Nairobi, Kenya: travel guide
Kenya's capital, with a national park and giraffes on its doorstep
Kenya's capital and safari gateway — a national park on the city edge, elephant and giraffe sanctuaries, museums and a lively food scene.
About Nairobi
Nairobi is one of the few capital cities where you can watch rhinos and lions with office towers on the skyline. Nairobi National Park sits on the southern edge of town, and a morning there pairs easily with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage or the Giraffe Centre.
Back in the city, the Nairobi National Museum and Bomas of Kenya give background on the country's peoples and cultures, and the Karen Blixen Museum is the farmhouse home of the author of Out of Africa. Evenings revolve around a lively restaurant scene and nyama choma, the grilled meat Kenyans love.
Most travellers pass through on the way to safari, but a couple of days here are well spent. The drier months, June to October and January to February, are generally the most comfortable time to visit Nairobi.
- Country
- Kenya
- Currency
- KES
- Time zone
- Africa/Nairobi
- Nearest airport
- NBO
Last updated
Top places to visit in Nairobi
Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC)
landmark tower · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Nairobi's iconic cylindrical tower; a rooftop helipad viewpoint gives a 360° panorama over the city.
Nairobi National Park
national park · 4.5 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate
The world's only national park bordering a capital city — lions, rhino, giraffe and buffalo roam grassland against a skyline backdrop.
Karura Forest
urban forest · 4.6 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A large protected urban forest with waterfalls, caves, marked trails and cafes — walking, running and cycling on the city's edge.
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage
elephant orphanage · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Renowned orphanage that rescues and hand-rears elephant calves; open one hour a day when keepers bring the babies out to feed and mud-bathe.
Giraffe Centre
giraffe sanctuary · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Conservation centre where you can hand-feed and eye-to-eye photograph endangered Rothschild's giraffes from a raised platform.
Karen Blixen Museum
historic house · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The farmhouse of 'Out of Africa' author Karen Blixen, set in gardens at the foot of the Ngong Hills.
Bomas of Kenya
cultural village · 4.4 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Cultural centre with recreated homesteads of Kenya's ethnic groups and a daily programme of traditional music and dance.
Nairobi National Museum
national museum · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Flagship museum of Kenya covering natural history, the hominid fossils of the Rift Valley, culture and contemporary art.
Kazuri Beads Women's Cooperative
craft workshop · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Fair-trade workshop where you can watch women hand-make and glaze ceramic beads and pottery, then shop the results.
Uhuru Gardens National Monument
memorial park · 3.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Landscaped park marking the site where Kenya's independence flag was first raised in 1963, with monuments and a museum.
Things to do
- Nairobi National Park Morning Game Drive Safari · 4 h · from KES 8,000 per person
- Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Visit Wildlife · 1 h · from KES 1,500 per person
- Giraffe Centre Experience Wildlife · 1.5 h · from KES 1,500 per person
- Nairobi City & National Museum Tour City Tour · 4 h · from KES 6,000 per person
- Karen Blixen & Kazuri Beads Afternoon Cultural · 3.5 h · from KES 5,500 per person
Day trips and tours
- Nairobi Safari Trio: Park, Elephants & Giraffes 8 h · from KES 12,000
Where to stay in Nairobi
- Westlands
Nairobi's upmarket business-and-nightlife hub with malls, restaurants and international hotels.
- Karen & Langata
Leafy suburb near the Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum and the Nairobi National Park gates.
- CBD
Central business district near the museum, KICC and the railway/SGR links.
