Nairobi is often called as the “Safari Capital of the World”, a place of heaven for national parks, bustling urban life, wildlife experiences and cultural diversity, making it one of the top spots to the safari lover and even digit nomads.
I think we shouldn’t conclude Nairobi is just for safari lovers or modern lifes, once we started to dig more about this place we came to know why it is popular and it is truly a gem to enthusiastic adventure backpackers. To make more easy and convenient of your Nairobi trip we came with an article which help visitors to what are the 10 best things which they can make and enjoy while stepping into the land of “Green City in the Sun”.
How to Get to Nairobi?
1. By Air
As usual if you’re an international visitor, then you need to book your flight tickets to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). NBO served as the main airport in Nairobi, but besides this airport such as “Wilson airport” is a major airport that operates domestic flights. Along with NBO, Moi international Airport and Malindi Airport welcome fewer international flights.
2. By Land
If you are coming from a nearby country or region, it is better to choose to travel by bus or car. Uganda and Tanzania are popular border visitors even come through this route by several bus options that operate into Nairobi.
3. Visa Requirements
Check visa requirements before travelling to Nairobi for your nationality. Most visitors need a visa to enter Kenya which can often be obtained online prior to their journey. Make sure that if you are the Caribbean and African citizen then you don’t need any required visas.
Top 10 Unique Things to Do in Nairobi
1. Spend More Time with Nairobi National Park
If you want to know why Nairobi is called the “Safari Capital of the World”, then it is always a good idea to start your trip by visiting the popular Nairobi National Park. Going on a safari helps us to unleash a variety of wildlife against the backdrop of the city skyline, which is the most sought after thing to do in Nairobi.
Safari helps visitors to see the lions, endangered black rhino, giraffes and hyenas, jackals and zebras in a more close up way. However, if you have the time and patience, try to explore all of the park’s 100 mammals, which are really worth it and most of them are endangered too.
Despite its vast numbers of animals, the national park is home to over 500 species of birds including migratory and native such as Martial eagle, lesser kestrel, Pallid harrier, Sooty falcon, White bellied bustard and Grey crowned crane. If you don’t like safari, choose to visit inside attractions of the park such as Nairobi Animal Orphanage, Hippo Pools Nature Walk and Ivory Burning Site and Monument.
Its total 117 square kilometres of range, visitors going to spot more wild species, bird species and natural settings, and these things always make Nairobi National Park exclusively welcome photographers and conservation enthusiastic. You can book your Nairobi National Park tour or safari in advance here.
2. To Learn Local History Visit Nairobi National Museum
As an enthusiastic backpacker, if you wish to learn the rich heritage and history of the country then it is always a good idea to visit Nairobi National Museum in your early process. Visiting Nairobi National Museum is all about learning Kenya’s rich heritage including culture, history, art and nature.
The museum was built in 1922, to keep and preserve the country’s collection of various specimens, but it opened to the general public from 2005, after extensive modernization and brilliant architectures. The museum initially was called the Nairobi museum but in 2008 it was changed to Nairobi National Museum.
Do not limit your museum trip just to explore and understand the history and culture of the country, but more importantly to find some of the finest things like Nairobi Snake Park, art galleries, shops, botanical gardens and nature trails.
Its Cradle of human kind gallery is an interesting one, where visitors can make first hand interaction with early and Stone Age tools and even with different bird species. Never miss to discover galleries like Mammals gallery, History of Kenya gallery, Life gallery and numismatic exhibitions for a deeper understanding about local flora and faunas.
3. Appreciate Ethical Work at David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Have you ever heard about the concept of orphan elephant rescue or rehabilitation centre/trust anywhere in the world? But David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is exclusively operating this kind of programme recognised as the one of the leading conservation organisations for wildlife in East Africa.
The primary goal of this David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is to rescue orphan elephants from remote areas of Kenya and its rescue team will be transported by ground back to the Nairobi Nursery. Orphan’s Project is a long term conservation initiative done by the effective reintegration of orphans back into herds of Tsavo.
Even today you’ll see workers feed bottles of milk and nutrients to baby elephants including mud bath and fresh cut leaves. From the last 10 years over 260 orphan elephants and rhinos including babies have been rescued and successfully raised within this wildlife trust.
Despite its rescue and rehabitations, Sheldrick even popular to provide quality veterinary service to its rescued animals, created a separate anti-poaching unit. As a visitor Sheldrick allows you to stroll amidst rescue or orphan baby elephants and appreciate ethical work for wildlife. Try to visit elephant nursery where one hour of elephant tour is available to visitors to enjoy the daily routine of elephant life.
4. Take a Glimpse of “Karen Blixen” Work in Museum
It is possible only when you enter the most fascinating ‘Karen Blixen Museum’. The museum is the former home of author Karen Blixen, a person who wrote a popular book named “Out of Africa”. Book ‘Out of Africa’ is all about learning about her life in Kenya and emotional chronicle of her deep love for the African landscapes.
