Environmentalist Playlist: 5 Green Spaces in Nairobi

6:43 AM Africa , City Park , environment , Gardens , Green Belt Movement , Green Space , Jevanjee Gardens , Karura Forest , kenya , Nairobi , Nairobi Aboretum , Recreation Parks , Uhuru Park , Wangari Maathai 0 Comments

City Park, The future.

It is certain that there are fewer and drastically hard to find areas where one can sit quietly and simply listen to the birds sing, walk barefoot in the grass or simply lie under the shade of a tree and take a nap. Communing with nature is becoming a luxury fewer and fewer people can experience, especially for the vast populations of people now crammed in cities. As our cities expand and we build taller buildings, wider roads, pillage the land for fuel and cut into nature to accomodate our unsustainable growth, we are losing touch with nature. Although there are some green spaces still left, they exist because the champions amongst us dared to fight for the land and hence our survival.

Nairobi is very lucky in this regard. We have spaces that are open to the public that allow nature to survive despite our efforts to desicate it in the name of progress. The following are 5 Green spaces that you can enjoy when in Nairobi.

City Park
City Park is located in Parklands across from Aga Khan Hospital. This Park was established in 1921 as a zoological garden on a 91 hectare area, and formally declared a public park in 1925. Despite all efforts by conservationists to protect it, over a third of its area was lost to grabbers and now it is about 60 hectares large. It contains a magnificent sculpture garden whose pieces include the Bird of Peace by Elkana Ongesa, at the Murumbi Memorial Park; a public cemetery that is also the burial place of Pio Gama Pinto, a Journalist and Politician who actively participated in Kenya’s struggle for independence, only to be assassinated in 1965.

Click here to learn more about this zoological garden.

Jevanjee Gardens

Jevanjee Gardens

Jevanjee Gardens was donated to the residents of Nairobi in 1906 by Alibhai Mullah Jeevanjee, this 5 acre recreational park is one of few green spaces gracing Nairobi's CBD. Jeevanjee Gardens is bounded by Moi Avenue, Monrovia Street, Muindi Mbingu Street and Moktar Daddah Street towards the northern end of the city centre. It is centrally located, and easily accessible to residents from all corners of the city. It is free and open to the public and is a serene space featuring beautiful gardens and trees providing a welcome shade from the tropical sun. It is also conveniently dotted with artistic benches, and sculptures making it an ideal picnic spot.

Click here to learn more about this serene garden.

Nairobi Arboretum

Nairobi Arboretum 

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.

The Arboretum occupies 30 hectares and holds over 350 tree species; it is home to over 100 species of resident and migrant birds, a multitude of insects, reptiles and small mammals; notably the playful Vervet and Sykes monkeys. The Arboretum is situated 3km from the city centre along State House Road and is open for free to the public. 

Click here to learn more about this "living collection of trees".

Uhuru Park

Uhuru Park

Uhuru Park is the heart of Nairobi's Central Business District. It is a 12.9 hectare green reserve bounded by Ngong road (North) Haillesellasie Avenue (South) Uhuru Highway (East) and Nyerere road (West). It was opened to the general public by the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta on 23 May 1969. It contains an artificial lake, several national monuments and an assembly ground that caters to all, from skateboarders and bird watchers, to political and religious gatherings. It has remained untouched due to the remarkable efforts of Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement. It is free and open to the public but do prepare to pay for boat rides.

Click here to learn more about the Soul of Nairobi.

Karura Forest

Karura Forest

Karura Forest Reserve is an urban upland forest on the outskirts of Nairobi that is bounded by Kiambu and Limuru Road. It is a geographical wonderland that boasts one of the largest gazetted forests in the world within city limits. It covers an area of about 1,000 ha and features a 50-foot waterfall, archaeological sites, marshlands that attract bird life including winter migrants from Europe and Asia, caves, serene groves of secondary and primary indigenous trees to name but a few. It also boasts wonderful biking and running trails and has become a favorite venue for many outdoor events.

The forest is a legacy of Professor Wangari Maathai (late founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate) because she saved the forest from developers who tried to grab large portions of the north of the central section of the forest.

Karura charges fees at the entrance that go towards forest security, improvement and maintenance.

Click here to learn more about this forest wonderland.

Go forth and commune with nature and let us know your where your favorite green spaces are.

"If you want to lie under a shade in your old age, plant a tree now." - African proverb.