Things to do in Nairobi
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Carnivore
Vegetarians, please look away now. This is hands down the most famous nyama choma restaurant in Kenya. At the entrance is a huge barbecue pit laden with real swords of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, camel, ostrich and crocodile. As long as the paper flag on your table is flying, waiters will keep bringing the meat, which is carved right at the table.
reviewed
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Bangkok Chinese Restaurant
The Bangkok has been in business for a number of years but was clearly named by someone with no grasp of geography, as there's virtually nothing Thai on the menu at all. If the disappointment gets too much you can always crack open a bottle of Moët.
reviewed
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Bomas of Kenya
The Bomas of Kenya is a cultural centre at Langata, near the main gate to Nairobi National Park. The talented resident artistes perform traditional dances and songs taken from the country's 16 various tribal groups, including Arab-influenced Swahili taarab music, Kalenjin warrior dances, Embu drumming and Kikuyu circumcision ceremonies. It's touristy, of course, but it's still a spectacular afternoon out.
The centre itself has such a high profile that the first meeting of the National Constitutional Conference was held here in 2003, producing the so-called Bomas Draft of the new constitution. Bus or matatu No 125 or 126 runs here from Nairobi train station, taking about 3…
reviewed
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Kenyetta Conference Centre
Towering over City Square, Nairobi's signature building the Kenyetta Conference Centre was designed as a fusion of modern and traditional African styles, though the distinctive saucer tower looks a little dated next to some of the city's flashier glass edifices.
Staff will accompany you up to the viewing platform and helipad on the roof for wonderful views over Nairobi. The sightline goes all the way to the suburbs, and on clear days you can see aircraft coming in to land over the Nairobi National Park. You're allowed to take photographs from the viewing level but not elsewhere in the building. Access may be restricted during events and conferences.
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Nairobi National Park
A visit to Nairobi National Park, a few kilometres from the city centre, is a great way to fill in a few hours before you catch a plane. There's plentiful wildlife, including most of the plains animals (except elephants), against the bizarre backdrop of Nairobi skyscrapers. The headquarters of the KWS are at the main gate. The 'Park Shuttle' is a KWS bus that leaves the main gate at 15:00 Sunday for a 2½-hour tour of the park.
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Langata Giraffe Centre
The Langata Giraffe Centre, run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, is a sanctuary for the rare Rothschilds giraffe. Here you can observe, hand-feed or even kiss the giraffes from a raised circular wooden structure, and it is quite an experience. It's a good place to get the close-up photographs that eluded you on safari.
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Furusato Japanese Restaurant
Behind the Sarit Centre, this is a very stylish place with seductive set Japanese meals including sushi, teppanyaki and tempura. The sushi and sashimi here are delicious. Reservations are recommended.
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City Market
Has dozens of stalls open daily, selling woodcarvings, drums, spears, shields, soapstone, Maasai jewellery and clothing.
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Trattoria
This long-running and very popular Italian joint could hold its head up in Melbourne or San Francisco, offering excellent pizza, pasta dishes, varied mains and a whole page of desserts.
reviewed
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Best of East Africa
17 days (Nairobi)
Journey through Kenya and northern Tanzania's best game parks, visit colourful markets and view the elusive Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$6,990 Advertisement
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Railway Museum
This interesting little museum displays relics from the East African Railway. There are train and ship models, photographs, tableware and oddities from the history of the railway. One such is the Engine Seat that allowed visiting dignitaries like Theodore Roosevelt to take pot shots at unsuspecting wildlife from the front of the train.
In the grounds are dozens of fading locomotives in various states of disrepair, dating from the steam days to independence, including the steam train used in the movie Out of Africa.
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Karen Blixen's House and Museum
This charming farmhouse is where Karen Blixen, author of the popular novel Out of Africa, lived from 1914 to 1931. She left after a series of personal tragedies, but the lovely colonial house has been preserved as a museum. It was presented to the Kenyan government at independence by the Danish government along with the adjacent agricultural college.
