Nairobi: the Skyline Safari at First Light

Nairobi sits at 1,795 metres on the Kenyan Highlands, and Nairobi National Park begins at the southern city boundary: giraffes and lions against the Nairobi CBD skyline at dawn is one of the most unusual urban-wildlife compositions in the world. The park faces north toward the city, and early morning light from the east catches the skyline behind grazing wildlife in the first hour of the day. Mt Kenya (5,199 m), the second-highest peak in Africa, is visible 150 kilometres north on clear mornings above the city roofline. The Ngong Hills (2,460 m), 25 kilometres west, give the panoramic Rift Valley view. At -1.3°S, golden hour lasts only 20 minutes throughout the year, but the altitude reduces atmospheric haze to a minimum. The dry seasons (January through March, and June through October) give the clearest mornings and the best wildlife viewing light in the park.