Nairobi in 4 - 5 days

Hello experts,

After 4 months on the road in africa I'm flying back to europe next week from Nairobi. I'm in Kampala at the moment, and I'm considering going to Nairobi friday or the day after.

Is it worth going to Nairobi and spend som days there? Any sights or good places to chill out in the immediate surroundings? In Kamapala I know my way around and have some friends, so I'm not sure if it's worth going to Nairobi. Is Nairobi worth a few days?

cheers,

torstein

its worth taking like 2 days in Nairobi...since u sound more like Scandinavian a visit to Karen Blixen musuem can work n maybe carnivore dinner plus a city tour.

I too can recommend the carnivore restaurant but 2 days would be enough

I would miss the Carnivore. They have nothing exotic anymore. It is just a tourist trap. There are lots of other great restraunts there.
You can visit the Giraffe center, the elephant orphanage and Karean Blixen house as already suggested

Yeh, I agree with retiree. the Carnivore is that in name only without wild meat.

I was there in 2007 and went on a tour of Muthare slum. It was a very educational and definitely eyeopening experience. Definitely off the beaten path. An excellent chance to see how many Kenyans live (often in abject poverty). I went with Pamoja Tunaweza, a co-op of single mums who take tourists into the slums as a way of raising awareness and funds to improve their lives.

I strongly recommend this (if it's safe).

They have a website at [http://www.pamojatunaweza.com/home]. The Upperhill Campsite might have info as well.

Like I said, I was there before the election violence. So, if your interested I suggest you contact them through the website. Failing that I think there are other similar "tours" in operation. You might want to talk to the reception at the place where you are staying.

I live in Nairobi and I also do not think it's worth spending four days here. Would advise you to spend two days and use the two others to go to some nice place such as Lake Nakuru reserve (pink flamigons and rhinos), Lake Navaisha (hippos and a lot of green) or even Amboseli (elephants at the foot of the Kilimandjaro).

As for Nairobi, the best place to chill out is the leafy neighborhood of Karen where white Kenyans live. You can visit Karen Blixen house, the David Sheldrick foundation (babies elephants), the Giraffe center (feeding center) and spend some nice time chilling out in the garden of of famous Talisman restaurant, which is my favourite, or Rusty Nail.

In Nairobi itself, few people live in dowtown, which has close to zero interest, except for some good dancing spots. The expat nightlife is mainly in Westlands and Hurlingham, with bars such as Gypsy or Mercury in Westlands, and nightclub Casablanca in Hurlingham next to a very good Italian restaurant, Osteria del Chianti.

Carnivore does not have any interest, apart from being crowded with tourist groups. If you really want to go there, it's better to sit in the bar, the Simba saloon, which has the same meals but offers African music amid Kenyan clients.

Sure,you can visit,karen blixenmuseum and giraffe center,carnivore,bomas of kenya for traditional dances,Nairobi Safari walk or Nairobi orphanage so we have variety opf places you can choose the one which suites you best.You can also contact african wild expeditions on africanwildexpedition@gmail.com

You can take a day trip to the Nairobi National Park...

I think Catw is totally right..4 days in Nairobi is a waste of time..better use the 2 extra days to go to Naivasha/Nakuru or even aberdares or sweetwaters.

Stay in Kampala longer. Music and party scene much more developed. Nairobi nothing interesting after 1 day max. Avoid Carnivore. Could go to Gypsy or Casablanca, but first is a hooker-sih place outside and second is an upscale boring place which charges too much.

I'm not sure of suggestion #5.

(1) It is dirty. No that's a bit of an understatement. It is super dirty... Hmm - even that does not begin to explain it.

(2) It is dangerous. Being taken around by a group of local women in a slum housing some of the worlds most poor and desperate people is actually walking a tightrope.

(3) There is a very high possibility of been sucked into a long ride. The sob stories and all the rest of it are well thought out in order to help you on your way to emptying your pockets - and not to the people who actually need the help.

(4) The open sewers, lack of amenities, lack of emergency services (police, ambulance) - and the fact that your travel insurance may actually be invalidated by this sort of venture would be added to your "worry list".

Regards

Mwenyeji