A Guide To Nairobi Arboretum Park
Nairobi Arboretum Park is a 30.4 hectares of wooded landscape, an oasis close to the heart of the city situated in the Kilimani area, about 3 km from the city centre and adjacent to the State House. It is bounded by the Kirichwa Kubwa River, Arboretum Drive and Kenya Girl Guide Headquarters. It is one of Nairobi’s few remaining green spaces, It has shaded walkways, picnic lawns and jogging trails.
The Nairobi Arboretum was established in 1907 by Mr. Batiscombe, then Deputy Conservator of Forests, to try out introduced forestry trees for Kenya. It was gazetted as a national reserve in 1932 and in 1996 a title deed issued by Commissioner of land designating it as a public owned reserve. It was a trial plot for fast growing exotic tree species, to meet the high demand of fuel wood required for the newly constructed Kenya- Uganda railway line and thus help save Kenya’s indigenous forests.
History of Nairobi Arboretum Park
The palace is located along state house road in the area of Kilimani, Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in 1907 by Mr. Batiscombe in a bid to try out new forestry trees. It was thereafter gazetted as a national reserve in 1932 by the government and issuance of a title deed was later conducted by the commissioner of lands to the government in 1996.
Nairobi Arboretum Park Attractions
Nairobi Arboretum holds over 350 species of indigenous and exotic plants, most of which are labelled, home to over 100 species of birds, and a significant population of Sykes and Vervet monkeys.
Trees
- This is a dry forest type of vegetation. It holds a large collection (over 350 species) of indigenous and exotic trees, shrubs and grasses from the tropics and throughout the world. Its diverse vegetation includes a variety of woody shrubs, and mature trees.
- The tree inventory identified and recorded trees with trunks over a diameter of 15 cm, but many small saplings and woody shrubs were not included. The collection includes a mix of both indigenous and exotic plant species originating from all parts of the world.
Bird Species
- There are many birds seen in the Arboretum where over 100 bird species have been recorded. Some of the most notable ones are the most common birds to be seen in the Arboretum with relative ease in different habitats.
- Other birds include the African black duck, Variable sunbird, Olive thrush, Baglafecht weaver, Bronze manikin, White-eyed slaty flycatcher, Hadada ibis, Red-eyed dove, African goshawk, Little sparrow hawk, African harrier hawk, Bronze sunbird, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Speckled mouse bird, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Grey-olive greenbul, Narina trogon and African goshawk, various types of weaver birds, etc.
Butterflies
- The Park is particularly rich in butterflies. Butterflies are in the adult stage of an insect and feed solely on nectar provided by flowers, or on rotting materials. The Golden Piper, Green-banded swallowtail (Papilio phorcas), and Green-veined charaxes (Charaxes candiope) are common.
- Many butterflies live in open, sunny areas exhibiting a variety of colours. One of these you may see in the Arboretum is the African migrant (Catopsilia florella).
Reptiles
- Jackson’s three-horned chameleon (Chamaeleo jacksonii) may be seen in the Park and only occurs naturally in Kenya and Tanzania. Another common Nairobi chameleon is the High-casqued chameleon (Chamaeleo hoehne).
- Another group of lizards that may be seen in the arboretum is the skink family.
Mammals
- The Park is the home for two monkey species; the Vervet monkey or Black-faced guenon (Cercopithecus aethiops) and the Sykes’ monkey (Cercopithecus mitis). There are fewer Sykes’ monkeys in the Park than vervet. The vervet has a black face, with greyish-white fur around the face and on the chest and underside. The upper side is yellowish-grey, with grey legs and a long, black-tipped tail. The Sykes’ monkey is generally dark grey with a distinct white throat, chest patch and a reddish back.
- Other mammals, including the Greater galago, fruit bats, mongooses and squirrels, may also be seen in the arboretum. These are mostly nocturnal animals unlikely to be seen during the day.
Nairobi Arboretum Park Activities
Bird Watching
- The place has a green canopy forest where you can do birding from and for you to enjoy you need to carry a pair of binoculars for clear sightseeing of small notable bird species and other species in far distances such birds to see include; Ruppell’s Robin-chat, White-eyed Slaty, Montane White-eye among others.
Photography
- Nairobi Arboretum is a beautiful park that provides a great c hance for photography enthusiasts to capture stunning images of nature.
