Nairobi Arboretum
Nairobi Arboretum
4
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
259 reviews
Excellent
91
Very good
95
Average
50
Poor
17
Terrible
6
Akinyi
4 contributions
Aug 2019
The arboretum is a short drive from the city centre. Full of trees and nature, it is a soothing environment, perfect for picnics and team building activities. There is a risk of being harassed by monkeys, though, which is a rather funny thing to say, but to be expected. It does tend to be rather packed, particularly on weekends.
Written July 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheHedgies
London114 contributions
Feb 2023
For a nominal entrance fee you feel safe in this green space. Lots of groups talking and picnicing. The crows spread the rubbish from the bins but the trees are nice. You can always find a quiet open space.
No cafe in park.
No cafe in park.
Written February 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands6,162 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
Indeed a wooded landscape as the website mentions. However, there are some open spaces with some benches. The 30 hectare space is crisscrossed by trails and paths, so it is pretty good for a walk. As an arboretum it is perhaps disappointing as the variety of vegetation is limited and markings of different species of trees could be better. Perhaps a result of the original set-up in 1907 as a forestry business entreprise to try out different (imported) species of trees.
I liked the groups of monkeys and there is some birdlife.
Entrance fee 65 KES (no cash is accepted; pay with M-PESA or Visa/Mastercard).
For once, no extra charges for foreigners. All visitors are treated equally!
I liked the groups of monkeys and there is some birdlife.
Entrance fee 65 KES (no cash is accepted; pay with M-PESA or Visa/Mastercard).
For once, no extra charges for foreigners. All visitors are treated equally!
Written December 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Florentine_Gourmet
Washington DC, DC92 contributions
Mar 2023
I was at the Radisson Blu for a meeting. This park was just 50 yards down the road, so I decided to visit. Not bad for a location right in the middle of town. Spent a pleasant half-hour strolling through the gardens. And it felt very safe.
That said, if you have 2-3 hours, I would go to the Karura Forest instead, which offers something closer to real hiking.
Entrance fee is only $1. And they take VISA, although not MasterCard (true of quite a few places in Kenya).
That said, if you have 2-3 hours, I would go to the Karura Forest instead, which offers something closer to real hiking.
Entrance fee is only $1. And they take VISA, although not MasterCard (true of quite a few places in Kenya).
Written March 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marvin VINES
Nairobi, Kenya128 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
The experience was awesome. Truly, nature offers nothing but pure beauty. The place was very beautiful. I learnt a lot about trees. I saw some monkeys playing around. It was amazing ❤️ then there was this ice cream guy he was funny. I came across some beautiful people. Talk about picnick dates eeish next time I am taking my significant person there😂❤️❤️ It was awesome. I was able to connect with nature.❤️ Very beautiful.
Written August 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bidule05
France1,904 contributions
Jun 2023
We visited the very fine Nairobi Arboretum, which is a protected forest reserve of 30 hectares, managed by the Kenya Forest Service.
We saw very beautiful native and exotic trees (there are more than 300 species), some of which are at least centuries old In the arboretum, the paths are very well laid out, and didactic panels indicate the names of the different trees.
We also saw very fine birds with colorful feathers and funny groups of vervet and Sykes monkeys.
Altogether, we recommend the visit to the arboretum! For families, there are many places in the arboretum set up for picnics.
We saw very beautiful native and exotic trees (there are more than 300 species), some of which are at least centuries old In the arboretum, the paths are very well laid out, and didactic panels indicate the names of the different trees.
We also saw very fine birds with colorful feathers and funny groups of vervet and Sykes monkeys.
Altogether, we recommend the visit to the arboretum! For families, there are many places in the arboretum set up for picnics.
Written July 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claudio G
Sicily, Italy19 contributions
Aug 2021
This place is a little gem. For me it was totally unexpected to find such a lovely park.
In it you can find many monkey and different trees.
It is a beautiful place to spend time with kids, have pic nic, relax or do jogging.
I wonder if they shoot video clips or movies in this place.
