Nairobi is one of the most exciting starting points for a Kenyan safari. Within a surprisingly small area, you can experience wild animals, conservation projects, local culture, beautiful gardens, excellent food and the stories that have shaped modern Kenya.
At Ololo Safari Lodge, on the southern edge of Nairobi National Park, you can combine all of this into one relaxed Nairobi experience before continuing deeper into Kenya. Rather than simply using Nairobi as a place to sleep before catching your next flight, why not slow down and experience everything this fascinating part of Kenya has to offer?
Whether you have just two nights or want to spend four nights exploring the city and its surroundings, here are three easy itineraries to inspire your next Kenyan safari.
Two nights at Ololo
Two nights gives you a wonderful introduction to Nairobi without feeling rushed. It is enough time to enjoy two game drives, visit some of Nairobi’s best known conservation projects and still have time to enjoy the lodge itself.
Day one
Arrive in Nairobi and make your way to Ololo Safari Lodge, where you can settle into your room and take some time to unwind. Depending on your arrival time, you might want to head straight to the pool, where you can lounge beside the water and soak up views across Nairobi National Park. The gardens are also a lovely place to wander, with birds, farm animals and plenty of quiet corners to discover.
In the afternoon, head out on your first game drive in Nairobi National Park. It is quite something to be watching giraffes, zebra, buffalo and, with a little luck, lions, while the Nairobi skyline sits in the distance. The park is particularly beautiful in the late afternoon as the light softens and wildlife becomes more active.
After your game drive, return to Ololo for dinner. If you feel like slowing the evening down, pour yourself a glass of wine and sit around the fire after dinner while listening to the sounds of the park.
Day two
Start the morning with a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, one of Kenya’s best known elephant conservation projects. Here you can learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants and the wider conservation challenges facing Kenya’s wildlife.
Afterwards, return to Ololo for a farm tour and lunch. Ololo has its own working farm, producing much of the food enjoyed by guests. It is a great opportunity to see where your breakfast, lunch and dinner come from, meet some of the animals and learn more about sustainable food production.
You can then spend a little time enjoying the lodge rather than rushing straight into the next activity. Relax around the pool, take a massage or sauna session in the Ololo spa, or join one of our guided birding walks around the property. With the national park on one side and the farm and gardens on the other, there is an impressive variety of birdlife to discover.
In the afternoon, visit the Giraffe Centre and get close to the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Afterwards, return to Ololo for your second game drive, giving you another opportunity to explore Nairobi National Park and look for some of the animals you may have missed the previous day.
Return to the lodge for your final dinner and perhaps another glass of wine around the fire.
Day three
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at Ololo before continuing with the rest of your Kenyan safari or heading to the airport.
Two nights is the perfect option for travellers who want to experience Nairobi’s wildlife and conservation highlights while keeping their stay short and simple, without sacrificing the opportunity to actually enjoy the lodge.
Three nights at Ololo
With three nights, you can slow things down and experience much more of Nairobi without packing every day too tightly. The extra night gives you another game drive and more time to enjoy the lodge, while still allowing you to see the city’s major attractions.
Day one
Arrive at Ololo and settle into your room. Take some time to explore the property, relax in the gardens or enjoy the pool overlooking Nairobi National Park.
In the afternoon, head into Nairobi National Park for your first game drive. As the light begins to soften, the park can become particularly beautiful, with wildlife gathering around the plains and the Mbagathi River. Keep an eye out for rhino, lion, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and the hundreds of bird species that call the park home.
Return to Ololo for dinner and enjoy a relaxed evening. After dinner, the fire is a lovely place to settle in with a drink and watch the stars come out over the park.
Day two
Begin the morning with a second game drive in Nairobi National Park. Early mornings are one of the best times to be out in the park, when the temperatures are cooler and many animals are still active.
After breakfast, visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to learn about elephant rescue and rehabilitation in Kenya. Return to Ololo for a farm tour and lunch, with time to see the gardens, farm animals and food production that make Ololo such a unique place to stay.
The afternoon can be spent at the Giraffe Centre before returning to the lodge. Alternatively, if you would rather have a slower afternoon, enjoy a massage or sauna, relax beside the pool or take a guided birding walk around Ololo.
Day three
Enjoy your third game drive in Nairobi National Park in the morning, exploring a different part of the park and looking for some of the species you may not have encountered on your earlier drives.
