The Top 15 Things To Do In Nairobi, Kenya

The Top 15 Things To Do In Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya in Africa. Many travelers see Nairobi only as the place they arrive and leave from to other Kenyan destinations. But Nairobi has lots of great things to see and do! From wild animals to museums to forests and more, Nairobi offers something for everyone.

About Nairobi 

Nairobi is Kenya’s largest city, with about 4.4 million residents. It is East Africa’s most modern city. Besides Kenyans, Nairobi has large communities from countries across Africa and Asia. This gives the city an exciting, multicultural vibe.

Nairobi’s nickname is “Green City in the Sun.” It has lots of trees, parks, and gardens that make Nairobi very beautiful. Large highways connect modern skyscrapers and shopping malls. Quiet suburban neighborhoods with nice hotels and restaurants contrast crowded downtown areas.  

While Nairobi can feel chaotic, it is mostly safe if you use common sense. Violent crime has reduced thanks to more police and security cameras. Still, visitors should take basic precautions, especially at night. With smart planning, Nairobi offers visitors awesome things to see and do.

15 Things To Do In Nairobi

#1 – Safari In Nairobi National Park 

Hard to believe, but you can go on safari and see wild animals without even leaving Nairobi! Nairobi National Park is less than 10 miles from downtown Nairobi. It protects over 45 square miles of grassy plains and riverside forests. It was started in 1946 since wildlife was already roaming there.

The park is home to over 400 species of birds and many mammals like lions, cheetahs, zebras, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas, and various antelopes. But it is best known to see rare black rhinos and southern white rhinos up close!

You can explore Nairobi National Park yourself by renting a car at the main gate. Or book a guided safari in a special 4WD vehicle with a driver and expert guide. They know where the animals hang out most at any time of day.

Entry fees to Nairobi National Park are $35 per adult and $20 for kids. The best times to visit for good wildlife viewing are early morning and late afternoon into the evening.

#2 – See Baby Elephants At Sheldrick Orphanage  

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust runs a special orphanage inside Nairobi National Park. It takes care of orphaned baby elephants and rhinos whose mothers were killed by poachers or died naturally. Tourists can visit between 11 am and noon daily to watch the adorable baby animals play, exercise, and get fed.  

The orphans stay at the nursery until they are strong and old enough to gradually move to a protected wilderness park. By seeing the orphans up close, visitors learn about threats faced by elephants and rhinos. And how important conservation efforts are to protect these species. 

Entry fees are 500 Kenyan Shillings per person, which helps fund the orphanage’s operations. If you wish, you can symbolically “adopt” one of the elephant or rhino calves currently living there.

#3 – Overnight At Nairobi Tented Camp

Since the national park is so close to downtown, why not spend the night? Nairobi Tented Camp offers 9 luxury safari tents inside the park for overnight guests. Wake to birds singing or lions roaring!

Tents have nice beds, private bathrooms with hot showers, and electricity. The relaxing common area has a bar, dining tent, and campfire pit under the stars. Rates average $130 per night including 3 tasty meals daily. Not many camps let you sleep in the wilds within sight of a capital city’s skyline!

#4 – Visit the Giraffe Center  

The Giraffe Center in Langata suburb works to protect the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Fewer than 1500 of these unique giraffes with white leg patches exist in East Africa today. The center started a successful breeding program when numbers dropped dangerously low decades ago.

Visitors can come feed and photograph the long-necked residents from a raised, eye-level platform. Friendly staff give educational talks about the giraffes too. Seeing them up close is an unforgettable experience!

The Giraffe Centre is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily. Entry cost is 1,500 Kenyan Shillings per non-resident adult and 1,000 for kids under 18. Plan to spend 1-2 hours interacting with these gentle giants.

#5 – Stay at Giraffe Manor Hotel  

The Giraffe Center offers guided tours only during the day. But real giraffe lovers may wish to spend the night nearby at Giraffe Manor! This exclusive hotel is set on the same property in 12 acres of private forest. It has amazing close encounters with the giraffes.

