Attractions in Nairobi, Kenya

Giraffe Centre

It is located in Langata, approximately 15km from Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in order to protect the endangered Rothschild giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi, which is found only in the grasslands of East Africa. Jock Leslie – Melville, the Kenyan grandson of a Scottish Earl, started the giraffe centre when he and his wife Betty captured a baby giraffe to start a programme of breeding giraffes in captivity at their home in Langata, home of the present centre.

The main attraction for visitors is feeding giraffes from a raised observation platform. The centre is also home to several warthogs, which freely roam the area along with the giraffes.

Mamba Village

It is located about 13 kilometres away from Nairobi’s city centre. This is a replica of natural paradise spread over 30 acres with a lounge and several restaurants. The crocodile farm is among the main attractions at Nairobi Mamba Village and the pens are home to an estimated 70 Nile crocodiles. Four Masai ostriches can also be found strutting around their pen with grace.

David Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage

It is located in the Nairobi National Park. David Sheldrick originally started the orphanage and his work was taken over by his wife after his death. The park is too small to sustain adult elephants but they take in orphaned baby elephants from all over Kenya. The elephants are raised by the orphanage with the intention of gradually re-integrating them into the wild. The age range of the elephants can vary from a few months to three years. See the elephants being fed, playing and acting naughty. Usually there are no more than 25 to 30 people there so you can get up close and personal with the elephants.

You can visit the orphanage between 1100 hrs to 1200 hrs daily.

Nairobi National Museum

The museum is quite large with numerous exhibitions and educational sections. Upstairs inn the people section, there are displays on the various tribes in Kenya. The museum also contains numerous dinosaur fossils found in and around Kenya. The snake park is opposite the museum and is recommended to all.

The museum is open from 0930 hrs t0 1800 hrs daily.

Snake Park

Located opposite The National Museum, it was built in the early 1960S to educate the public about snakes and other common reptiles of Kenya. Today the Snake Park is home to over 100 reptiles. Displays include a variety of East African snakes that can be viewed in glass cages. The Snake Park features some of the deadliest snakes found in Africa.

There is also a small pond within the Snake Park that is home to Nile crocodiles and fish from the great lakes – Tanganyika, Victoria and Nyasa.

Masai Market

It is a vibrant and exciting place for souvenir hunters. It is held on different days as follows:

Capital Centre: Wednesday

Village Market: Friday

City Centre: Saturday

Yaya Centre: Sunday

It encompasses colourful displays of artisans’ products from African fabrics to jewellery, sculptures and quality crafts.

Uhuru Park

It is the most famous park in Nairobi.

It is a recreational park at the heart of the central business district. It surrounds a man made lake and a gathering ground for special rallies, speeches and other events.

Nairobi Arboretum

Nairobi Arboretum is an oasis set in the heart of the capital adjacent to the State House. It consists of 30 hectares of landscape filled with large collection of trees and shrubs. It is one of Nairobi’s few residual green gardens with shaded walk ways, jogging trails, picnic sites and a large room to play or rest.

Bomas of Kenya

Bomas of Kenya gives you the opportunity to live in the wonderful diversity of various cultures that make up Kenya. The bomas showcase the different aspects of Kenyan culture and celebrate in their heritage. The main attraction at Bomas of Kenya is the renowned Harambee dancers. They perform on a daily basis in an exceptional theatre, one of the largest in East Africa.

Karen Blixen Museum

It is situated on the outskirts of Nairobi on Karen road, at the foot of Ngong Hills. The history of the museum dates back to 1914 during the First World War. In 1917, Danish author Karen and her Swedish husband Baron Bror von Blixen bought the house and turned it into a farmhouse for the 500 acre farm.

After Karen’s departure from Kenya in 1931, the suburbs maintained the memorial home of Karen Blixen. After independence, the Danish government presented the house and surrounding land to Kenya. The house was later restored and achieved international recognition with the release of the movie “Out of Africa” an Oscar winning film based on Karen’s autobiography. The cast included the famous Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. 

By 1986, the museum was opened to the public.

Railway Museum

It is situated in an old railway building at the northwest of Nairobi station, along Uhuru Highway. Established in 1917 by the then East African Railways and Harbours Corporation, dedicated to safeguarding and exhibiting remnants and records of the railways of East Africa from the date of their establishment to the present day.

A collection of steam locomotives and rolling stock are widely displayed, including smaller exhibits and models. 

Apart from trains and ship models, the carriage used during the hunt for the Man eater of Tsavo in 1900 is exhibited in the yard of the Railway Museum, together with photographs from the original construction of the Uganda Railway are also on display, along with maps and drawings as well as railway magazines.

Kenyatta International Conference Centre

It is at the heart of the central business.

It hosts a number of high profile events, conferences and seminars. It boasts a state of the art equipment and amenities. It is close to many 5 star hotels and this makes it even more charming.

Other places of interest include: The parliament buildings, The Law Courts, City Hall, McMillan Memorial Library, the Phoenix Theatre, and the Kenya National Theatre.