity of environments with characteristic fauna and flora. Open
grass plains with scattered acacia bush predominant. The western side
has a highland dry forest and a permanent river with a riverine
forest. In addition, there are stretches of broken bush country and
deep, rocky valleys and gorges with scrub and long grass. Man-made
dams have also added a further habitat, favourable to certain species
of birds and other aquatic biota. The dams also attract water
dependent herbivores during the dry season.
The park has diverse
birdlife with 400 species recorded. However all species are not always
present and much depends on season. Northern migrants pass through the
park primarily during late March through April.
Nairobi National
Park is one of the most successful of Kenya's rhino sanctuaries that
is already generating a stock for reintroduction in the species former
range. Due to this success, it is one of the few parks where a visitor
can be certain of seeing a black rhino in its natural habitat.
Wildlife; Bushbuck,,
Hunting Dog, leopard, lion, hippos, hyena, eland, bush duiker, impala,
lackals, hartebeest, wildebeest, zebra, grant and thomson gazelle,
cheetah, civet, giraffe, klipspringer, reedbuck, waterbuck, black
rhino, african buffalo....
Birds; doves, drongo,vultures,
eagles, egrets, cockoo...
Reptiles:Python,
Cobra, Monitor Lizard, Crocodile Terrapin, Tortoise, Lizard
Insects/arthropods:Grasshopper,
Butterfly, Moth, Beetle, Scorpions. |