The elegant Giraffe Manor dates back to the 1930s. Guests stay in luxury rooms filled with antique furnishings, not far from Nairobi city limits. But the highlight is seeing endangered Rothschild’s giraffes wandering the gardens and popping their heads into the dining area!

Rates at Giraffe Manor start around $875 per night. Given all meals and activities with the giraffes included, it’s a splurge worth considering for a truly magical Kenya experience.

#6 – Learn About “Out Of Africa” Author  

Many visitors know the famous film Out of Africa starring Meryl Streep. The movie was inspired by the true story of Danish writer Karen Blixen. She lived in Kenya for 17 years until 1931 and wrote about her experiences at her farm outside Nairobi. 

That farm is now the Karen Blixen Museum. Visitors tour the beautifully preserved house where Karen lived, wrote, and hosted elaborate parties. Guides share details about her love affair with hunter Denys Finch Hatton. Guests can also walk the extensive grounds and gardens. Understanding Karen’s memoir lets you appreciate old Kenya and the landscapes that shaped her classic memoir.

The Karen Blixen Museum is open daily 9:30 am to 6 pm. Guided tours cost 1,200 Kenyan Shillings for adults and 600 for kids under 18. Add this stop to also see nearby Giraffe Manor and Kazuri Bead Factory too.

#7 – Hike the Ngong Hills 

Get out into Kenya’s stunning landscapes by embarking on a half day hike in the Ngong Hills. These forested ridges served as a backdrop for Karen Blixen’s farm. Many scenes in Out of Africa were filmed around here too.

Local Maasai tribespeople have grazing rights on the lower hills. But the tallest hills now protect delicate forest ecosystems in the Ngong Hills Forest Reserve. Follow winding dirt trails up and down seven peaks, each over 2000 feet high.

Be rewarded with panoramic views over the Great Rift Valley and sightings of small antelopes, bush pigs, monkeys and exotic birds along the paths. Just 15 miles west of Nairobi, the Ngong Hills offer a perfect nature escape from the busy city.

#8 – Shop for Souvenirs at Kazuri Bead Factory  

Kazuri means “small and beautiful” in Swahili, perfect for the handmade pottery beads and jewelry produced here. Kazuri Bead Factory employs over 340 local women to shape and hand-paint thousands of ceramic beads each week.

The workshop has operated since 1975. Visitors can tour the bead-making process and hear stories from female artisans. Most are single mothers or disadvantaged women gaining financial independence.  

Besides purchasing bead jewelry, Kazuri sells hand-thrown pottery, stone sculptures, batik fabrics and more. So you’re sure to find wonderful fair trade Kenya souvenirs here to bring back home. It’s just down the road from Karen Blixen Museum too.

#9 – Wander Through Maasai Market for Crafts 

For traditional Kenyan handicrafts and jewelry, don’t miss the famous Maasai Market held twice weekly. Local vendors sell all kinds of unique items like wood carvings, paintings, fabrics, baskets, sandals and belts. 

Of course the main attraction is the beautiful beaded jewelry and accessories made by Maasai tribe members. Women typically take several weeks working by hand to turn tiny glass beads into stunning collars, bracelets and earrings.

Remember to bargain politely with a smile! The Maasai Market rotates between several locations around Nairobi mid-week and on weekends. Check the schedule during your trip for the day and venue nearest you.

#10 – Go Shopping at The Hub Karen Mall

When you want a break from the chaos of downtown Nairobi, head 20 minutes north to The Hub Karen mall. Surrounded by lush gardens, this modern mall boasts 85 stores selling fashions, housewares, books and more. Kenya’s middle class flocks here to shop.

International brands mix with local boutiques and craft stores. Families enjoy the indoor playground and movie theater. Travelers find SIM cards, adapters, guidebooks and tasty restaurants perfect for a lunch break or coffee. With ample parking and security guards, The Hub offers pleasant Nairobi shopping sans hassles.

