Nairobi Holiday Destination
The capital and largest city of Kenya, Nairobi was founded in the late 19th century by the British colonial authorities as a rail depot on the Railway that connected Kenyan coast to Uganda, through Lake Victoria. Nowadays, the city is home to approximately 5 million inhabitants and one of East Africa’s most cosmopolitan cities. Nairobi is Kenya’s heart beat and an exciting and frenetic concrete jungle that counter points the unrestrained natural beauty found elsewhere in the country.
Despite its size and frantic urban rush, the city is the perfect stage if you`re interested in learning about Kenya’s culture, history, and gastronomy. The city also harbors a thrumming night life scene and, believe it or not, it has its own wildlife attractions, with a fabulous national park on its doorstep and several reserves dedicated to the wellbeing of elephants, giraffes, rhinos and more. In a web of contrasts and offering an inexhaustible list of activities, Nairobi will often come as a pleasant surprise.
Major Attractions:
- Nairobi National Park
- Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
- Nairobi Animal Orphanage
- The Giraffe Centre
- Bomas of Kenya
- Go-Down Arts Centre
- Maasai Markets
- Nairobi National Museum
- Nairobi Railway Museum
- Karen Blixen Museum
- Excellent lodges and hotels
- Local and international cuisine from all over the world
- Gateway to Kenya and other East African safari destinations
- And so much more…
Activities
Bird watching, Game viewing, Camping, Safari walks, Shopping, Cycling, Museum visits,
Did you know?
Most cities around the world identify by their main mode of transport. London has red buses, New York has its taxi cabs, while Nairobi has its matatus. Matatu is a slang term for minibuses that are used as public transportation in the country.
In Nairobi, these public buses and vans are the norm for the majority of the population. What makes Matatus in Nairobi stand out is the unique outlandish art on their body. They are a sight to behold, especially for first-time visitors. Graffiti on pop culture, music icons and contemporary topics adorn the sides of the matatus. They are a cultural phenomenon.
Food: Dine 'n' Wine in Nairobi
You'll virtually find a restaurant for every palette available in this cosmopolitan city. From local cuisine to exotic foods from different corners of the globe; Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Indian, English, Japanese, Thai, Moroccan, Ethiopian, and many more.
Some of the best restaurants in Nairobi include:
Talisman Restaurant: serves international dishes, fusion dishes (combining Asian, African and European cuisine) and traditional Kenyan too.
The Carnivore Restaurant: It is just what it sounds like; a meat eater’s fiesta. Meat is at the heart of this restaurant’s philosophy, so much so that the first thing you see when you walk in is their massive roasting center.
About Thyme Restaurant: This quiet restaurant has a welcoming garden setting, and offers great varieties of international dishes.
Nyama Mama Restaurant: The inspiration for Nairobi’s Nyama Mama phenomenon comes from Mama herself, a one-time safari lodge chef who left the safari circuit to open up a modern take on a traditional roadside diner.
Mama Oliech Restaurant: Located in the residential neighborhood of Kilimani, Mama Oliech Restaurant is one of the most affordable Nairobi restaurants to enjoy ethnic dishes.
INTI- A Nikkei experience: This is the first Nikkei restaurant in Africa. Nikkei cuisine celebrates the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian culinary traditions, born from the migration of Japanese sugar cane laborers to Peru in the 19th century.
Ankole Grill, Kilimani: Ankole is named after the iconic cattle of East Africa, so it’s unsurprising that this trendy steakhouse is all about grilled meat ( nyama choma).
