Picnic at Nairobi Arboretum

Picnic at Nairobi Arboretum

Nairobi Arboretum is place holding living collection of the plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display and education (Wyse Jackson 1999). Nairobi Arboretum 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 Nairobi 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 the Nairobi’s few remaining green spaces, it has shaded walkways, picnic safari 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 little deed issued by the commissioner of land designating it as a public owned reserve, it was a trial plot for the fast growing exotic tree species, to meet the high demand of fuel wood required for the newly constructed Kenya-Uganda railway line this help save Kenya’s indigenous forests.

Picnic activity at Nairobi Arboretum.

Nairobi Arboretum is the favorite place in Kenya for the picnicking Kenyan safari  this is where the place gets crowd due to various large groups of the people exercising and hanging around. Nairobi Arboretum is also a very popular place for the player gatherings, this is done in a proper way that is, and it is not common to find a large number of people praying loudly all around the park. This is the most loved area where you can enjoy a relatively quiet picnic as you can also enjoy the scenery around. Nairobi Arboretum is a great place for a picnic safari that is because it is cool, has lots of vegetation, and very spacious, though there 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 a very good option if a tourists who need some fresh, clean air to be surrounded 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.

Not only picnic safari in nairobi Arboretum, it holds over 350 species of the indigenous and exotic plants, most of which are labelled, home to over 100 species of birds, and is significant population of the Skyes and the Vervet monkeys. It is also a popular recreational park for the city residents, who come looking for the tranquility, to take long walks, it is a place to communicate with God, and large groups often come on weekends for team-building activities and games in the central lawn at the park, while the love-birds enjoy spending romantic moments in its secluded spots. Runners also love to jog around the Nairobi Arboretum’s forest trails.

Entrance for the Nairobi Arboretum.

Nairobi Arboretum entrance fees is Ksh 65 and Ksh 27 for adults and the children respectively, it is the same fees as the car park fee. Nairobi Arboretum is one of the few places in Kenya that charges the same fee for the citizens, residents, non-residents and the fee can be paid at the gate only and through using Mpesa or a card.

Note, In Nairobi Arboretum taking pictures with your smartphones is for free compared to Videography, Photography.

Nairobi Arboretum is open 364 days of the year from dawn to dusk since 1907 and the visitors may enter from 6:00am to 6:15pm.

Activities done at the Nairobi Arboretum.

The Nairobi Arboretum is more interested for the tourists who are interested in studying of the trees and preservation of them, if a tourists is interested in the trees, then you are required to visit the Nairobi Arboretum, as well the place is a great to go for running or to walk your pet, compared to Karura forest, where the pets are not allowed, there you cannot find dogs-off-leash areas and you are expected to keep your dogs on a leash throughout the park’s premises.

In Nairobi Arboretum doesnot allow bike riding unlike Karura forest minus that the Nairobi Arboretum is a place you can visit to go running, take a leisurely walk, have apicnc.

Nairobi Arboretum is the most amazing places to visit if you live in within the city or area visiting Nairobi City  for a long period of time for a good picnic safari in Kenya.