Whenever I visit a new city, especially if I am staying a while, I always look for a “Central Park” or greenspace. Somewhere to take a break from city life and sink into nature or just sit under a tree.

I was so pleasantly surprised to find incredible greenspaces right in Nairobi. (Almost) all easily accessible via uber or driving. With several options for green spaces ranging from parks to forests, I spent several days enjoying nature while in Nairobi.

Here you will find some of my favorite green spaces in and immediately near Nairobi that were easily accessible, overall safe, and very affordable to visit.

Some notes on Nairobi (and surrounding) greenspaces:

🚰Single use plastic bottles are not permitted in any parks or greenspaces - be sure to bring a water in a reusable bottle. Single use plastice bottles will be taken at the entrance.

🦺Overall, Nairobi greenspaces are safe to explore on your own, however; some recommend a guide for both navigating and potential issues with crime. There are guided experiences available for nearly all of Nairobi’s forests, trails, and nature experiences that can be booked via Get Your Guide, Viator, Trip Advisor, etc if you are more comfortable visiting with a guide.

💵Entry fees are tiered for citizens, residents, and foreign visitors

🥾While the majority of Nairobi’s nature trails and greenspaces are easy to moderate, be sure to take a look at photos and specific trails for difficulty level and always be sure to wear proper footwear, especially during rainy reason where trails can stay wet and/muddy for days after showers.

The Nairobi Arboretum

The Green Lung of the City

The Arboretum is a multi - function facility with environmental, scientific, educational, and recreational objectives. It is a key player in the local, national, and East African regional promotion of increased biodiversity and natural resource protection, better tree management and use, and threatened plant conservation. Its services as a recreational facility for local residents and an ecotourism attraction and environmental awareness.

🗺️Kilimani Arboretum Rd, off State House Rd, Nairobi, Kenya

🕰️Daily 6a-6p

💵Citizen242.00KES, child 63.00KES

Resident479.00KES, child 121.00KES

Non-Resident716.00KES (approx $5.55), 179.00 KES

⭐Cashless payments only

🅿️Ample parking is available at the entrance, for a fee

Admittedly, I didn’t look too deeply into The Nairobi Arboretum before hopping in an Uber and heading to this popular Nairobi park.

I was expecting something a bit vaster with extensive walking trails, which was my own fault for not realizing the Central Nairobi location wouldn’t accommodate that. While I didn’t find extensive walking trails, I did find a beautiful setting offering smaller walking trails (both paved and natural), stunning scenery, and beautiful open spaces perfect for resting, relaxing, picnicking, and/or meeting friends.

This central Nairobi green space is the perfect urban oasis in the middle of the city. Offering a wide range of flora and fauna, as well as an abundance of monkeys, birds and other local wildlife, the Nairobi Arboretum is an ideal spot for individuals, couples, friends, and families looking for a relaxing escape or picnic spot in the city.

Karura Forest

Karura Forest is an urban forest in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. It is the second largest urban forest in the world after the Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro located in Brazil. - Wikipedia

🗺️Karura Forest

🕰️Daily 6a-6p

💵Citizens 116KES, child 58KES

Residents 232KES, child 116KES

Visitors 696KES (approx $5.40), child 248KES

🅿️Ample parking available at all Karura Forest main gates: A, B, C, D, E.

*Payment is by M-Pesa only

🌐Home - Friends of Karura Forest

Just 6km from the city center, Karura Forest is a true oasis in Nairobi, transporting you from the busy city to a calm natural haven. You will instantly forget you are in a bustling capital city while exploring this vast forest with walking trails, waterfalls, stunning views, and occasional wildlife viewings. You can easily spend a whole day here or just take an hour or two to escape city life in Nairobi.

My friend and I spend the better part of a day here, walking about 18km, then enjoying a late lunch and cold beer at The River Café right in the forest. I returned solo to spend a few hours walking through Karura Forest and checking out some of the other trails we missed the first time.