- Filming in the Park is an adventure that is done all year round, but the best time for filming is during December and then from June to October.
Picnicking
- Nairobi Arboretum is a great place for a picnic safari that is because it is cool, has lots of vegetation, and very spacious, though their can be a lot of people, but there can be a space for all, you can have a privacy compared to other parks in the city.
- It is also a good option if a tourists who need some fresh, clean air to be enclosed by the trees and green fields and it is nice if you want to take a picnic lunch between your next tourists attraction without driving long distances in Nairobi.
Running and Jogging
- The 30+ hectare Nairobi Arboretum is one of the best central running locations just 3 km from the city centre Nairobi. The brick and dirt trails here are not super-lengthy, but there is a good 2.5 km loop around the outskirts of the jointly run Friends of the Nairobi Arboretum and Kenya Forest Service park.
- Runners can also make the route longer by winding around the park’s many cross-paths. In addition to the numerous plant and tree species here, visitors can glimpse a variety of monkeys, birds, and other wildlife. Note: 50 Ksh entry fee for adults to visit the park, and hours are between 6 am and 6:15 pm.
Educational Tours
- Schools and other educational institutions can use the Park as a venue for educational tours and field trips.
How to get to Nairobi Arboretum Park
- The Nairobi Arboretum is situated 3km from the city centre. Its close proximity to the city centre makes it easily accessible on foot. To get to its main entrance, get onto State House Road near St Andrew’s Church, go past St Paul’s Cathedral, YMCA Nairobi Central, University of Nairobi Halls of residence, and past the Arboretum Drive junction.
- At the point where State House road makes a sharp left turn, take the little road that goes straight ahead. The Nairobi Arboretum main entrance is about 300m ahead. There’s also a car park at the main entrance for vehicles.
- Another entrance to the Nairobi Arboretum is on Arboretum Drive in Kileleshwa.
Getting there and around
Public Transport
- Board matatu no.48 Kileleshwa route from Odeon matatu terminus and alight at Shell. Walk to the pedestrian gate which is about 100 metres from shell.
From CBD
- One can chose to walk via Nairobi university way then to state house road up to the Arboretum main entry. It’s approximately 3 kilometres.
By private transport
- Take the arboretum drive or University way and use the road next to Compuera academy, next to state house Gate C. Follow the road then take the next right turn to Arboretum main enrty.
Taxi hire
- You can also hire taxi from town would be approximately 500 Kenyan shillings.
- There is a guidebook available for purchase at 600 Kenyan shillings to help one get around the forest citing key areas too.
Visiting hours
Entry tickets can be purchased at the point of entry between 6:00 am and 6:30 pm.
Nairobi Arboretum Park Entry Requirements
What to wear and carry
Comfortable walking shoes or trainers, drinking water, binoculars, camera and wildlife books especially for birds and butterflies.
Important things to remember when visiting Arboretum forest:
- Enjoy yourself; in addition to seeing, pause and listen regularly.
- Stop to allow wildlife to move off the tracks before you pass.
- Do not feed wild animals.
- Do not start fires in the forest.
- Do not take away animals, animal products, plants or plant parts.
- Do not mark or deface tree stems, stones and other features.
- Avoid unnecessary noise as it disturbs both wildlife and other visitors.
- Take all the litter that you brought away with you.
- Keep to the designated tracks and paths when walking and always be sure of where you are headed to or coming from as orientation in forests can be difficult.
For more information contact
The forester in charge
Arboretum forest station
Mobile: 0733823045
The Park is open for free to the public.
When To Visit Nairobi Arboretum Park
The Arboretum is open 365 days of the year from dawn to dusk since 1907. Visitors may enter from 6:00am to 6:15pm.
Office hours : The Tree Centre, open every weekday from 9am to 4pm
Nairobi Arboretum Park Entry charges
- Adults – KSH 50
- Children –KSH 20
- Photography – KSH 1,000
- Videography – KSH 2,500
- Ground Hire – KSH 50,000
Nairobi Arboretum Contacts
- Attraction Type: Scenery & Landscapes, Wildlife
- Category: Forest, Birding Site, Wildlife Conservancy
- Region: Nairobi
- City / Town: Nairobi
- Road / Street: Ring-road Kileleshwa
- Telephone: 254 727 300933
- Email: fona@naturekenya.org
- Entrance Fee: Yes
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