It's set in lovely gardens and it's quite an interesting place to wander around, plus there's accommodation and a restaurant on site.
reviewed
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Nairobi Crafts & Markets
2 days (ex Arrive Nairobi)
by Intrepid
Visit a bead workshop, Explore the shops of the Utamaduni Craft Centre, Gain an insight into local culture, Travel to Kenya and explore Nairobi with an expert l…Not LP reviewed
from USD$190 -
Masai Mara Walk
3 days (ex Nairobi/Masai Mara National Park)
by Intrepid
Walk to see animals gathered at salt licks, Stay in a tented lodge, Take game drives through the Masai Mara to search out the Big Five, Travel across the Great …Not LP reviewed
from USD$990 -
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Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
One of those rare places with a character all its own, Blue Nile's quirky lounge couldn't be mistaken for anywhere else, painted with stories from Ethiopian mythology - if you've ordered one of the many goat dishes, it's best not to read the panels about poison until you've finished your meal! For the full communal African eating experience, order the seven-person doro wat (spicy traditional chicken stew) with a few glasses of tej (honey wine).
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Restaurant Akasaka
A wonderful Japanese restaurant next to the Sixeighty Hotel. It's always a little quiet, but this fits the stylish Japanese décor and the food is very authentic. There's even a tatami room (reserve in advance) where you can eat at traditional low tables. Akasaka runs the full gamut of Japanese cuisine including udon noodles, sushi sets, tempura, teriyaki and sukiyaki as well as great miso soup. Good-value set lunches are also available.
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Alan Bobbé's Bistro
The talented M Bobbé established this superb French bistro in 1962, and Nairobi gourmets and gourmands alike have been worshipping at his culinary altar ever since. Even reading the chatty handwritten menu is enough to send the palate into raptures. The interior, doused in red velvet, adds perfectly to the recherché ambience. Reservations and smart dress are encouraged, cigars and pipes are not. Look out for the poodle above Koinange St.
reviewed
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from USD$4,390
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Mt Kenya
8 days (ex Nairobi/Mt Kenya)
by Intrepid
Admire amazing volcanic landscapes, Watch a golden sunrise from the summit of Mt Kenya, Relax in a cosy cabin, Visit the infamous Mau Mau caves, Hike through to…Not LP reviewed
from USD$3,480 -
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American Embassy Memorial Garden
The well-tended walled American Embassy Memorial Garden occupies the former site of the American Embassy, which was destroyed by the terrorist bombings of 1998. It's a lovely little spot despite being right between Moi and Haile Selassie Aves; the entrance fee pays for maintenance and keeps out any undesirables, but also puts it beyond the reach of many ordinary Kenyans, provoking some understandable anger among locals.
reviewed
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Kengeles Bar & Restaurant
Run on the lines of a Western chain restaurant, Kengeles' impressively varied menu encompasses burgers, grills, Mexican, African, Indonesian, Asian and buffet options, and the open-air balcony is a fine place to dine. On a quiet night, though, the service can be truly lousy. The chain was rumoured to be in financial difficulties at time of writing, and had also seemingly fallen out of favour with Nairobi council.
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Kahawa
Kahawa has an unusual coastal theme - the counter even resembles a traditional dhow, complete with mast. The menu, however, is anything but old-fashioned, proffering an ever-changing cavalcade of unexpected specials to complement the grills and steaks, from frittata to a 'Mexican breakfast'. Speaking of breakfast, this is indeed a good spot to take the most important meal of the day.
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Chic Joint
One of our favourite new bar-restaurant discoveries, chic might not be the first word that springs to mind but grills, stews and nyama by the kilo should never go out of fashion. Fresh fish is delivered daily and the tilapia is generally excellent. The patio seating is separated from Uhuru Hwy by a thick hedge, with some sizeable speakers providing music in the evening.
reviewed
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Jamia Mosque
Nairobi's Jamia Mosque is a lovely building in typical Arabic Muslim style, with all the domes, marble and Quranic inscriptions you'd expect from an important Islamic site, and the traditional row of shops down one side to provide rental income for its upkeep. Sadly non-Muslims are very rarely allowed to enter, but you can happily examine the appealing exterior from the street.
reviewed
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East Africa Family Safari Southbound
17 days (ex Nairobi)
by Intrepid
Get up close to giraffes in Nairobi, Travel through the land of the Maasai people, Search for the Big Five on safari in the Serengeti, Explore an extinct volcan…Not LP reviewed
from USD$3,260