The trails are (mostly) well marked and easy to follow, but my friend and I enjoyed getting a bit lost and just wandering around taking in all this massive greenspace in Nairobi has to offer.

If you are more comfortable with a local guided tour or want to explore Karura Forest on horseback or via a bike tour, click here!

The Oloolua Nature Trail

Set within the gazetted Oloolua Forest, an indigenous dry tropical forest covering approximately 618 hectares, the trail offers a remarkably diverse experience in a compact area combining a waterfall, a historic Mau Mau cave, a papyrus swamp, a bamboo grove, river paths, and peaceful picnic glades.

🗺️Oloolua Forest, Karen Rd, Nairobi

🕰️Sat & Sun 9a-6p, Mon-Fri 9a-5p

💵Citizens 200KES, child 100KES

Residents 400KES, child 200KES

Visitors 600KES, child 300KES

🅿️Parking available at entrance

I was really fortunate to have this amazing Nairobi greenspace very close to my house sit in Karen and visited it a few times during my 3 month stay, exploring different trails, paths, and little pockets of nature within the 618 hectares of Oloolua Forest.

With numerous trails ranging in length (there are designated 5km and 10km trails in addition to the The Oloolua Nature Trail) there is a nature experience for everyone. Featuring a waterfall, caves, stunning views, wildlife sightings, and ample spots to take rests and just take in the greenery and scenery, this is a great greenspace in Nairobi for solo travelers, families, friends, etc of all skill levels.

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Oloolua Forest also offers camping, guided experiences and much more! Check out their website for more details and pricing.

⭐Oloolua is located a bit outside Nairobi Center in Karen, but is in close proximity to the Giraffe Center, Karen Blixen Museum, and Kazuri Bead Factory as well as several great restaurants and shops, making for a great day in Karen.

For must see attractions and activities in Karen, click here!

Ngong Hills

The Ngong Hills are peaks in a ridge along the Great Rift Valley, located southwest near Nairobi, in southern Kenya. The word "Ngong" is an Anglicization of a Maasai phrase "enkong'u emuny" meaning rhinoceros spring, and this name derives from a spring located near Ngong Town. =Wikipedia

🗺️Ngong Town

🕰️Daily 6a-6p (last entry 5p)

💵Citizen 232KES, child 58KES

Resident 464KES, child 174KES

Visitors 696KES, child 174KES

🅿️Parking is available on site

Situated within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Ngong is located about 25–30 km southwest of the city center.

⭐While you might be able to get an Uber to take you here, it may be very difficult to get one on the return to Nairobi City Center.

🦺I went to Ngong with a local male friend and felt very safe the entire time, however; there are many warnings not to hike here without a group, guide, or ranger. There are several Ngong Hills guided experiences on Get Your Guide, Viator, etc. that provide the comfort and ease of transportation, as well as the safety and security of a local guide. You can also hire an on-site ranger to accompany you on your hike, for approximately $10.

Ngong Hills is the most challenging of the nature walks/hikes that I did in Nairobi, but the views and scenery are well worth it.

Compromised of seven distinct peaks, commonly referred to as the “seven knuckles”, Ngong hills is a series of rolling hills, each offering unique vantage points and views of the area below.

If you complete the full out and back, the hike takes about 4-5+ hours depending on your pace and how often you stop for photos and/or breaks.

Stopping to take many photos, have a quick lunch break and move at a moderate pace, my new friend and I completed all 7 hills in approximately 5 hours.

Whether you are an avid hiker, looking for peaceful, calm nature trails, or anything in between, Nairobi is full or greenspaces for any local or visitor to enjoy.

Take to Ngong Hills for a moderately challenging climb with views worth every step, sink into the vast nature of Karura Forest or The Oloolua Nature Trail, or take a slow stroll through The Nairobi Arboretum to escape the chaos and hustle of Kenya’s Capital city and be transported to a peaceful natural oasis.

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