Karen Blixen Museum located 10 km from the city of Nairobi, where visitors would find history of Kenya at different time periods, especially when the museum served as a centre piece of a farm by the popular Danish author.
If you see the history, during 1912 Karen and her husband mutually bought 6,000 acres of land for different purposes, but out of 6,000 acres 600 acres exclusively they used to make coffee plantations. But after Baron left this farm to Karen due to separation, Karen lived almost 10 years on this farm before she left for Denmark.
Today traveller’s spot original coffee processing factory equipements, furnitures, and Karen personal belongings inside this museum. Her wedding photos, corporate galas and photos captured during her Kenya forest tours are available inside of this museum. However, its tranquil garden and indigenous forest cover captivating the curious backpackers.
5. Make Your Shopping at Spinner’s Web
Spending your time shopping on Spinner’s Web has great travel advantages, not just buying stuff moreover a great idea to indulge in bustling local markets to understand Nairobi’s local lifestyles. Shopping on Spinner’s Web makes us buy more handmade crafts, African and local, especially if you’re expecting home decor or authentic artistic driven items.
Spinners Web is a place where more than 500 vendors and consignors are inclusively busy in exhibiting and selling their products. Once you start your walk amidst these shops slowly you’ll realise most of your seeking items fall in one place. But you need to decide which one you pick, since it ranges from pottery, jewellery, accessories and handicrafts items from all over Kenya.
In order to keep visitors’ attention more in mind Spinners Web presenting products displayed in an open air, garden like setting. And this helps visitors to find their products easily and make more attention to items. If you looking to make your Nairobi trip in a deeper and broader way, may be Spinners Web is ultimate stop for you trip despite just as a centre of handmade items and local stuffs.
6. Find Rothschild’s Giraffe at Giraffe Centre
If you are a nature lover or wishing to spend more time with local faunas, then we recommend you to visit the most popular animal centre in Nigeria: Giraffe Centre. Giraffe Centre is exclusively known for conservation and breeding of Rothschild’s Giraffe, often called as Nubian Giraffe.
The reason behind protecting and conserving one particular Giraffe breed is due to diminishing numbers. Founded in 1979 by Jock Leslie- Melville, initially their intention was conserving African animals but later its vision changed to protect this local animal. Currently we can witness only 700 numbers of Rothschild’s Giraffe in whole East Africa.
These Rothschild’s Giraffes are usually found in the East Africa region. It has unique features like low legs, higher lumps on their heads, its coat and color is pale and less distinguished compared to other Giraffe species. Giraffe Centre is a great place to know more about its features and specialities especially for children those who willing to learn.
Today visitors are allowed to feed these Giraffes or make close interface with it. But make sure that feeding will be allowed only through conservation oriented facilities, not in traditional ways. $15 is the entry fee to the Giraffe centre and it opens daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
7. Enjoy Panoramic Views from Kenyatta International Conference Center
Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) is a 32 story building located in the city of Nairobi. Kenyatta International Conference Centre was initially called Kenyatta International Conference Centre, but today this building is an ideal place to enjoy aerial views of Nairobi city and its surroundings from its rooftop.
KICC is recognised as the 6th tallest building in Kenya and building stands as a one of the prominent landmarks and business hubs for business and tourism in Kenya. The building hosts small events both interior and outdoors and promotes business of meeting/conferences.
But the biggest merit of this building to us is its rooftop. The 30th floor is completely open to the observation deck where visitors would enjoy more breathtaking city views including the Helipad. However, from this vital area one is able to see city views in aerial views includings its surroundings especially during sunset.
Visitors shouldn’t miss spending their time at KICC artists’ performance, photography and videoing angles at every sunset and sunrise. Try to book your deck for rent when rooftop hosting special functions including cocktails, dinners and launches.
8. Experience Folklore of Kenya in Bomas of Kenya
If you are not finding any great places to understand more about local Kenyan traditional music, dance and folklore performances here in Nairobi, Bomas of Kenya is the perfect stopping point to you. This Bomas of Kenya is recognised as the living museum in Nairobi where diverse ethnic communities are deeply performing century old dances, music, art festivals, performances and village homesteads.
Located on the outskirts of Nairobi city, the primary purpose of building the concept of Bomas of Kenya is to preserve and promote the rich culture, tradition and diversity of the country and in order to sustain it for future generations.
As a backpacker your duty here in this cultural rich attraction is to involve yourself in rich dynamic cultural performances like songs, dances and acrobatics like Kikuyu tribal dances, Luhya drum performances and Swahili coastal taarab music.
Additionally it is recommended to take a Bomas village tour to understand the local or traditional way of life of ethnic groups. Whilst exploring their huts, houses and homesteads along with your village tour. If you love to buy any Bomas craft souvenirs, stop your tour at Bomas Craft Market to purchase wood carvings, handmade beadwork like jewellery or necklaces and bags and paintings.
