Places to Visit in Nairobi

The National Park is the most famous attraction in Nairobi, which organises a thrilling safari drive for the travellers, taking you through the dense grasslands where you could see the wildlife - lions, cheetah, black rhinos, hippos and giraffes. Come here and get acclimatised with the nature in the purest form.

A popular spot right on the foothills of Ngong Valleys, Karen Blixen Museum was once a house owned by Danish Author Karen and her Husband, Baron Bror von Blixen Fincke. Just about ten kilometres from the main downtown, the Museum has all the collections symbolizing the remarkable Kenyan history of a different era. The farmhouse became extremely famous with the release of the movie 'Out of Africa' an Oscar winning film based on Karen's life.

Elephant Orphanage or David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a rescue and rehabilitation centre for elephants in Nairobi National Park off Magadi Road. It houses orphaned baby elephants due to poaching, drought or other human-wildlife conflicts. You can watch them be fed and cleaned in a mud bath. Photography is allowed, and there is a small gift shop to buy souvenirs.

Established in 1929, Nairobi National Museum is a magnificent collection of the local art masterpieces, culture and palaeontology. The museum stands beside a botanical garden, having many medicinal plants and herbs. There is also a snake house which attracts many visitors.

The urban gazetted Karura forest is located in Nairobi, Kenya, and is abundant with natural beauty and resources. It is divided into three parts by Limuru and Kiambu roads. The forest has a natural trail running up to 50 km that facilitates visitors to walk, run, and bike around the forest. One can also rent a trail bike.

Established in 1970s by Jock Leslie-Melville, this breeding and conservation centre educates about the endangered Rothschild's giraffe. Come here and be ready to get up, close and personal with these graceful creatures.

A National Monument and museum, the African Heritage House is situated in front of the Nairobi National Park in Mlolongo. Within the house are artefacts, artworks, jewellery, textiles, traditional pottery, weapons, antiques, ceremonial clothes and more. It is open for tours, lunches or dinners and overnight stays.

The Hub Karen is a massive mall and entertainment centre in the Karen suburb of Nairobi. It has more than 85 stores selling clothing, footwear, accessories, pet products, toys, sports goods, electronics, beauty and skincare products, homeware items, etc. Fun activities like ziplining and airbag jumping are available here too.

Situated on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi, the Nairobi Gallery is a museum showcasing African art. It is housed within a National Monument established in the early 20th century on the site of the old Provisional Commissioner's office. It is also the site of Point Zero, from which all distances used to be measured in Israel.

Widely popular and extremely recommended by every local, Masaai market is a must-visit for handicraft shoppers. From the historic African paintings to amazing handicrafts, this endless market is all the more attractive because of its cheap rates.

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake located in Nakuru County, northwest of Nairobi. It is part of the Great Rift Valley and is named for the sudden storms that arise here. It is popular for boating and spotting exciting wildlife such as hippopotamuses, pelicans and eagles.

Nairobi Arboretum is 30.4 acres of a wooded paradise home to over 350 species of indigenous and exotic plant life and over 100 species of birds. It is located along the State House Road in Kilimani. It has shaded trails for walkways, picnic lawns and jogging trails. Sykes and Vervet monkeys can also be spotted here.

Ivory Burning Site & Picnic Area is a historic landmark located just inside the Nairobi National Park within walking distance from the Nagolomon reservoir. It is a monument established to mark president Daniel Arap Moi’s burning of 11 tonnes of seized ivory in 1989 as an act of solidarity for wildlife conservation. It is also a popular picnic site. Carrying binoculars is recommended for game viewing and bird watching.

Uhuru Gardens is Kenya's largest urban commemorative and memorial park, located along Langata Road, Nairobi. It was established to celebrate the country’s independence from the British Empire in 1963 and was declared a National Monument in 1966. It houses three historically significant monuments that draw the attention of tourists.

Kibera is Nairobi's largest slum and the second largest slum in the world. Home to about 2,50,000 people, it is divided into several villages such as Kianda, Laini Saba, Mashimoni, Soweto East and Siranga that can be explored via guided or self-guided tours.

A major landmark in the capital, National Archives was established in an old building. Showcasing the rich Kenyan tribal social culture and also the history, art works and information on politics of the country. The collection of artefacts and paintings, that dominates the majority of the building is truly inspiring and attracts several visitors from different nations.

Located towards the west of the capital is the picturesque Ngong Hills. The speciality of these hills is that they have distinct seven hump-like structure which resembles the Knuckles of a fist and offer astonishing views of Karen and the Great Rift Valley.