Hotels
- Giraffe Manor 5-star · KES 90,000 to KES 140,000 per night
- Villa Rosa Kempinski 5-star · KES 30,000 to KES 55,000 per night
- Nairobi Serena Hotel 5-star · KES 20,000 to KES 38,000 per night
- Sarova Stanley 5-star · KES 18,000 to KES 32,000 per night
- Fairmont The Norfolk 5-star · KES 22,000 to KES 40,000 per night
- Wildebeest Eco Camp 3-star · KES 2,500 to KES 9,000 per night
Where to eat
- Carnivore African, Barbecue, Kenyan · about KES 3,500 per person
- Talisman Fusion, International · about KES 3,000 per person
- Mama Oliech Kenyan, Seafood · about KES 1,200 per person
- K'Osewe Ranalo Foods Kenyan, African · about KES 900 per person
- About Thyme International, European · about KES 2,500 per person
- Nyama Mama Kenyan, African · about KES 2,000 per person
Getting to Nairobi
Airport: Nairobi (WIL), Nairobi (NBO)
How visitors arrive in Nairobi
- Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport By air from International · common
JKIA is Nairobi's main airport and one of Africa's large hubs. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- SGR train from Mombasa By train from Mombasa · common
The standard gauge railway links Mombasa with Nairobi Terminus; recommended over the bus. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Long-distance bus By road from Mombasa / Arusha / Kampala / Kisumu · common
Nairobi is the centre of Kenya's bus network with routes to Mombasa, Arusha, Kisumu and Kampala. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Matatu from nearby towns By road from Naivasha / Nanyuki / Thika · possible
Matatus and shuttles are often the only public transport from nearby towns. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Official taxi desks at JKIA
Use the official Kenya Airports Authority taxi desks at Jomo Kenyatta airport, which sell fixed-rate vouchers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Uber or Bolt from JKIA
Uber and Bolt both pick up at the airport and are widely used in Nairobi. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Airport bus to the city centre unconfirmed
A shared airport bus runs to the centre but is slow in traffic and awkward with big bags. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Travel in daylight where you can; carjackings are mostly reported after dark. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Wilson Airport has no official taxi desk, so arrange a reputable pickup in advance. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the railway station to the centre
- Madaraka Express (SGR) terminus
Trains from Mombasa arrive at Nairobi Terminus outside the centre, with a commuter rail link on to the central station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Travel in daylight where you can; carjackings are mostly reported after dark. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Minibus main way to get around
Matatus are privately run shared minibuses that carry most commuter trips in Nairobi, usually following set routes and picking up along the way.
- Motorbike Rental
- Ride Hail
Uber and Bolt both operate in Nairobi and are widely used as an alternative to hailing a taxi.
- Taxi
Taxis in Nairobi gather around hotels, malls and tourist areas, and fares are agreed with the driver beforehand.
- Walking
Paying
- Street taxis usually need a price agreed beforehand and cash; ride-hail apps avoid haggling. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Safety and scams to avoid
Fake safari operators
Nairobi city centre & online
Bogus 'tour operators' advertise cheap safaris, take a mobile-money or bank deposit, then vanish or never deliver the promised trip.
How to avoid it: Book only with KATO-registered operators; verify the company, pay a card deposit and never send full payment by M-Pesa to an individual.
ATM skimming & card cloning
Bank ATMs, CBD
Skimming devices and shoulder-surfers capture your card and PIN at street ATMs, later draining the account.
How to avoid it: Use ATMs inside bank branches or malls, cover the keypad, and enable transaction SMS alerts.
The friendly stranger / distraction con
CBD & near bus stages
Someone strikes up a warm conversation or claims to know you, then an accomplice picks your pocket or you are steered to a rigged 'deal'.
How to avoid it: Be wary of over-friendly strangers; keep bags zipped and in front; walk away from unsolicited offers.
Best time to visit Nairobi
- Jan 27°C
- Feb 27°C
- Mar 28°C
- Apr 26°C
- May 25°C
- Jun 24°C
- Jul 24°C
- Aug 24°C
- Sep 26°C
- Oct 27°C
- Nov 25°C
- Dec 26°C
More in Kenya
Frequently asked questions about Nairobi
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Nairobi?
- The highest-rated places in our Nairobi guide are Karura Forest, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre, Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi National Park.
- Where should I stay in Nairobi?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Nairobi: Westlands, Karen & Langata, CBD.
- How do I get around Nairobi?
- Ways to get around Nairobi covered in our guide: Minibus, Motorbike rental, Ride-hailing app, Taxi.
- What scams should I watch out for in Nairobi?
- Scams reported to us for Nairobi include Fake safari operators; ATM skimming & card cloning; The friendly stranger / distraction con. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Nairobi?
- Average daytime highs in Nairobi run from 24°C in Jul to 28°C in Mar.
- Which airport is nearest to Nairobi?
- The nearest airport to Nairobi has the code NBO.