Last updated on April 23rd, 2023 at 03:18 pm
The first time I visited Nairobi, I didn’t like it much.
I’d spent the previous months in Livingstone, Zambia, then in the relatively quiet town of Bagamoyo in Tanzania, then climbing Kilimanjaro. So when I arrived in Nairobi, I felt that it was too hectic, big and intimidating.
But now, I love Nairobi and I think Kenya is one of the best countries to visit in Africa, especially for your first trip to the continent. Nairobi feels like a second home to me. Isn’t it funny how things change?
I still hate the traffic, but once you spend a bit of time in the city, you’ll realise just how cool it is and how many great things there are to do in Nairobi. Kenya’s capital is an exciting city, with lots of art and culture, fantastic social initiatives and a great nightlife scene.
Plus it has a national park on its doorstep, how many other cities can claim that? So with this list, I aim to give you some ideas for the best things to do in Nairobi!
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Awesome Things to Do in Nairobi, Kenya
1. Go On a City Centre Tour with the Nai Nami Guys
One of my favourite things to do in Nairobi is to go on a city tour with Nai Nami – Mrembe, Donga, Cheddaz, Kissmart, Ndee, Mwas and QwiQwi.
They’re all former street boys, each with their own interesting story to tell about their lives on the streets of Nairobi. This is different from a normal Nairobi city tour for the fact that the tour is more about them individually, rather than the history of the city.
They walk you through the streets of downtown Nairobi, down streets where tourists probably wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) go alone, due to it being a notoriously dangerous part of the city. But these are their streets and you always feel like they have you in their care.
As you walk, they’ll tell you their stories which are truly inspiring. In their words “This encounter is a unique opportunity to get inspired by people from a different world”.
MY TIP: Wear comfy shoes, you’ll do a lot of walking. And don’t take your big cameras as you’re not allowed to use them in the city centre.
2. Take Part in a Kenyan Cooking Class
Learning to make local Kenyan and East Africa food is a great way to make local friends and learn about Kenyan culture.
There are several cooking classes on offer in the city and many of those include a visit to the local market where you will do some shopping, visit a local’s home and see what everyday life in Kenya is like.
3. Take a Historical Nairobi City Tour
You may also want to take a more historical/political tour of the city itself, through the CBD and to some of the important historical landmarks in the city, like the parliament buildings, the Sarova Stanley, KICC and Uhuru Park.
MY TIP: Be careful about taking photographs – even on your phone. You are not allowed to take pictures of government buildings or in the CBD and the police have started fining people who do.
4. Stop for a Coffee at the Thorn Tree Cafe (of Lonely Planet fame)
At the bottom of the Savova Stanley Hotel, you will find the original Thorn Tree Cafe, which inspired the name for Lonely’s Planet’s Thorn Tree Forum. In the middle of the cafe, there is a huge acacia tree where travellers can pin notices for each other – pretty romantic, hey?
Hence why the name inspired the Lonely planet online forum. Grab yourselves a cup of tea and a slice of cake and whilst you are there, you can also take a little tour of this historic hotel which has hosted politicians, movie stars and visiting royals (including the Queen) since opening in 1902.
5. Take in the Views from the Top of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre
The Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) is the 6th tallest building in Kenya, located in the CBD. For a small fee, you can take a lift up to the top of the tower for one of the best viewpoints in the city. It’s a popular spot for tourists, as well as couples on dates as it’s also a nice place to watch the sunset in the city.
6. Picnic in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park
Uhuru Park lies right in the centre of town and is a popular hangout spot for Nairobians, especially on the weekends. Uhuru means ‘freedom’ in Swahili. I especially like it here on Sundays, when there are lots of families about, ice cream vans and fairground rides, creating a nice and vibrant atmosphere. Take a picnic to get the most out of the experience.
MY TIP: Avoid Uhuru Park after dark or during any kind of political rallies when it is not safe to visit and stick to public areas.
7. Shop ‘Til You Drop at the Village Market
Nairobi has no shortage of malls and one of the best is the pretty Village Market in Gigiri. You can literally buy anything you need here, from designer clothes to Kenyan souvenirs and there are tons of restaurants and cafes for when you get tired of shopping.
My Tip: The other malls I tend to go to are The Hub in Karen and Galleria in Langata. Good places to go to the supermarket, pharmacy, ATM and pick up SIM cards.
