NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK

Nairobi National Park is unique. Nowhere else in the in the world does there exist a wild reserve with such a variety of animals and birds so close to a major city.  Only four miles separate the center of Nairobi from the Park where game animals, and the large carnivores which prey upon them, exist today in the splendor of half a century ago.

The area of Nairobi National Park is a little over forty-four square miles. Thought of such small dimensions compared with other faunal reserves in East and Central Africa, Nairobi Park possesses a diversity of environments. Each of these has it's own special animals and birds.  Over much of the Park open plains country predominates, with or without scattered acacia bush. There is a section of highland forest in which crotons, Kenya olive, muhugu, ekebergia, markhamia and Cape chestnut are some of the characteristic trees; and a permanent river with fringing riverine forest mainly Yellow-barked Acacia, Acacia xanthophloea, the fever tree of the early explorers. Also there are stretches of broken bush country and deep, rocky valleys and gorges with scrub and long grass. The comparatively recent contraction of dams has added a further type of habitat, favorable to certain birds previously uncommon or even unrecorded.

The main entrance to Nairobi National Park is off the Langata Road, Nairobi, and thence along a road, which traverse a sector of forest before reaching the expanse of plains beyond.  Anywhere in the Park an abundance of animal and bird life can be seen throughout the day, but the ideal time for a visit is shortly afterdawn. At that hour there is a good chance of seeing some of the nocturnal species, not usually encountered, before they disappear into their daytime hideouts.

It is perhaps unnecessary to suggest that the visitor to the Nairobi National Park- and this applies equally to parks elsewhere in East and Central Africa – should proceed slowly, with frequent stops to scan the immediate surroundings through binoculars. Many of the rarely seen animals may be discovered in apparently deserted places by dint of slow progress and diligent searching. 

The large game animals are obviously Nairobi Park's main attraction and many such may be seen, from Lion, Leopard and Cheetah to Masai Giraffe, Zebra and Hippo. Black Rhino are not uncommon especially along forest margins.  Elephant are not found in the park but buffalo, which were introduced, are now common and great herds can now be seen.  Masai Giraffe are also common.

It is among the ungulates that the greatest abundance of animals is found. Impala, Coke's Hartebeest (usually called Kongoni), Wildebeest and Eland can all is considered common, as also Thompson's Gazelle and Grants's Gazelle. These two species may be distinguished at all ages by the extent of white on the buttocks; in Thomson's Gazelle the white stops below the root of the tail; IN Grant's Gazelle the with extends above the base of the tail and on the rump.

The variety of bird life in Nairobi National Park may be gauged by the fact that more species of birds have been observed there than have been recorded in the British Isles.

But birds are not always present in very large numbers. Much depends on the season of the year – northern migrants pass through during late March and in April; on whether rains have been plentiful or poor, recent or remote; and upon the availability of food for both insectivorous birds and of suitable prey for raptorial.

Birds of prey are much in evidence, from the stately Secretary Bird –tow or three pair's nest and are resident – to Martial, Crowned, Tawny and Bateleur Eagles, six species of vulture and a variety of buzzards and hawks. The Augur Buzzard, identified by its red tall and chequered black and white wing patch, is the most common raptor. During March and early April many Montagu's, European Marsh and Pallid Harriers may be seen moving northwards in loose parties, and flocks of migrating common and lesser kestrel are also in evidence.

That associate of vultures, king of the scavenging birds, the Marabou Stork is common around the Park dams and is extremely tame and confiding.  They often rest on their tarsi in a most comical, clown-like manner.

Game birds are represented by Helmeted Guinea fowl and Yellow-necked Spurfowl, which are common in open country alongside Shelly's Francolin and by Scaly Francolins in the forest area.  In some ears Harlequin Quails are extremely abundant in the grasslands and their far- carrying ‘pleet, pleet, pleet, pleet' can be heard on all sides. The larger Capre Quail is an uncommon visitor.

Hartlaub's Turaco –a pigeon –sixed bird with a long broad tail, mainly green and blue-black plumage and vivid red flight feathers – and represents two endemic African bird families, the Traces and Mousebirds, by the Speckled and Blue napped Mousebirds or Collies.  Mousebirds are drab coloured, very long – tailed birds of gregarious habits. The blue-napped species has a patch of turquoise-blue on the back of the head and long, wire-like tail feathers.  It occurs in acacia country while the Speckled Mousebird Keeps to bush near the forest edge.

The largest living bird in the world, the Ostrich, is common on the plains. During the nesting season the male's neck and thighs take on a bright pink hue. Other large birds often encountered are Crowned Crane, Kori Bustard, Ground Hornbill, European White Stork, Abdim's Stork, Egyptian Goose, Black-necked Heron- seen more frequent on dry land, where it accounts for many rodents, than in swampy places – and the wood Ibis or Yellow-billed Stork.

Sunbirds are much in evidence when the flowers they visit are blossom. They favour especial the bushy, orange –flowered leonotis and a greenish-yellow crotolaria bush.

Among the commoner species are Bronzy, Variable, Malachite, Amethyst, Collared and the gem-like black-bellied Beautiful Sunbird.  Weaverbirds and their allies are also well represented. The commonest species are the black-backed Reichenow's Weaver and the mottled-backed Speke's Weaver. The former nest singly while the latter builds colonies in isolated acacia trees.

In the more bushy grasslands the Red-naped Window-bird is numerous and in years of good grass the related Jackson's Widow-bird appears, the male of with constructs dancing rings in the grass wherein to perform to the female.