Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and largest city, is a thriving cosmopolitan hub of tourist attractions, markets, restaurants, and more.
For the best experience in Nairobi, a few days is enough time to see all of the major sites.
A walking tour with a local guide is a great way to see landmarks, monuments, museums, and more. They will also tell you some interesting city history and share their own stories from growing up in the slums of Nairobi.
Elephant Orphanage
The Elephant Orphanage is a must-visit for anyone visiting Nairobi. Located on the outskirts of the city, this conservation centre is home to baby elephants orphaned due to poaching.
Each elephant is rehabilitated and cared for by dedicated elephant keepers. After a long and painful journey, the calves are given a chance to be reintroduced into their natural habitat.
When you visit the orphanage, you'll get to interact with a variety of different elephants, including Enkesha who was nearly severed from her trunk by a wire snare. You'll also learn about the work that this trust does and see how you can help their cause.
Masai Market
The Masai Market, an open-air market, is the best place to pick hand-crafted African souvenirs. You can find curios, paintings, drawings, clothes, and fabrics with East African prints, jewelry, and wood-carvings, many of them hand-made in Kenya by local artisans.
Located in Nairobi's city centre, the Maasai Market is a mobile marketplace (it rotates around several venues on different days of the week). Visitors will encounter friendly salespeople hawking indigenous wares and curios that can be haggled down to incredibly discounted prices.
Travelers should keep in mind that the price of Maasai items is usually higher than those of other African goods, so be prepared for serious bargaining. However, don't go overboard and pay more than they are asking for, as this could hurt their business.
Karura Forest
Located in the north of Nairobi, the Karura Forest is one of the city's largest urban gazetted forests. It's also a vital ecosystem, as it serves as a source of clean water and provides habitat for wildlife.
It is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Kenya. It offers a peaceful escape from the busy city and allows visitors to enjoy a wide range of activities, including hiking and cycling.
It also has several restaurants inside the forest that offer tasty food and beverages. The River Cafe is the most popular, and it's a great place to stop for a bite before or after exploring the forest.
Kazuri Bead Factory
Located in the Karen neighborhood, Kazuri Bead Factory is a craft workshop where ceramic beads are created. It was founded in 1975 by Lady Susan Wood, who discovered that many women in the community were in need of regular employment.
The workshop is now an award-winning fair trade business that employs more than 300 disadvantaged women. These women make over five million beads per year and export them to 20 countries.
They make beautiful beads for jewelry as well as pottery, and everything is hand shaped and painted based on a preset pattern that the workers follow. They also provide work for mostly single mothers and offer free medical care to their employees.
Central Park
Located next to Nairobi's central business district, this 12.9-hectare recreational park was opened by the late President Jomo Kenyatta in 1969. Among its many attractions, the park features an artificial lake and several national monuments.
- The park is also a popular place to skateboard, with an assembly court where local skaters meet on weekends to show off their skills. The park is also a regular venue for local political rallies and religious organizations' prayer services.
- While it's a great spot for a leisurely stroll, be aware that opportunistic thefts are common here, so carry only a small amount of cash and pay attention to your surroundings. During elections, the park is occasionally used for political rallies that can turn violent.
