Ivory-burning Site

Nairobi


This is one the most important landmarks in the annals of conservation: it was here that Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi made a dramatic statement to poachers by setting fire to 11 tonnes of seized ivory in 1989. The event improved Kenya’s conservation image at a time when East African wildlife was being decimated by relentless poaching, and it's widely credited as playing a role in turning the tide against poaching in Kenya.

In 2016, President Uhuru Kenyatta oversaw the burning of 100 tonnes of ivory at the same site, amounting to the tusks from 6000 elephants, or 5% of global ivory stocks.

The site is just inside Nairobi National Park's main Langata Rd gate.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Nairobi attractions

1. Animal Orphanage

0.76 MILES

Just inside the main gate to Nairobi National Park, this animal orphanage houses formerly wild animals that have been recovered by park rangers. Although…

2. Nairobi National Park

0.83 MILES

Welcome to Kenya’s most accessible yet incongruous safari experience. Set on the city’s southern outskirts, Nairobi National Park (at 117 sq km, one of…

3. Nairobi Safari Walk

0.88 MILES

Just outside the main entrance to Nairobi National Park, off Langata Rd, this safari walk is a sort of zoo-meets-nature-boardwalk, with lots of birds as…

4. Bomas of Kenya

1.47 MILES

The talented resident artists at this cultural centre perform traditional dances and songs taken from the country’s various tribal groups, including…

5. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

2.7 MILES

Occupying a plot within Nairobi National Park, this nonprofit trust was established in 1977, shortly after the death of David Sheldrick, who served as the…

6. Ngong Road Forest

3.25 MILES

This forest parkland just north of Karen has walking trails, but walking here alone is not recommended.

7. Python Pool

3.32 MILES

It's always worth checking what's going on at this watering hole in the park's south.

8. Tazama Art Gallery

3.34 MILES

Tazama displays works by Kenyan artists in a modern shopping-centre venue.