In it you can find many monkey and different trees.
It is a beautiful place to spend time with kids, have pic nic, relax or do jogging.
I wonder if they shoot video clips or movies in this place.
Written October 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clement A.
Nairobi, Kenya9 contributions
Dec 2019
I got time on the 30th of December (2019) to finally go backpacking to the Nairobi Arboretum. I took a public vehicle at the CBD and alighted right at the gate. It is about 6-8 minutes drive. I was charged 50 Kenya shillings ($0.5). It is right next to State House Girls and not far from the State House itself.
The Arboretum, as I was to realize, is part of the Kenya Forest Service just like the Karura forest, which I have to visit this year. I paid 50 Kenya shillings at the gate (kids pay 20 Kenya shillings, but I observed that one could negotiate, especially if you have a large family). But take note that they don't accept cash. I paid via M-pesa. They have paybill numbers I think even for other banking entities like Equity bank, Visa, Mastercard, etc. Don't bank too much on this, though.
The moment I walked in, I started my nature walk. The Arboretum is virtually a jungle, but with a network of clear, paved pathways to make the nature walk easier. The paths are marked with pieces of stones. You can't get lost even if you close your eyes. It's fun.
I instantly liked the place. It's cool. Fortunately, it had been raining for the better part of November and December, so the trees and the shrubs had put on green leaves that spread, covering the paths. That's how natural it is here — no unnecessary trimmings of the bushes.
First, I walked through the bamboo stalks, on whose green stems some tourists had marked out names and symbols. I read things like “James was here in 2016”. The markings were only visible now because the stems had turned yellowish.
Then I walked among tall trees, feeling really good and at peace. I was glad I had gone there alone the first time. This way, I could penetrate deeper and deeper into the forest without anyone bothering me.
Some parts are steep, and I had to be careful because the ground was still wet, having rained the previous day. If I'm to return there next time, I'd have with me some walking stick to support me. It will help if you remember to carry some rode with you on the day you are coming.
While some people go there as families to just picnic (there are open spaces with benches or green grass), others go to meditate or worship. So it was not uncommon to hear a voice coming deep from some secluded area of someone bitterly pleading with the Almighty God to bring peace in his/her family, bring healing, bring financial breakthrough, etc.
I think people cool off in different ways. I saw this seemingly well-off woman who kept walking up and down under a tree. For the over 5 hours I spent there, she was always walking to and fro under that tree, in a straight line, mumbling words, at times emphasizing with her hands, as if she spoke to someone she could see, though she was alone in that corner.
Another ailing lady sat alone, softly weeping through prayers and, at times, singing to God. Other people read the Bible before starting their prayer. This place has its unique culture, I sensed.
On my part, I just strolled along the footpaths, watching the trees and the shrubs.
While most prayers were by solitary individuals each in his own place, families were praying in groups. It is easy to see why people go to the Arboretum to worship or meditate: the place is super-quiet and peaceful. You hardly remember you are in the noisy, confusing city of Nairobi. With the forest cover, there is this in-God's-presence feeling it kinda creates. I also found my little corner and talked to God, although I had not gone there for that purpose. You know, when you go to Rome...
This is where the Arboretum beats Uhuru Park, by the way. At Uhuru Park, you see the city and all that's going on. At the Arboretum, urbanization is almost lost. You are back to the roots. This is the place to be if you are struggling with a decision.
Deep in the jungle, I stumbled upon a man and his lady, under the bamboo trees, enjoying their sweet talk in low tones. Navigating even deeper, I found this man, all alone, standing in the thicket, staring at nothing with a fixed, determined gaze...
There are pit latrines (you may call them washrooms) dotting the Arboretum. Some are free, while others are 10 Ksh per call of nature.
For picnicking families, the moment they spread a Maasai lesso or sheet on the grass and unpack the food, the monkeys take it as a signal to climb down one after the other and invite themselves to the party. The monkeys are not afraid of people. They just come over and virtually become part of the family, eating whatever they are given, or grabbing and running away with it if none is forthcoming through generosity.
