When you’re on a safari in Kenya, Nairobi is the perfect place to take a break from the safari adventure and explore some of the exciting things the city offers. Here are 27 fun activities that you can do in Nairobi:
Visit the Nairobi National Park:
My top recommendation for anyone looking for fun activities in Nairobi is a visit to the Nairobi National Park. It’s the only game reserve in the world found within a major city and offers amazing wildlife experiences. While this Park doesn’t have elephants, you can find most of the Big 5: lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinos, and many more.
From the Airport, the Park is barely an hour away, and you can even come here when you have a layover longer than 5 hours. With the construction of the Expressway Road, you don’t have to worry about traffic congestion from the Airport to the Park and back.
According to this Wikipedia page for the Park, this destination was started in 1946 and covers 45 square miles (117 square km). It lies about 5,000–6,000 feet (1,500–1,800 meters) above sea level which is almost the same as Mara’s elevation of 1,500 – 2,170 meters above sea level.
I really like the easy access to this Park through Langata Road or using the Eastern bypass. The roads inside the Park are not paved and would recommend renting a 4WD safari van with a pop-up roof to get good views of the animals. When we last visited this park, we drove around for over 6 hours covering over 150 kilometers and managed to see a pack of lions feasting on a buffalo carcass.
Visit Giraffe Center:
My second-favorite destination in things to do in the City of Nairobi is the Giraffe Center. This is an education and conservation giraffe center that offers a chance to get close with the Rothschild’s giraffes which are now endangered in the wild. The Center works hard on species preservation and promoting environmental awareness; you can learn more about these animals when you visit this destination.
The Giraffe Center was founded in 1979 by Jock Leslie-Melville and Betty Leslie-Melville to protect the endangered Rothschild giraffes. There are guided tours that take place daily, where visitors get to learn more about these amazing animals from experienced guides. During the tour, you will also have an opportunity to feed them and even kiss them!
The Giraffe Center is located in the Langata suburb of Nairobi, and it’s open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm. It would be a great idea to book your tickets online because this place tends to get crowded during peak periods. I highly recommend adding this destination to your list of things to do in Nairobi.
Visit Karen Blixen Museum:
Another one of my favorite activities to do in Nairobi is a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum. This museum was constructed in memory of famous Danish author Karen Dinesen, who wrote about her life and experiences living in Kenya during the colonial era.
The serene and picturesque farmhouse where Karen von Blixen, author of Out of Africa resided from 1914-1931 has now been converted into a museum for all to visit.
This museum offers guided tours that give visitors an insight into how people lived during the early colonial period in Kenya. You will also get to learn more about Karen Blixen’s life, her writing, and the movie that was based on her book Out of Africa.
You will love this Museum if you are into history and are fascinated by Kenya during the British colonial era. It’s located in Nairobi’s Karen suburb, and it’s open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. The entrance fee is Ksh1000 per person.
