Nairobi

most visitors to Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, travel there to see wild animals. Located close to Nairobi is Nairobi National Park. People can expect to see a giraffe, hippopotamus, lion, leopard, zebra, rhinoceros, ostrich and many other creatures during their visit. Soccer and cricket are popular sports in Nairobi, and international events can be watched at the Moi International Sports Centre, Coca-Cola National Stadium and Nairobi Gymkhana. Many of the elite runners of the world are from Kenya and the city hosts the Nairobi Marathon.

Top 10 things to do in Nairobi

Nairobi is the largest city in East Africa and the region’s commercial hub. Its somewhat central location relative to the country’s western and eastern edges, and its proximity to the Tanzanian border to the south has made it a perfect launch pad for East African safaris.

1. Bomas of Kenya – A purpose built cultural site that gives visitors a peek into the traditions, beliefs, practices and architectural design of the country’s diverse ethnic groups. As opposed to a walk through, Bomas incorporates dances of the different ethnic groups represented to provide a much more authentic experience.

2. Nairobi National Museum – Museums are always a great place for tourists to get a crash course on local culture and the Kenya National Museum is no exception. The museum is next to the Snake Park, a zoo for snakes, crocodiles and other reptiles found mainly in Kenya.

3. Nairobi National Park – It is because of the Park that local tour guides claim Nairobi is the only city in the world that is right next to a national park. It does not have as much wildlife as other parks in the country but is ideal if you only have a day or two in the country.

4. Maasai Market – The Maasai Market is a temporary, outdoor market at the parking lot of the Nairobi Law Courts in downtown Nairobi. It opens only on Saturdays. You can get great souvenirs here but you best go with a local because the traders have a reputation for inflating prices when selling to foreigners.

5. US Embassy Bombing Memorial Site – Former site of the US Embassy building that is now a tribute to the 212 Kenyans and Americans that were killed in 1998 when terrorists detonated a bomb right outside it. The park is open daily. Every year on August 7th, the victims’ families place flowers next to a plaque listing the names of all the persons who died.

6. Carnivore Restaurant – Nairobi’s most popular restaurant is one that has been the host of many entertainment events including performances by international artists. But the restaurant is probably best known for its serving of game meat – you can eat till you have your fill of ostrich, buffalo, zebra and even crocodile meat. It was listed in the top 50 restaurants worldwide in 2006.

7. Westlands – Though it initially started off as an up market shopping district, Westlands has transformed in recent years to become the epicentre of Nairobi’s nightlife. There is a wide spectrum of clubs to cater for the tastes of locals, tourists and expatriates. Traffic gets crazy on Fridays to the wee hours.

8. Westgate Mall – Located in the Westlands suburb, Westgate is a large recently-completed shopping mall that can stand toe to toe with some of the best malls in any Western country. It is a walking distance from another major mall, Sarit Centre. If you are looking to buy anything from a supermarket, you are unlikely to miss it in either one of these two malls. Prices can be a little steep especially at the Mall’s designer wear stores.

9. Java House – Kenya is one of the world’s leading exporters of coffee and Java House is home to the best local coffee you will find in East Africa. There are several Java outlets across Nairobi but the best is the one at The Junction Mall to the south east outside the city centre, and the one in the leafy Gigiri suburb next to the United Nations headquarters. The gigantic beef samosas and the super thick milk shakes are to die for.

10. Mount Kenya – Africa’s second highest mountain is a two and a half hour drive from Nairobi. Other than the distance, a hike up Mount Kenya is something that you would ordinarily need to have pre-planned. The Mount Kenya Safari Club at its base is one of the country’s most exclusive hotels.

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