8. Get Away From It All in Karura Forest
Near the CBD lies Karura Forest, a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi. There are plenty of things to do there, whether you just want to take in the serene environment or do something more active like walking, mountain biking or horse riding.
Visitors can get involved with tree planting and there’s also a pretty waterfall you can go and see. There are a few picnic sites so you could take one with you to make the most of your visit (just watch out for the monkeys) or eat at one of my recommended restaurants nearby such as Amaica or About Thyme.
9. Go Cheese Tasting at Brown’s Cheese Co.
Did I have you at cheese? To me, there are few things that sound better than going cheese tasting at Brown’s Food Co.
An afternoon at the farm including a cheese tasting, factory tour, and 3-course lunch (with 2 glasses of wine or beer) costs 4,500 KES (around $35). For kids, it’s 1,000 KES for over 5’s and 2,000 KES for over 12’s which includes pizza and ice cream, as well as lunch.
You can also try milking a cow too! If you don’t want to make the journey out to the farm, you can also order cheese platters! Book ahead!
10. Go Shopping at Spinner’s Web
Spinner’s Web is known as Kenya’s biggest arts and craft shop where you can all sorts of beautiful, locally made things, including handicrafts, pottery, home decor, jewelry, furniture, lighting, and accessories.
The showroom is currently open 9.30am – 6pm (but you can check here to be sure).
11. Take a Tour of a Coffee Estate
Kenya is one of the world’s leading coffee producers, so when you’re in the area, why not visit a coffee farm?
There are a couple of different coffee estates near Nairobi – the Fairview Coffee Estate and Karunguru Coffee Estate, both of which are Kenyan-owned, with Fairview around 30 minutes from the city centre, and Karunguru around 45 minutes away.
You can do tours at both estates to learn about the coffee-making process and enjoy some delicious coffee!
12. Buy Your Fruit n’ Veg at City Park Hawkers
Up near Westlands and Parklands, you’ll find City Park Market (or City Park Hawkers). There’s nothing majorly special about this market, lots of fruit and veg etc, but it is a great place to just get a feel for everyday life in Nairobi.
Around the back of the stalls, there are some small local restaurants serving nyama choma (roasted meat) with ugali (maize porridge, the staple food of Kenya) and kachumbari (onion/tomato salad/chilli salad).
MY TIP: Please ask before taking any photos of the stalls.
13. Learn About the History of Kenya at the National Museum
Visit Nairobi’s National Museum where you can learn about Kenya’s rich heritage including culture, nature, history and art.
As well as the museum, here you will find the Nairobi Snake Park, art galleries, shops, botanical gardens, and a nature trail.
14. Shop for Beautiful Souvenirs at Wasp & Sprout
Wasp & Sprout is an amazing fair-trade initiative selling all kinds of wonderful things, like furniture, homeware, crafts, and beautiful African fabric cushions!
My particular favourites are the items by Kangarui. I’m obsessed with their artwork – I just love it (and you can now buy some of their items in my shop Africa & Wild)!!!!
They also have a lovely cafe selling breakfast, brunch, sandwiches, and salads, as well as some nice cocktails, coffees, soft drinks, and desserts.
15. Visit a Tea Farm
Kenyans love their tea and Kenya is also one of the biggest tea-producing nations in the world.
One of the best tea farms near Nairobi, is the Kiambethu Farm near Limuru town. Arriving at 11am, you’ll be offered a cup of tea (or coffee) and learn about the tea-making process and history of the farm, before taking a walk through the indigenous forest where you may see Colobus monkeys.
Afterward, you’ll have a 3-course buffet lunch prepared with food from the garden, whilst enjoying the incredible views. The cost is 4,200 KES per person, and children under 12 are half price.
Also nearby is the Kawamwaki Farm, where you can go horse riding!
16. Take a Kibera Township Tour
People are often torn about going on Kibera slum tours, which is one of the reasons I don’t include them in my Kenya group tours.
I think it’s a personal choice but I lean towards the pro side – if done with respect for the local people and the right organisation. I think Kibera tours can be good, as they are usually set up by people who have lived in Kibera their whole lives, providing employment and income for some of the residents.
Plus they can show the positive sides of Kibera. Many tourists to Kenya won’t…