Kenya Vacation Guide

Nairobi Kenya Nairobi is Kenya’s capital city, Kenya’s largest city and also its commercial and travel center. Most of the country’s commercial and travel activity occurs in Nairobi. Travelers coming to Kenya will come through Nairobi by air and arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. From there,

they go to one of Nairobi’s fine hotels on their way to other destinations.

Most visitors will be amazed at how well developed and modern Nairobi is, with facilities comparable to many developed countries. You will find beautiful theatres, restaurants, Internet access facilities and other modern conveniences.

A view of Nairobi City*

However, the city can also be dangerous especially in some areas. You should ask your tour company on which areas not to venture especially at night.

Things to see

The greatest attraction to Kenya is its magnificent wildlife. If you want to see these animals, there is the Nairobi National Park nearby that has lions, giraffes, impalas and more.

You can also visit the Giraffe Center in the Nairobi suburb of Langata and see the nearly extinct Rothschild giraffe.

Ever read the book “Out of Africa” by the great Naturalist Karen Blixen? You can visit her Nairobi residence that has been transformed into a Museum called Karen Blixen House.

If you like learning about African culture, visit the Bomas of Kenya, a cultural center in Nairobi where you will watch traditional songs and dances of all Kenyan tribes. There are performances every day with very good food served and many shops to buy artifacts.

Masai Dancers in Nairobi**

Accommodation

Nairobi is a city to suit all people. There is a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets, tastes and interests. You will find numerous hotels, guesthouses, serviced apartments and hostels, all aimed at making your stay in Nairobi comfortable.

If you love camping, you can do it within Nairobi precincts at either the Nairobi National Park or the Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, both located in Nairobi.

Many Nairobi hotels offer the standard 4-star or 5-star amenities like en-suite, air-conditioned rooms, satellite T.V and round the clock service. They also offer a choice of bars, restaurants, gymnasiums and sauna facilities.

Eating Out

There are very many places to eat in Nairobi. Most are small restaurants that serve delicious Kenyan foods at very reasonable prices. Try some of these Kenyan dishes once in a while and you will like them.

If you want some fast food, there are several restaurants offering all types of fast foods in the city center. Some examples are Creamy Inn, Pizza Inn, Nando’s and many others.

You can also find nice burgers at Steers and Wimpy restaurants and Chicken at Kenchic Inns Restaurant.

Otherwise you can find fine foods at the many good hotels serving tourists in Nairobi.

Transport

When you come to Nairobi, try traveling in their uniquely Kenyan transport method, the Matatu. A Matatu is a customized minivan with rows of seats to accommodate as many passengers as possible. They vary in size from small Nissan Minibuses to larger ones almost the size of a full size bus.

Matatu’s operate on set routes picking passengers who can then disembark at any station they like. They often have loud music but it is quite fun to ride in a Matatu and you should try it.

Taxis are also widely available in Nairobi. You can catch a taxi to take you to any place you like. They are very convenient since the drivers know almost all the places you would wish to visit. Taxis are not metered and the fare should be agreed upon before departure. Nairobi taxis are normal cars marked with a yellow line along the side of the car or large black London taxis.

You can also find three wheeled motorized rickshaws taxis called tuk-tuks.

Museums

There are many Museums in Nairobi where you can enjoy Kenya’s unique history and culture. They preserve a lot of arts, artifacts, historical facts and other items that you will love to see.

Check out the Kenya National Archives for Kenya’s artwork and handicrafts as well as some historical documents and photos.

To learn about the history if Kenya’s Railway, visit The Railway Museum in Nairobi. You will find old steam engines built in the 1920’s and informational material about the history of Kenya railway.

Another Museum in Nairobi is the National Museum of Kenya, which offers many educational materials on Kenya history.

Giant Turtle in Nairobi Zoo***

Entertainment and Nightlife

Nairobi has a vibrant nightlife which a visitor would like to explore. There are many theatres, casinos, bars, clubs and discos which remain open all night.

Every once a month, you will find several clubs offering "cultural nites" which feature traditional music and traditional foods and drinks from Kenyan communities. These cultural Nites also include performances of local music acts. Local newspapers, the Daily Nation and East African Standard have listings of Curtural Nites.

Many hotels offer entertainment facilities like bars, casinos, restaurants and discos on their premises, making it easy for their guests to enjoy the nightlife. These hotels include Six Eighty Hotel and Casino, The Landmark, Nairobi Hilton Hotel, Norfolk Hotel, Holiday Inn Nairobi Mayfair Court, The Stanley, Nairobi Intercontinental, Nairobi Serena Hotel, Safari Park Hotel and the Grand Regency Hotel.

Copyright: Mwongera Kioga:

Images under Creative Commons Attribution Licence. * by Demosh ** by Angela7dreams *** by ctsnow