Nairobi

What's so special about Nairobi?

  • Proximity to the Nairobi National Park situated just outside the city, enabling business visitors to the city, who are constrained for time, to have a wildlife experience. The Park is home to all the "Big Five" except elephant, has over 400 species of birdlife, and is a rhino sanctuary and one of the few parks where it is possible to see the black rhino in its natural habitat. It also has numerous picnic sites where one can enjoy a day out, and hosts a wildebeest & zebra migration in July/August.
  • The Safari Walk abutting the Nairobi National Park, Kenya's new conservation based recreational facility. This will give international visitors a taste of Kenya's rich animal heritage, with opportunities on learning about conservation and how they can contribute. Plants and animals that are locally extinct or threatened are also displayed here. It also offers an opportunity to pet cheetahs.
  • Daphne Sheldrick's Animal Sanctuary, where orphaned elephants and rhinos are hand raised by foster parents before being released back into the wild. Visitors are allowed for an hour each day, and you can adopt a baby elephant or rhino as well.
  • The Giraffe Centre where the endangered Rothschild giraffe are being raised. Lots of information available on the giraffes, and an opportunity to hand feed these amazing creatures. You can also take an interesting forest walk.  
  • Nairobi National Museum, which houses some of the most celebrated collections of history, art and culture from the East African region.
  • The Karen Blixen Museum facing the smoky blue Ngong Hills - the original home of Karen Blixen of "Out of Africa' fame, with much of the original furniture on display.
  • The hub of all airlines that fly scheduled daily flights to the game parks and reserves in the country
  • Close proximity to the Rift Lakes of Naivasha, Nakuru and Elementaita, enabling visitors to take a day trip to these places.
  • A rich heritage of culture arising from Kenyans of different origins and cultural backgrounds.
  • A cosmopolitan society, with a multitude of cultural, outdoor and theatrical events throughout the year.
  • Warm & hospitable people.
  • Close proximity to Mount Longonot, the Ngong Hills and Menengai Crater for amateur mountain climbing.
  • Close proximity to the Hell's Gate National Park for hiking enthusiasts
  • Many world class restaurants & hotels with international cuisine, some of which offer regular culinary festivals from around the world.
  • A large variety of Bars, pubs, clubs & lounges offering a scintillating night life.
  • Comfortable, moderate weather all year round
  • Host to many international events and conferences
  • Regional office in Africa for the United Nations Environment Programmes and home to numerous other NGOs.
  • Home of the Nairobi Marathon, the largest athletic event in Kenya, attracting runners from all over the world, as well Kenya's best distance runners.

 

FAST FACTS

Altitude

1795 m above sea level

Area

684 sq km

Location

Southern Highlands, Nairobi District, Nairobi Province

Climate

Moderate climate with the sunniest and warmest part of the year from December to March, and chilly evenings & nights during June/July. There are 2 rainy seasons, the long rains from March - May, and the short rains from October to November.

Accessibility

Nairobi has an international airport with flights arriving from all over the globe. It is the hub of the country's main airline, Kenya Airline which serves all of Africa regionally, and together with its global partner airlines, KLM and Air France, serves the rest of the world.

 

What can I do there?

  • Game drive and bird watching at the Nairobi National Park
  • Picnics in the Nairobi National Park
  • Feeding the giraffe at the Giraffe Centre
  • Sponsor a baby elephant or rhino at the Daphne Sheldrick Animal Sanctuary
  • Day trips to Mt. Longonot, the Ngong Hills or Menengai Crater for mountain climbing
  • Day trip to Hell's Gate National Park for hiking
  • Day trip to Nakuru National Park
  • Eating out at restaurants, ranging from traditional African fare, to Indian, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Ethiopian, French, Thai & fusion.
  • Relax in the various music lounges around the city, engage in bar-hopping or dance the night away at Nairobi's glitzy clubs.
  • Enjoy Kenyan coffee at Nairobi's famous coffee houses - Java, Dormans, Savanna and Artcaffe
  • Learn about Ancient Man and the Cradle of Mankind at the National Museum
  • Enjoy world class shopping at Nairobi's premier shopping malls
  • Visit the Maasai Market and pick up souvenirs - this is held every Friday at the Village Market, Saturday & Sunday at the Law Courts and Tuesdays at the Westgate Mall.
  • Partake in escorted bird walks at the Ngong Forest Sanctuary
  • Enjoy events like the Nairobi Marathon, the Storymoja festival, jazz festivals, culinary festivals from around the globe and

 

Where can I stay?

  • The city has accommodation ranging from 2 star backpacker hostels to 5 star luxury hotels

 

Best time to visit

All year round