Nairobi Destination Guide
Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, its administrative, commercial and manufacturing centre. It is also the social hub of the entire east African region. Long considered the safari center of all Africa, Nairobi has several modern hotels, large shopping areas and its very own game reserve. Wildlife reserves, recreational activities and a buzzing nightlife all combine to make Nairobi an experience like no other. Although located between what was regarded as Kikuyu and Maasai country, the city is a melting pot of cultures. People from all over Kenya and East Africa migrate to the city yearly.
One of the best way to discover the real character of Nairobi is to explore and experience the sights and sounds of the city streets.
This Nairobi Destination Guide lists some of the main sights and attractions which you will probably want to spend some time at during your visit. Use it in conjunction with our Nairobi Tours page, which lists other activites just outside the city that may also be of interest. And for further information on Kenya generally, be sure to take a quick look at our Kenya Country Guide.
Due to the cosmopolitan nature of the city, a visitor may find enough diversity to suit any palate. The city has enough attraction to fill any need. Be it ice skating at Visions Plaza, wildlife watching at the Nairobi National park and orphanage, reliving history in Karen Blixen, or getting in touch with our animal friends at the snake park, giraffe and ostrich centre, Nairobi has something for everyone.
There aren't too many specific sights in Nairobi, but you are certainly advised to take some time to just wander the streets and marvel at the old colonial buildings and vibrant crowds. This will certainly let you get a feel for Africa! You should definitely try to see the Nairobi National Museum, and there are a few other sights both in city centre and on the outskirts that you should try to make your way to, depending upon your interests.
During your visit, you must definitely see Nairobi attractions such as the Karen Blixen Museum, the Kenyan National Museum, the Railway Museum, the Bomas of Kenya and Uhuru Gardens - you will certainly learn about the history, people and cultures of Kenya. If you're heading to Kenya to see the animals, be sure to visit the David Sheldrick Animal Trust, the orphaned baby elephants at Sheldrick's sanctuary, the Giraffe Centre and Nairobi National Park. For those that want to go back home with crafts in hand, visit the Maasai Village Market.
We recommend you check out the Nairobi travel information from fellow travellers on the RealTravel web site.
Nairobi City Guide
Nairobi
Nairobi is a good city for exploring, and getting out and experiencing the sights, smells and sounds of the streets is a great way to really get to know the real character and people of Nairobi. The city started life in the colonial days, and those interested in this history should visit buildings such as the New Stanley and the Norfolk Hotel. These were both built in the early 1900s, part of the burgeoning colonial town. The New Stanley is internationally reknowned by travellers for its famous Thorn Tree Café. The centrepiece of this Café was the acacia tree, which, from 1961, was a notice board for travellers to pin letters, notes and messages to the trunk for fellow travellers. The Muthaiga Club, further out of town, played a key role in the colonial history of Kenya, and was a private country club that was popular with the white settlers. The two War Memorials located on Kenyatta avenue, which are dedicated to fallen soldiers of the two world wars, are some more interesting colonial era monuments. Kipande House, further down Kenyatta avenue, is an historic building as it was here that Kenyans were required to register themselves, and also where they were issued with identification cards.
There are a number of large parks located throughout Nairobi, including Central, City and Uhuru parks. The parks are very popular with the office workers of Nairobi to come and relax in during their lunch hour, and are good to have a rest in yourself while exploring the city. An unique park worth visiting is the Jevanjee Gardens, named after A.M. Jevanjee. It is a popular place for street preachers, with evangelical hymns ringing out at lunchtime. Nearby Biashara street is still very Asian influenced, and the Indian community especially has had a major impact on Nairobi life. This is reflected in the large number of Sikh and Hindu temples located throughout Nairobi. Swami Narain Temple, on Forest Road, is particularly impressive, a huge temple complex with detailed statuary adorning the exterior. The Jamia Mosque and Khoja Mosque are also worth visiting, as are some the large cathedrals in the city centre.
Area Sites
See the Nairobi Destination Guide for sites in the surrounding suburbs of the city such as the David Sheldrick Animal Trust, the Karen Blixen Museum, the Bomas, the Giraffe Centre, Nairobi National Park or the elephant orphanage. The Carnivore Experience is also a fun lunch or dinner
If you don't wish to explore Nairobi or the area sites independently, organized city tours and half or full day excursion tours can easily be arranged.
Bomas of Kenya
Animal Sites
Langata Giraffe Centre
Karen Blixen House
West of the city, in the suburb of Karen, you will find this beautiful coffee estate and farmhouse known as Bogani where Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa, lived between 1914 and 1931, until she left Kenya after a series of personal tragedies. For anyone with an interest in Karen Blixen's book Out of Africa or the subsequent film, this National Museum is a must see.
For any who have read the book, or seen the film (which was filmed partly filmed on location here) will recognize the house with its sprawling gardens and views over the nearby Ngong Hills. Efforts have been made to recreate the rooms in their original style. The house is furnished with a combination of some original decor, as well as props from the 1985 film production. There is even a garden with a tea room and some cottages where you can stay.Excellent trained staff can provide guided tours and are available to answer questions about the history of the house and the life of Karen Blixen. The Museum is easily accessible from Nairobi, by taxi or bus. (Karen Road, +25420882779, http://www.museums.or.ke/)
A couple of miles away, the African Butterfly Research Institute (256 Dagoretti Road, +25420884872) is a vast magical greenhouse alive with native butterflies.
National Railway Museum
Even for those not interested in trains, this is a surprisingly interesting museum: Next to the main Nairobi Railway Station is a Museum devoted to the history of the famed Kenya/Uganda railway. There are displays of many historic engines and rolling stock used by in the time of the original colonial railway.
Perhaps the most famous is the carriage that was used while hunting for the Maneater of Kima in 1900. As with the Maneaters of Tsavo, a lion caused delays in the construction of the line with a succession of attacks on the labour camps. Captain Charles Ryall, a colonial officer, and some other men arranged themselves in a rail carriage one night in an effort to shoot the lion. However, they all promptly fell asleep, and the lion crawled into the carriage, took Ryall into his mouth and jumped out through an open window.
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Museum
The Nairobi National Museum is an excellent venue to learn more about Nairobi's culture and history. The construction of the present Museum Hill site began in 1929 after the government set aside the land for it and it officially opened on September 22, 1930. After years of contributions and further developments, today one finds a series of galleries to the right of the main entrance, plus an Herbarium, the Mahatma Gandhi Hall, the Aga Khan and the Churchill Gallery, amongst others.
The Nairobi Snake Park was created in the early sixties with the intention of educating the public about snakes and other common reptiles found in Kenya. The Snake Park is one of the most popular attractions in the Museum. This museum is also home to most of the great prehistoric finds made by the Leakey family in East Africa, from Ethiopia to the Olduvai Gorge. It also has sections on wildlife, art, geology and local history. (Museum Hill, off Uhuru Highway, +254207742161, http://www.museums.or.ke/).
Meet Ben and the team, your local connection in Nairobi. In recent years we've seen our city transform itself from a dusty city, at times dangerous and lacking in glamour, into one that is clean, vibrant and safe. We greatly welcome the increased numbers of visitors that this has brought our country, but we also recognize the potentially harmful nature of tourism as well. Due to this, we are involved in preventing exploitation of Maasai villages by overzealous and unscrupulous tour operators, as well as working with hotels and conference organizers to encourage more contribution to worthwhile Kenyan charities.
