Nairobi Village

An exotic sensory experience

A visit to the Wild Animal Park is like magically stepping from the hustle and bustle of Southern California into the mysteries of exotic, faraway lands.

Once past the Park's thatched entrance portal, designed after the ceremonial chamber of a Ugandan king, and our African Aviary, you'll enter Nairobi Village, a lush, bustling, and exciting village of shops, restaurants, animal exhibits, and activity centers.

At the heart of Nairobi Village is Mombasa Lagoon, surrounded by paths, wooden walkways, and a simulation of a Congo fishing village. This peaceful watering hole is home to pelicans, storks, flamingos, and ducks, along with the many migratory bird visitors, like herons and egrets, that are not part of the Wild Animal Park's collection but make use of our hospitality each year! Reeds, grasses, lilies, and other water-loving plants thrive along the edges of the lagoon, creating a lovely picture.

Traipse through the Congo Fishing Village, designed after one seen on the Congo River and built over a rushing waterfall. Admire the antics of our red-cheeked gibbon family or spy the ring-tailed lemurs on their island in the lagoon—there is wildlife everywhere you turn in the Village, from birds to primates to small hoofed stock to insects.

On this side of the Lagoon you'll encounter our Bee-eater Aviary, home to beautiful little birds that capture flying insects like bees in midair. It's fascinating to watch these acrobatic birds with their keen eyesight as they swiftly and precisely snatch up flying insects with beaks shaped like forceps. An just beyond the aviary is our Gorilla Habitat, home to a troop of lowland gorillas going about their business of eating, playing, caring for their young, and people-watching!

Nairobi Village is also where you'll find popular attractions such as Hidden Jungle and Lorikeet Landing. At the Animal Care Center you may get a chance to watch food being prepared for baby animals being hand-raised there. Seen through viewing windows, these youngsters have most often been rejected by their mothers for some reason, or they may have been sick or injured and require human help as they recover. A wide variety of species may need the Care Center's services, anything from hoofed stock like antelope, deer, and rhinos to primates like bonobos and gorillas. Even without babies the Animal Care Center has interesting surprises, like the Nile monitors that live permanently in one of the exhibit areas.

Our engaging bird show, Frequent Flyers, offers shows daily in the Benbough Amphitheater at the south end of the Village. The Conservation Carousel will take you on a spin aboard your favorite critter. And, of course, everyone can enjoy delicious goodies and refreshments, or take a shopping safari in the many gift shops. Be sure to keep your eyes open for casual encounters with some of the wildlife ambassadors in the Park's Animal Encounters program, out for walks with their trainers. Be sure to check your map insert for locations and times for these engaging talks. You could spend a whole day in Nairobi Village, but there's the rest of the Park to see—which means you just might need to make a return visit!

Just for kids

There are plenty of things for kids to do in the Village. Children will delight in strolling around the Village as they discover hollow logs, life-size tortoise shells, an aardwolf den, and a weaver nest to climb into; lily pads to hop across, and bat-eared fox ears to "try" on. And just south of the Village you'll find the Samburu Jungle Gym presented by Fisher-Price, an animal-themed playground built just for kids! The new Discovery Station is an engaging family learning site that encourages children to learn about Africa while playing.  Included are do-it-yourself crafts, a puppet theater for hands-on play, and frequent up-close animal encounters. 

And don't forget the Petting Kraal, which offers a very satisfactory tactile experience. Kids and kids at heart will find the Kraal a wonderful place to mingle with the Park's gentlest animals: blackbuck antelope, gazelle, and several deer species roam freely in the Kraal, accepting gentle hugs and touches from guests.

Fun facts

• A life-sized white rhino sculpted in bronze is a favorite photo spot for children, who get to climb all over the one-ton creation and pose for photos on its head or back. The statue has been in Nairobi Village since 1985 and serves as a tribute to a former Zoological Society of San Diego president, Andy Borthwick, who was instrumental in bringing white rhinos to the Park.
• Almost all of the original plantings in Nairobi Village were from South and East Africa. Many of the African plants in Nairobi Village were grown from seed because full-grown plants were not available.
• Want to feed some critters? Food dispensers are available to offer nutritious snacks to the ducks in Mombasa Lagoon and the deer in the Petting Kraal.