Exploring your destinations

Nairobi

More than a transit point

Most visitors pass through Nairobi without stopping. A day here is usually better spent than an extra transfer, especially if you arrive early or leave late.

Plan My Safari

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park is the only national park bordering a capital city. It holds rhino, lion, giraffe, buffalo and zebra against a city skyline. There are no elephants.

It is a genuine park rather than a zoo, and a morning drive here is a real game drive. It is not a substitute for the Mara, but it is a good use of a spare morning and the rhino population is significant.

Elephants and Giraffes

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Nursery hand-raises orphaned elephants. Public visits take place from 11am to 12 noon every day except 25 December and must be booked directly with the Trust in advance. Visitor places are limited, same-day booking is not available, and the session cannot be delayed or extended for late arrivals. Plan the day around it.

The Giraffe Centre at Langata is a breeding and conservation centre for Rothschild's giraffe. Visitors can feed giraffes from a raised platform, and it is particularly popular with families.

History and Culture

The Karen Blixen Museum occupies her former farmhouse at the foot of the Ngong Hills.

The Nairobi National Museum covers natural history, ethnography and the country's prehistory, including important hominid fossils. The adjoining Snake Park is better than it sounds.

Bomas of Kenya presents traditional dance and homestead architecture from across the country.

Walking and Shopping

Karura Forest has walking and cycling trails, waterfalls and caves within the city.

The Ngong Hills offer a ridge walk with wide views on both sides.

The Maasai Market moves around the city by day of the week. Kazuri Beads in Karen is a working cooperative employing women from the area, and visitors can walk through the workshop.