In comparison to most national parks situated in Kenya, Haller Park is quite an unusual place. The reason is the industrial area that used to occupy that territory. To be more precise, there was an open-pit for mining limestone. Today it’s one of the most attractive and cleanest ecological areas, which proves that any place, however unpromising, can be returned to nature and transformed into a true oasis with flourishing bushes and trees, green grass, and wild animals. Our will is all that’s needed. 

Its story began in 1952, when a cement factory was built amidst wild nature. Needless to say, that everything alive in that industrial zone died out within a year. In 1959, the authorities of the country and the directory of the factory sounded the alarm: the industry was causing serious damage to the environment. Then it was decided that the ecological system was worth trying to restore. An invited consultant, René Haller, got a task to find flowers and plants which could strike root in such a perilous environment. René Haller chose 26 kinds of plants but only 3 of them survived. But gradually the soil started returning to life, new plants did well in it, wild animals began to come back. The cement production was shut down and the territory turned into the park. Now there are about 180 kinds of bushes and trees, pigs, hippos, giraffes, antelopes, bulls, and other plants and animals, symbols of Africa. 

Haller Park is divided into several zones: a reservation, a reptile park, a house of butterflies, a fish farm, an enclosure with crocodiles, a viewpoint with giraffes, palm gardens. All the zones are connected by convenient and secure footpaths. In order not to get lost you can choose a route and following it walk around the whole park or visit a zone you prefer. 

By the way, you can feed a giraffe here. Not constantly, but at certain hours, the zookeepers open the gates and everyone can give a tasty healthy treat to the magnificent giant.