They were all the Sykes’ monkeys: greyish with a white collar, chest and a somewhat light red on the lower back. I later saw only one other kind of monkey called Vervet monkey. He stood right in front of the path I was taking, calmly watching me approach, the way you would wait for your debtor who has refused to honour the agreement. Then it jumped to the roadside when I got closer and watched me pass. I stopped, and he took two cautious steps backwards. I bent to pick him, and he dashed off.
If you are coming for a picnic, you better come with your food. There are shops and cafés outside at the main entrance but they over-charge. Things are thrice their reasonable price. The ice-cream sellers who are allowed to hawk in the Arboretum tell you an ice-cream is 50 Ksh. If you refuse to buy, the price immediately drops to 40 Ksh, then to 30 and so on. So take your time.
There were a church choir and a dancing group practising ... If you get tired of trekking, you can recline on the benches and watch these entertainments s you cool off.
I hear there are over 500 bird species at the Arboretum. I didn't see any, except for one common, ugly, long-beaked, and a rather large black bird we call "ng'ang'a" in my native language. Two of them came down on the open space to scratch the grass for food, but some little Sykes’ monkeys (perhaps seeing them as competitors) kept giving them a spirited chase allover until they flew back up.
There are no snakes at the Arboretum, otherwise I'd have seen one, for I penetrated deeper and deeper into every corner of the Arboretum, quietly observing the trees and the well-laid trails. At some point, I felt I had wandered too far from the main areas that if a python or some wild animal attacked me, I'd be helpless. But I reasoned within myself that there are no snakes or wild animals otherwise I'd have been told.
Even with that in mind, at times I would panic if I saw something strange. You never know with pythons. One can sneak into the Arboretum from elsewhere. You can't always know what and what is in the forest at any given moment, until you become the first casualty, so maybe solo tour is not the best way to go deep in any jungle.
Oh, but I digress; I'm now moving to wild imaginations.
I better stop.
The Arboretum, as I was to realize, is part of the Kenya Forest Service just like the Karura forest, which I have to visit this year. I paid 50 Kenya shillings at the gate (kids pay 20 Kenya shillings, but I observed that one could negotiate, especially if you have a large family). But take note that they don't accept cash. I paid via M-pesa. They have paybill numbers I think even for other banking entities like Equity bank, Visa, Mastercard, etc. Don't bank too much on this, though.
The moment I walked in, I started my nature walk. The Arboretum is virtually a jungle, but with a network of clear, paved pathways to make the nature walk easier. The paths are marked with pieces of stones. You can't get lost even if you close your eyes. It's fun.
I instantly liked the place. It's cool. Fortunately, it had been raining for the better part of November and December, so the trees and the shrubs had put on green leaves that spread, covering the paths. That's how natural it is here — no unnecessary trimmings of the bushes.
First, I walked through the bamboo stalks, on whose green stems some tourists had marked out names and symbols. I read things like “James was here in 2016”. The markings were only visible now because the stems had turned yellowish.
Then I walked among tall trees, feeling really good and at peace. I was glad I had gone there alone the first time. This way, I could penetrate deeper and deeper into the forest without anyone bothering me.
Some parts are steep, and I had to be careful because the ground was still wet, having rained the previous day. If I'm to return there next time, I'd have with me some walking stick to support me. It will help if you remember to carry some rode with you on the day you are coming.
While some people go there as families to just picnic (there are open spaces with benches or green grass), others go to meditate or worship. So it was not uncommon to hear a voice coming deep from some secluded area of someone bitterly pleading with the Almighty God to bring peace in his/her family, bring healing, bring financial breakthrough, etc.
I think people cool off in different ways. I saw this seemingly well-off woman who kept walking up and down under a tree. For the over 5 hours I spent there, she was always walking to and fro under that tree, in a straight line, mumbling words, at times emphasizing with her hands, as if she spoke to someone she could see, though she was alone in that corner.
