Nairobi has only been a city since 1954, but it’s been making up for lost time ever since. While its name comes from a Maasai phrase meaning “the place of cool waters,” Nairobi is more commonly referred to as the “Green City in the Sun.”
There’s a lot of entrepreneurship going on in Nairobi. Everybody is busy creating life. Also, the vibrancy of the city, wharf, and business, tourism and hospitality, every part of Nairobi is fast. Here people are moving fast, and people want to get things done. In fact, the only thing that moves slowly in Nairobi is the traffic, a bone of contention for travelers and locals alike.
Now one of Africa’s largest cities, Nairobi has long been the safari capital of the continent and its National Park plays a major part in the structure of the city.
Measuring about 134 square kilometers, it’s home to more than 400 species of birds as well as a plethora of animals, including buffaloes, leopards, lions and rhinos and has the rather unusual backdrop of city skyscrapers and landing planes. This sharp contrast between the wild and the city — an electric fence the only thing separating them — is about as unique a wildlife offering as it gets. There is nowhere else in the world where you can witness at least four of the big five living next to half a million residents? For visitors who can afford it, one luxurious way to experience this is a stay at GIRAFFE MANOR, a stately boutique hotel famed for the resident animals it’s named after. The giraffes make regular appearances at breakfast, craning their long necks through the windows to greet the guests.
Nairobi offers eclectic choices of things to do for the adventurous soul. One minute you could be dining in a fine restaurant and the next you are dancing to the rhythm of traditional drums at a cultural night. Here are some activities that define the Ultimate Nairobi Experience.
Catch the Activities that Nairobi as to offer
Attend a C
The various tribes in Kenya take turns hosting a cultural night where they showcase their culture and traditions. Traditional food is served and the audience is treated to an entire night of music exclusively from the tribe. If you are looking to enjoy culture and have a taste of indigenous Kenyan cuisine, go for a cultural night. These cultural nights also celebrate cultures from
Take a Matatu Ride
A matatu is the public service vehicle used to transport people all around the city. Nairobi matatus are a thrilling ride, as the inside of the trendy vehicles is fitted with plasma screens showing the latest music video clips and a superior sound system for quality audio. The body of the vehicle is adorned with graffiti, depicting everything from the Who’s-who of hip-hop culture to African heroes, like Nelson Mandela and others.
Eat Ugali and Nyama Choma
The meat is roasted on an open coal fire and is served with ugali (the local cornmeal staple) and a finely chopped mixture of tomatoes, red onions, pepper, and coriander, locally known as kachumbari. This meal is usually followed by a cold Tusker, the infamous Kenyan beer.
Explore the Local Slums
A visit to the largest slum dwelling in sub-Saharan Africa will open your heart to the challenges faced in informal settlements and is a great experience for anyone looking to support initiatives in these slum areas. The tours are conducted by young guides who have lived in the slums.
Go thrift Shopping
Thrift markets are wonderful places to interact with locals and see how vendors market their goods. Look out for singing vendors, often a male and female duet that moves through the crowds describing their goods and wares to passersby.
Stargaze from the KICC
The KICC (Kenyatta International Conference Center) is the tallest building in Nairobi city. Its rooftop offers panoramic views of the city. It is the best seat in the house when it comes to watching the African sunset, while the stars at night offer a most romantic backdrop.
Visit the United Nations Headquarters in Africa
A tour of the United Nations HQ in Africa, which is located at Gigiri in Nairobi allows you to see the United Nations hub at work, and maybe even an African dignitary or two. It is one of the four possible tours one can take of UN headquarters in the world, the others being in New York, Geneva, and Vienna.