Later, explore Karen and visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the former home of the author of Out of Africa. The surrounding area is also home to galleries, shops, cafés and gardens, making it a pleasant place to spend a few hours.
Return to Ololo for your final evening. Enjoy dinner, perhaps followed by a glass of wine around the fire, or simply find a quiet spot in the gardens and enjoy the peaceful setting.
Day four
Wake up early for your fourth and final game drive. Four game drives over three nights gives you a surprisingly good opportunity to experience the different habitats and wildlife of Nairobi National Park.
After breakfast, depart Ololo and continue with your Kenyan adventure.
Four nights at Ololo
Four nights allows you to turn your Nairobi stay into a genuine safari experience rather than simply an overnight stop. You can combine wildlife, conservation, food, history, culture and a full day exploring the Kenyan countryside beyond Nairobi, while still having plenty of time to enjoy the lodge itself.
Day one
Arrive at Ololo and settle into the lodge. Take the afternoon slowly, perhaps enjoying the pool, exploring the farm and gardens or simply relaxing with a drink while looking out across Nairobi National Park.
Later, head out for your first game drive. Nairobi National Park is home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife considering its proximity to the city, and the contrast between the wild park and Nairobi’s skyline makes for a uniquely Kenyan experience.
Return to Ololo for dinner and enjoy the evening around the fire.
Day two
Start with your second game drive before breakfast, taking advantage of the cooler morning temperatures and early wildlife activity.
Later, visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and learn about the work being done to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned elephants. Return to Ololo for a farm tour and lunch, seeing how much of the food served at the lodge is produced right here on the property.
In the afternoon, visit the Giraffe Centre before returning to Ololo. If you prefer a quieter afternoon, you can instead enjoy the pool, book a massage or sauna session or join a guided birding walk around the lodge.
Day three
Enjoy your third game drive in the morning before spending some time exploring Karen. Visit the Karen Blixen Museum and learn more about the history of the area and the life of the author whose story became famous through Out of Africa.
The afternoon can be spent exploring some of Nairobi’s local shops, galleries and cafés before returning to Ololo for another relaxed evening.
Day four
Today is your chance to explore Kenya beyond Nairobi.
Spend the full day visiting a local coffee or tea farm, depending on the season and availability. Kenya is famous around the world for its coffee and tea, and visiting a working farm gives you the chance to see how these products are grown, harvested and processed.
Meet local producers, learn about the different stages of production and enjoy the beautiful countryside outside the city. It is a completely different perspective on Kenya and a wonderful contrast to the wildlife experiences of the previous days.
Return to Ololo in the evening and enjoy a final dinner overlooking the park.
Day five
Start your final morning with your fourth game drive in Nairobi National Park. By now, you will have had several opportunities to explore the park and can use your final drive to look for any species still missing from your list.
After breakfast, visit the Nairobi National Museum for an introduction to Kenya’s history, culture, art and natural heritage. Finish your Nairobi experience with some local shopping, where you can pick up Kenyan crafts, textiles, artwork and gifts before continuing with the rest of your safari.
Why stay at Ololo?
One of the great advantages of staying at Ololo is that you do not have to choose between Nairobi and safari. You can wake up looking across Nairobi National Park, go on a game drive before breakfast, visit elephants in the morning, explore Nairobi’s cultural attractions in the afternoon and return to a peaceful farm for dinner.
There is also something to be said for leaving a little time unplanned. Between activities, you can lounge around the pool with views across the national park, enjoy a massage or sauna in the spa, wander through the gardens, join a guided birding walk or simply find a comfortable chair and watch the wildlife from the lodge.
In the evening, dinner can be followed by a glass of wine beside the fire, with the sounds of the African night replacing the noise of the city. It is this combination of genuine safari, farm life, warm hospitality and easy access to Nairobi that makes Ololo such a special place to begin or end a Kenyan safari.
Ololo is located on the southern edge of Nairobi National Park, making it possible to combine the city’s attractions with genuine wildlife experiences. For travellers beginning or ending a Kenyan safari, it is a chance to experience a very different side of Nairobi.
Two nights works beautifully for a quick introduction.
Three nights gives you time to explore the major highlights without rushing.
Four nights lets you go deeper, adding Kenya’s coffee and tea story, museums and local shopping to the wildlife, conservation and cultural experiences.
So when planning your next Kenyan safari, consider giving Nairobi more than just a night before your flight. Slow down, explore the city, experience the national park and give yourself some time to enjoy Ololo itself.