Another ailing lady sat alone, softly weeping through prayers and, at times, singing to God. Other people read the Bible before starting their prayer. This place has its unique culture, I sensed.
On my part, I just strolled along the footpaths, watching the trees and the shrubs.
While most prayers were by solitary individuals each in his own place, families were praying in groups. It is easy to see why people go to the Arboretum to worship or meditate: the place is super-quiet and peaceful. You hardly remember you are in the noisy, confusing city of Nairobi. With the forest cover, there is this in-God's-presence feeling it kinda creates. I also found my little corner and talked to God, although I had not gone there for that purpose. You know, when you go to Rome...
This is where the Arboretum beats Uhuru Park, by the way. At Uhuru Park, you see the city and all that's going on. At the Arboretum, urbanization is almost lost. You are back to the roots. This is the place to be if you are struggling with a decision.
Deep in the jungle, I stumbled upon a man and his lady, under the bamboo trees, enjoying their sweet talk in low tones. Navigating even deeper, I found this man, all alone, standing in the thicket, staring at nothing with a fixed, determined gaze...
There are pit latrines (you may call them washrooms) dotting the Arboretum. Some are free, while others are 10 Ksh per call of nature.
For picnicking families, the moment they spread a Maasai lesso or sheet on the grass and unpack the food, the monkeys take it as a signal to climb down one after the other and invite themselves to the party. The monkeys are not afraid of people. They just come over and virtually become part of the family, eating whatever they are given, or grabbing and running away with it if none is forthcoming through generosity.
They were all the Sykes’ monkeys: greyish with a white collar, chest and a somewhat light red on the lower back. I later saw only one other kind of monkey called Vervet monkey. He stood right in front of the path I was taking, calmly watching me approach, the way you would wait for your debtor who has refused to honour the agreement. Then it jumped to the roadside when I got closer and watched me pass. I stopped, and he took two cautious steps backwards. I bent to pick him, and he dashed off.
If you are coming for a picnic, you better come with your food. There are shops and cafés outside at the main entrance but they over-charge. Things are thrice their reasonable price. The ice-cream sellers who are allowed to hawk in the Arboretum tell you an ice-cream is 50 Ksh. If you refuse to buy, the price immediately drops to 40 Ksh, then to 30 and so on. So take your time.
There were a church choir and a dancing group practising ... If you get tired of trekking, you can recline on the benches and watch these entertainments s you cool off.
I hear there are over 500 bird species at the Arboretum. I didn't see any, except for one common, ugly, long-beaked, and a rather large black bird we call "ng'ang'a" in my native language. Two of them came down on the open space to scratch the grass for food, but some little Sykes’ monkeys (perhaps seeing them as competitors) kept giving them a spirited chase allover until they flew back up.
There are no snakes at the Arboretum, otherwise I'd have seen one, for I penetrated deeper and deeper into every corner of the Arboretum, quietly observing the trees and the well-laid trails. At some point, I felt I had wandered too far from the main areas that if a python or some wild animal attacked me, I'd be helpless. But I reasoned within myself that there are no snakes or wild animals otherwise I'd have been told.
Even with that in mind, at times I would panic if I saw something strange. You never know with pythons. One can sneak into the Arboretum from elsewhere. You can't always know what and what is in the forest at any given moment, until you become the first casualty, so maybe solo tour is not the best way to go deep in any jungle.
Oh, but I digress; I'm now moving to wild imaginations.
I better stop.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter W
64 contributions
Aug 2014 • Business
The arboretum is a is a safe haven only if you are accompanies by at least 3 other local men.Avoid at all costs going there if possible unless you are in a group of locals.I witnessed 2 muggings in broad daylight
Written June 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cel O
4 contributions
Mar 2017 • Family
the place now charges Kshs.50 the downside is you have to pay via Mpesa ... Kenya mobile money transfer.
Written August 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can I have a small birthday there?
How much is one charged for having the small birthday there?
How long can someone stay there?
Written August 10, 2021
Does anyone know if it's possible to ride a bicycle inside the Arboretum?
Written September 26, 2020
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