Itineraries
Where to stay
Westlands for food markets and the National Museum; Karen for the Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen Museum; the city center for the Nairobi Gallery and KICC.
The areas: Westlands, Karen, City center.
Where to stay in Nairobi: areas and adviceHotels in NairobiPlaces to see
All things to do in KenyaNatureAmboseli National ParkLarge elephant herds on open plains and swamps below Mount Kilimanjaro, with over 400 bird species.Entry: USD[fee]
FoodCarnivoreOne of Kenya's oldest restaurants, where meats roasted on Maasai swords are carved at the table.Entry: Pay as you go
NatureGiraffe CentreHand-feed endangered Rothschild giraffes from a raised platform at a conservation center opened in 1983.Entry: Pay at the gate
FoodGiraffe Centre Tea HouseThe tea house at the Giraffe Centre, a place to eat before or after feeding the giraffes.Entry: Pay as you go
NatureGogo River Bird SanctuaryA nature trail through the bird sanctuary beside the Giraffe Centre, good for spotting native birds.Entry: Part of the Giraffe Centre
NatureHell's Gate National ParkCliffs, gorges and geothermal features near Naivasha, where you can hike, cycle and rock climb.Entry: USD[fee]
TransportJomo Kenyatta International AirportNairobi's international airport, which KWS lists with Wilson Airport as the air route to Nairobi National Park.Entry: Free to visit
MuseumKaren Blixen MuseumThe 1912 farmhouse of the author of Out of Africa, below the Ngong Hills, with guided tours.Entry: KES[fee]
NatureKarura ForestA 1,041-hectare forest in north Nairobi with walking trails and about 200 bird species.Entry: KES[fee]
ViewpointKenyatta International Convention CentreThe 1973 convention center on Harambee Avenue that defines Nairobi's skyline, with a helipad viewpoint.Entry: Ask at the visitor desk
NatureLake Nakuru National ParkA lake park north-west of Nairobi that was Kenya's first government rhino sanctuary, with about 450 bird species.Entry: USD[fee]
NatureMaasai Mara National ReserveGrasslands with the Big Five, where the Great Migration crosses the Mara River from July to October.Entry: USD[fee]
MuseumNairobi GalleryA 1913 building at Kenya's point zero, showing the Murumbi African heritage collection and new art.Entry: KES[fee]
MuseumNairobi National MuseumKenya's flagship museum on Museum Hill, covering early humans, wildlife, cultures and the country's history.Entry: KES[fee]
FoodNairobi National Museum restaurantsThree restaurants in the museum grounds serving fast food, Kenyan dishes and international meals.Entry: Pay as you go
NatureNairobi National ParkKenya's first national park, where lions, buffalo and black rhinos roam within sight of the city skyline.Entry: USD[fee]; pay online, no cash
MuseumNairobi Snake ParkSnakes, crocodiles, tortoises and an aquarium in the Nairobi National Museum grounds since 1961.Entry: KES[fee]
FoodNairobi Street KitchenA Westlands food market of more than 11 kitchens and bars, with live bands and artisan stalls.Entry: Pay as you go
TransportNairobi TerminusThe Nairobi station of the Madaraka Express, with daily trains to Mombasa.Entry: Free to visit
NatureSheldrick Wildlife Trust NurseryOrphaned baby elephants come out for their midday milk feed and mud bath, one hour a day.Entry: Book by email; donation paid in cash