#11 – Marvel Over African Art & Architecture 

For a glimpse at influences from across Africa, make time to visit the African Heritage House. This is a private home and gallery of American collector Alan Donovan located in the Athi River area. He has lived in Kenya since 1967 and built this ocher-colored mansion using traditional techniques.

Inside, every room overflows with priceless African art, musical instruments, masks, textiles and more spanning centuries. The house reflects mud architectural styles from Mali, Morocco, Sudan and beyond melded together beautifully. 

Book a tour to hear stories behind rare artifacts and wander through the gardens viewing giant baobab trees from Zimbabwe. You can also reserve rooms here for overnight stays. Just 25 minutes from Nairobi city center, African Heritage House amazes guests with spectacular pan-African design.

#12 – Learn About Kenya’s History & Culture

Dating to 1913, the Nairobi Gallery is found downtown in Kenya’s old colonial records office. Today it displays modern and traditional Kenyan artwork. Exhibits showcase styles ranging from striking wildlife portraits to abstract paintings using local natural materials.

The upstairs hosts valuable tribal artifacts collected decades ago by the first Kenyan Vice President and his British wife. Ceremonial dress, musical instruments, portraits and household tools represent Kenya’s 42 tribal groups. Guides help explain cultural meanings behind certain items.

And outside, don’t miss having your photo taken at Point Zero! This monument records distances to everywhere in Kenya measured from this spot in central Nairobi.

#13 – Explore National Museum’s Exhibitions

Kenya National Museum sits prominently on Museum Hill with Nairobi city views. Opened in 1929, it spotlights Kenya’s natural landscapes, tribal groups, archaeology and more via permanent and temporary displays. Wander through extensive taxidermy dioramas showing Kenya’s astounding wildlife diversity.

See examples of traditional handicrafts and ceremonial dress from the Maasai, Turkana, Pokot and other tribes. Musical instrument displays feature intricately carved horns, flutes and rattles once used for important rituals. Be awed seeing Opus, one of only two nearly complete elephant skeletons ever recovered.

Don’t miss the peaceful botanic sculpture garden and nature trail surrounding the National Museum too. Guides provide additional context to enrich your cultural learnings. Expect to spend at least 2-3 hours exploring everything.

#14 – Take In The Views Atop KICC 

No tall skyscrapers exist in Nairobi due to airport flight paths. But Kenyatta International Convention Center still affords the best 360° views around. At 30 stories high, it dominates Nairobi’s skyline.

Many government meetings and business conferences happen inside KICC. But anyone can ride the lift up to the 27th floor. Then climb steps to its open-air observation deck on the roof. Capture awesome photos overlooking downtown Nairobi and beyond!

To the west lies Uhuru Park. Towards the south stretch Nairobi National Park’s plains. And peering east you can see suburbs and highways extending outside the city center. Time your visit for sunset when golden light casts a magical glow across bustling Nairobi below.

#15 – Discover Kenyan Cuisine

Nyama Mama restaurants offer the perfect chance for visitors to try authentic Kenyan food in Nairobi. The chef sources traditional recipes from across Kenya’s diverse tribal groups. Then gives regional favorites her special gourmet twist!

Savor spicy stews, curries and barbecued meats just like locals might eat at an outdoor stand or roadside café in rural villages. Traditional sides include maizemeal fritters, sweet potatoes, cassava crisps and more. With two Nairobi locations to choose from, Nyama Mama uses fresh ingredients to take your tastebuds on a culinary safari!

Conclusion

Nairobi offers many surprising things for tourists to see and do during their Kenya trip. Don’t simply pass through Kenya’s vibrant capital city. Allow a few days to uncover colorful markets, national parks nearby and world-class restaurants found here. Learn things you never knew about Kenya’s tribal groups and wildlife by visiting Nairobi’s museums too. Trust us – you’ll discover memorable adventures that make time spent in Nairobi truly rewarding!