Travel guide · Kenya
Nairobi travel guide
Lions below the skyline, orphaned elephants and the gateway to Kenyan safaris
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Nairobi sits at about 1,795 metres on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, and its biggest surprise is Nairobi National Park, where lions, black rhinos and giraffes roam grassland about 7 km south of the city centre. Most visitors spend one to three days around Langata and Karen, where the Sheldrick elephant orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum lie close together, before flying from Wilson Airport to the Maasai Mara or driving to Lake Naivasha and Amboseli. The altitude keeps days mild all year, and traffic, not distance, decides how much you can fit into a day. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are January–February and June–September.
Key facts
- Country
- Kenya
- Best time to visit
- January–February and June–September
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- NBO, WIL
- Mid-range daily budget
- $120–$250 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage, Giraffe Centre and Safari gateway
Why visit Nairobi
- Nairobi National Park puts lions, black rhinos, buffalo and giraffes on open plains with the city's office towers on the horizon, a short drive from most hotels.
- Baby elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Rothschild's giraffes at the Giraffe Centre can be seen on the same morning in Langata.
- Wilson Airport flights reach Maasai Mara airstrips in about an hour, and Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate are about two hours away by road.
- At almost 1,800 metres the climate is mild year-round, with warm days and cool evenings rather than tropical heat.
- Nyama choma grills, Kenyan tea and coffee, and the Karen Blixen farmhouse from Out of Africa give a sense of the country beyond the safari.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 15 things to do.
Nature · Langata
Nairobi National Park
Kenya's first national park, opened in 1946, covers about 117 km² of grassland and acacia bush just south of the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Nature · Nairobi National Park
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust raises orphaned baby elephants and rhinos before returning them to the wild in Tsavo.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
Nature · Langata
Giraffe Centre
Run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife since 1979, the centre breeds endangered Rothschild's giraffes and lets visitors feed them pellets from a raised wooden platform at head height.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
Museum · Karen
Karen Blixen Museum
The Danish author of Out of Africa lived in this farmhouse below the Ngong Hills from 1917 to 1931 while running a coffee farm.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Couples
- Outdoors
Museum · Museum Hill
Nairobi National Museum
Kenya's flagship museum covers human origins, with fossil casts from the Turkana basin, alongside galleries on Kenyan history, cultures, birds and mammals.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Zoo · Langata
Nairobi Safari Walk
A raised wooden boardwalk run by the Kenya Wildlife Service at the national park's main gate, passing enclosures of rescued animals including a white rhino, lions, cheetahs and bongo antelope.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Where to stay
Westlands is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Westlands
Restaurants, malls and the city's main bar district north-west of the CBD
$$$$ · Best for families, couples, quiet stays and luxury
Karen
Leafy suburb of large gardens at the foot of the Ngong Hills
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and first-timers
Langata
Suburb bordering Nairobi National Park, home of the Giraffe Centre and Bomas of Kenya
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and food lovers
Kilimani and Kileleshwa
Residential apartment districts west of the centre with good-value serviced flats
What to eat
- Nyama choma — Goat or beef grilled slowly over charcoal, chopped on a wooden board and eaten with the fingers with salt, kachumbari and ugali.
- Ugali — A stiff maize-flour porridge served in a firm mound, broken off by hand and used to scoop up stews and greens.
- Sukuma wiki — Collard greens sautéed with onion and tomato; the name means 'stretch the week', because it makes a meal go further.
- Kachumbari — A fresh relish of chopped tomato, onion, coriander and chilli with lime, served with grilled meat to cut the richness.
- Githeri — A Kikuyu stew of boiled maize and beans, often fried up with onion, tomato and potatoes.
- Mukimo — A green mash of potatoes, peas, maize and pumpkin leaves from central Kenya, usually served with stew or nyama choma.
When to go
The best times to visit Nairobi are the dry seasons from late June to early October and from January to February, when park roads are firm and game viewing is easiest. July to September coincides with the Maasai Mara migration and the highest prices. April and May bring the long rains, muddy tracks and some camp closures, though lodge rates are at their lowest.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Warm dry season | January–February | Hot, sunny days by Nairobi standards, green parks after the short rains and good game viewing; a popular time for safaris. |
| Long rains | March–May | Heavy afternoon downpours, especially in April, with muddy park tracks and seasonal camp closures but the lowest lodge prices of the year. |
| Cool dry season | June–October | Cool, often overcast mornings and dry sunny afternoons; peak safari season with the migration in the Maasai Mara and the highest prices. |
| Short rains | November–December | Showers in the afternoons and evenings with clear mornings; quieter and cheaper until the Christmas holiday rush. |
Getting there and around
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is about 18 km south-east of the CBD; taxis and ride-hailing cars take 30–60 minutes, and the Nairobi Expressway can cut the run to Westlands to about 20 minutes outside peak hours. Wilson Airport (WIL), about 5 km south of the centre on Langata Road, handles light-aircraft flights to the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and other safari airstrips.
Nairobi is spread out and traffic is heavy, so most visitors move by ride-hailing apps or with a hired driver rather than on foot. The tolled Nairobi Expressway, opened in 2022, links the airport with Westlands on an elevated road, and matatus (shared minibuses) cover the whole city for very little money.
Plan your days
Two days covers an early game drive in Nairobi National Park, the elephant orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum. A third day adds the National Museum, Karura Forest or a day trip to Lake Naivasha; most visitors then continue on safari rather than staying longer in the city.
Practical information
- Currency
- KES
- Language
- English and Swahili
- Plugs
- Type G (British three-pin) sockets, 240 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water, which hotels and lodges provide.
- Emergency number
- 999 or 112
- Tipping
- Tip about 10% in sit-down restaurants when service is not included.
Phone snatching, pickpocketing and bag theft are well-documented problems in the CBD, at matatu stages and in slow traffic. Use ride-hailing at night, avoid walking alone after dark and follow ranger instructions inside the national parks.
Flights to Nairobi
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Nairobi?
Two days covers an early game drive in Nairobi National Park, the elephant orphanage, the Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum. A third day adds the National Museum, Karura Forest or a day trip to Lake Naivasha; most visitors then continue on safari rather than staying longer in the city. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Nairobi?
The best times to visit Nairobi are the dry seasons from late June to early October and from January to February, when park roads are firm and game viewing is easiest. July to September coincides with the Maasai Mara migration and the highest prices. April and May bring the long rains, muddy tracks and some camp closures, though lodge rates are at their lowest.
+What is Nairobi known for?
Nairobi National Park, Elephant orphanage, Giraffe Centre, Safari gateway, Nyama choma, Kenyan coffee and tea and Karen Blixen Museum. Nairobi National Park puts lions, black rhinos, buffalo and giraffes on open plains with the city's office towers on the horizon, a short drive from most hotels.
+Is Nairobi expensive?
Nairobi is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $120–$250 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Nairobi?
Not in the city: ride-hailing and hired drivers are easier than driving in heavy traffic. For safaris, most visitors travel with an operator's vehicle and driver-guide; self-drive is possible but park tracks and navigation take experience.