9. Drink Your Coffee at Thorn Tree Cafe
Drinking coffee at Thorn Tree Cafe is really a spectacular thing to do in Nairobi. Throne Tree Cafe is a place where we can drink coffee under Acacia tree settings with inspiring message boards. Located in the Central Business District, Thorn Tree Cafe is available at the bottom of the Savova Stanley Hotel, which inspired the name for Lonely’s Planet’s Thorn Tree Forum.
Consuming your coffee at Thorn Tree cafe is open air, bistro style and amidst the restaurant. This makes us feel more enhanced mental wellbeing and improve social interactions and help to indulge in natural settings.
Even today cafes are a vital point to make a perfect meeting place and offer a memorable dining experience in the entire central business of Nairobi. The cafe often serves dishes like a deli counter, pizzas from a wood fired oven and includes different continental and nouvelle dishes in their menus.
Take a historic hotel tour that has been visited by the politicians, movie stars and VIPs since its opening. Order your tea/coffee and slice of cake once you finish your inside cafe tour. The cafe serves breakfast from 6:30 am to 10:00 am (6:30 am to 10:30 am on weekends), Lunch from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm (12:30 pm to 3:00 pm on weekends) and dinner from 5:30 pm to 11:00 pm (6:30 pm to 10:30 pm on weekends).
10. Stop Your Trip at Nairobi Village Market
Finishing your Nairobi trip in its permanent village market is a better idea since its high end shoppings, entertainment and recreations. Village Market is located in the Girgiri residential area, approximately 6 miles away from the heart of Nairobi city. Make some free time to explore its vast 150 retail outlets and shopping vendors covering its 2, 10,000 square feet spaces.
As a visitor you can expect fashion accessories, footwear, local craft items, lifestyle stuff, and kid’s items. Initially this market was created for shopping and recreational destinations for Gigiri residents, but later it got nationwide recognition and open to the general public, slowly turning out to be one of the must visit destinations in Nairobi.
The market is designed according to convenience to visitors and it resembles waterfalls, rivers, plants and gardens of the local African nature. However, the market is friendlier to handicapped and nursing mothers since it contains restrooms for disabled and baby rooms are separately built for them.
While exploring the Village market, take a stop at the food court and restaurants of the market. Where visitors are going to get more traditional rich African cuisines including breakfast, dinner and lunch. If you are a fashion-conscious person always looking to make unique and stylish hair styles, M.A.C salon service, and Nairobi’s first new era Male grooming company are great places to try.
Best Time to Do These Things in Nairobi
The best time to do your Nairobi activities and things is truly based on when you are going to make your trip plan. Not every season or time will fit your travel journey or will not accomplish your things to do in Nairobi. So, understanding local weather forecasts and season is so crucial to make our Nairobi journey more memorable.
In a simple and straight answer Mid-January to end of February and from early June to September are considered as the most ideal season to visit. The rest of the months here in Nairobi face extreme harsh and wet seasons, so traveling is quite difficult.
June to September is the perfect season for those who wish to explore Great migrations of animals like Zebra and Wildebeest. The season is dry and an easy way to catch up vegetation and migratory bird species and newborn animals.
Since the place is often connected to safari and wildlife it is a very good idea to discuss when the perfect time to take a safari is. According to some sources of knowledge, the dry season from June to October and January to February are considered as the best seasons to go on safari here in Nairobi.
These seasons help safari riders to make more clear views of vegetation, clear sightseeings and vast numbers of animals gathering nearby water sources.
What to Pack?
Packing your backpack with the right travel belongings while planning our trip to Nairobi is a very crucial task. Compared to other African destinations like Socotra or Kruger National Park, packing is totally different to Nairobi. Maybe the idea of what needs to be packed will also be getting equal value to what are the things to do in Nairobi.
1. Clothes
While you are packing, choosing loose and lightweight clothes is a very good idea. These kinds of clothes help us to keep our body cool and dry. Usually the Khaki colour or forest green color of attire is always look more attractive when you riding in Safari. Additionally if you are comfortable to pack more stairs then pack cardigan, fleece or light jacket especially during early morning or winter season.
2. Shoes
Choosing the best travel shoes is another important subject when it comes to packing. Fill shoes which are trekking friendly or ideal for bush walking. Lightweight shoes will make walking more comfortable, especially Nairobi’s semi-arid conditions.
3. Hats and Sun Glasses
If you dislike heavy sunlight effects then selecting good hats and quality sun protection glasses is crucial. Safari hats and a pair of sunglasses and prescription glasses help us to protect from dusty and dry conditions.
4. Other Travel Stuffs
If you photographer obviously pack camera and photography equipment. Along with trying to pick binoculars, laptops and other electronic items. Despite that, pack essential toiletries like shampoo, soap, moisturizer, hair brushes and toothpastes.
