January 24, 2022

Tripedia

The Trip Encyclopedia

Top 10 Things To Do In Nairobi

Nairobi is a very intriguing and touristic capital city in Kenya. There are a lot of things that one should not miss out on when here. These are the Top 10 things to do in Nairobi. Enjoy!
 

1. Tour Nairobi National Park

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Just a few kilometers from the Nairobi city center, you can find Nairobi national park with wild animals and nature. The biggest fascination here is the view of wild untamed life together with modern city skyscrapers at the background. There are also spots for picnics, camping plus walking trails for hiking. You can get to see so many wild animals including some of the famous big five like the lion, the rhino, and the leopard. There are also a number of bird species. You can take in all this wildlife as you also get a good view of the city center.
 

2. Rove Through Kenya National Archives

[rel_attraction_big_picture title=”Kenya National Archives”]
 
This is the place to go to in order to learn and appreciate some of Kenya’s history captured in books and art. The building has a gallery on the main floor called the Murumbi gallery. It is named after a former vice president of Kenya, John Murumbi who collected many African pieces of art and crafts which are all displayed in the gallery. There is another photo gallery on the upper floor featuring the country’s historical journey as well as a library where you can sit and read all about Kenya. The Kenya National Archives Building can be located in downtown Nairobi on Moi Avenue.
 

3. Explore the Nairobi Museums

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The main museum to see is Nairobi National Museum found on Museum Hill a little out of the city. This is another good stop to experience Kenyan history and culture in addition to a beautiful botanical garden. There is also a snake park near the museum where you can safely see some snakes and other reptiles. The other museum that is popular in Nairobi is the Karen Blixen museum found on Karen Road in a Nairobi suburb also called Karen. This museum was actually the home of a lady named Karen on whom the movie Out of Africa was based on.
 

4. Take A Chill At Central Park And Uhuru Park

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These parks are adjacent to each other separated by Kenyatta Avenue. At the central park, stands the Nyayo monument. It is a fascinating marble structure that was built to commemorate Kenya’s independence from the British rule. You can find many photographers here helping tourists to take some memorable shots for a few bucks. Across the road from the central park, is Uhuru park. Here you can take a boat ride on a small man-made lake. There are many nice water fountains that add to the peaceful quiet ambiance of the park as you take in the city view.
 

5. Go To The Masai Market

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The Masai Market is a flea market where popular items from an indigenous Kenyan tribe, called the Masai, are put up for sale. The Masai are known for having intriguing cultural wear and adornments. The men like to wear red ‘shukas’. These are large robes that they wrap around themselves. Furthermore, both men and women like to pierce their bodies and wear large elaborative accessories around their necks, wrists, ankles and in their earlobes. They craft most of their adornments themselves and you can buy all these items direct from the tribesmen themselves at the Masai market.
 

6. Adventure At The Maasai Ostrich Farm

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A farm that rears interesting breeds or tribes of ostriches, you can find the Maasai Ostrich and the Somali Ostrich here. The Somali ostrich has a blue neck and legs while the Maasai one has a pink neck and legs. On this farm, tourists get a chance to taste rare ostrich meat. Additionally, you can take a ride on the back of an ostrich as you would on a horse. There is a nice resort hotel too with a swimming pool and sauna together with spacious outdoor gardens for a good rest. Then on weekends, spectators get to see the Maasai and Somali ostriches race.
 

7. Visit Bomas Of Kenya

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Bomas of Kenya is a place that tries to capture most of the cultural diversity and norms of Kenya all together in one location. Boma is a Swahili word that refers to an enclosed homestead. It is a small village setting with traditional houses and other traditional activities like dances and singing. All this is put on exhibit every day for visitors. Starting at 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday and 3:30 pm to 5:15 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, Bomas of Kenya can be found near the Nairobi National Park in Langata, Nairobi.
 

8. Visit The Elephant Orphanage

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Yes, there is an orphanage for baby elephants who have lost their mother elephants. You can visit these poor orphaned but cute elephants in Nairobi at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. You can watch the elephants take a bath in mud as they play. It is a very touching and amazing scene. Plus, if you are really touched by these orphans, you can adopt one or two of them. They will not let you take the elephant with you, but you will be able to schedule a visit any time you like in addition to follow up updates of your elephant’s life.
 

9. Take the Nairobi Safari Walk

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The Nairobi Safari Walk is a demarcated area with untampered wildlife. The wildlife ranges from animals like leopards and rhinos to different bird species as well as trees and flowers. In the midst of the wildlife, a winding pathway was created where people can pass and see everything up-close. It is a one-kilometer walk that starts on the ground and ends in a wooden track above the trees where tourists can get an aerial view and spy on animals like leopards that like to hide up in the tree branches. This is near the animal orphanage and Nairobi national park in Langata, Nairobi.
 

10. Enjoy A Matatu Ride

By Mikenautomobile, from Wikimedia Commons
By Mikenautomobile, from Wikimedia Commons

 
Matatus in Nairobi is the most interesting. They are buses used for public transportation and they noticeably take their business very seriously. The buses have varieties of flamboyant decorations to almost look like giant toy cars. On the inside, it is also a whole other environment, almost similar to a kind of loud nightclub. The music is quite loud inside, although it is usually interesting and mostly Kenyan music.  It actually adds a good touristic feel to the ride and the whole Nairobi experience. The matatus have particular places where they park in the city so they are not hard to find.