Nairobi

Parks and Recreation

There are a wide variety of parks and recreational activities in Nairobi. The most spectacular, Nairobi National Park, is located just five miles south from the city center. The 117-square-kilometer (45-square-mile) park contains impala, Grant ' s gazelle, Thomson ' s gazelle, hartebeest, eland, kudu, zebra, wildebeest, giraffes, birds, rhinos, and hippos. Probably the most visited game park in East Africa, it provides a wonderful opportunity to view the wildlife of Africa silhouetted against the Nairobi skyline. It is open daily from dawn to 7:00 PM.

Uhuru Park and Uhuru Gardens are located along Uhuru Highway, not far from Nairobi University and the city center. Uhuru Park and Gardens are a large urban green space. The Nairobi Arboretum, also located near Nairobi University, provides a restful setting for a walk among its 300 different species of trees. City Park, located two miles north of the city center, is a well-preserved remnant of the woodlands that covered the area before the construction

of the railway. City Park features well-kept lawns, gardens of rare plants, playgrounds, and sports fields.

Attending horse races at Ngong Racecourse is a popular weekend activity. Open almost every Sunday, the race-course is set amid green grass, and it hosts a beautiful old grandstand.