🇰🇪 Kenya

10 best places in Nairobi

Nairobi is the only capital on earth with a real national park inside city limits, where skyscrapers face off with lions and the evening scene is one of Africa's liveliest.

Park

Nairobi National Park

Wild savannah with lions and giraffes just half an hour from the downtown skyline.

Sight

Giraffe Centre

Hand-feed endangered Rothschild's giraffes from an elevated wooden platform.

Sight

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

An orphaned-elephant nursery where you can watch the morning feeding session.

Museum

Karen Blixen Museum

The 'Out of Africa' author's former farmhouse, with original furniture and gardens.

Museum

Nairobi National Museum

The country's top exhibit on human evolution, tribal culture and East African wildlife.

Sight

Bomas of Kenya

A living-village museum with traditional huts and evening tribal dance performances.

Market

Maasai Market

A roaming market of beaded Maasai jewelry, fabrics and wood carvings - haggling expected.

Restaurant

Carnivore Restaurant

The legendary all-you-can-eat game-meat grill, from crocodile to ostrich.

Café

Java House

Kenya's homegrown café chain, pouring some of the city's best locally grown coffee.

Park

Karura Forest

An urban forest with waterfalls, bike trails and Mau Mau caves for a morning walk.

FAQ

When is the best time to visit Nairobi?

At around 1,700 metres the climate is mild all year, 22-27C by day and cool at night. Long rains fall roughly March to May and short rains late in the year, so January to February and June to September are easiest. Those months also line up with the Maasai Mara safari season.

Is Nairobi safe?

The city's rough reputation is earned: muggings and pickpocketing are real, nobody walks at night, and phones stay out of sight on the street. Uber and Bolt are cheap and that is how people get around, even for short hops. Kibera and Eastleigh are for guided visits only, and the CBD after dark has nothing for you.

How many days do you need in Nairobi?

Two days cover Nairobi National Park, the Giraffe Centre, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Karen Blixen museum. The elephant orphanage has a narrow visiting window and traffic here is heavy, so plan generously. Beyond that, the city works mainly as a base for safaris.

Do you need a visa for Kenya and can you live there?

Kenya has moved from standard visas to an electronic travel authorisation that nearly all visitors apply for online in advance; the format and fees have changed more than once, so use the official portal. Longer stays run on permit classes for employment, business or investment, and a route aimed at remote workers has been introduced. English is official, which makes settling in easier, and Nairobi is East Africa's main hub for international organisations and startups.