Nairobi City Excursions

Nairobi is Kenya's capital city, and the name is derived from the Maasai language meaning ‘a place of cool waters. Having risen from an uninhabited swampland in less than a century to a thriving modern capital, Nairobi boasts as one of Africa's largest cities with a population of diverse cultural backgrounds.

But even in such a bustling city, wildlife is a huge draw. This cosmopolitan capital is one of the only cities in the world with a safari park within its borders. A mere 15-minute drive from the city centre, you can enjoy a classic African wildlife experience at Nairobi National Park. Lion, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, rhinoceros, and buffalo roam the sun-soaked savanna here, and animal lovers can cuddle baby elephants and connect with giraffes at the excellent animal sanctuaries nearby.
Nairobi is also the gateway to the world-famous safari parks, which have captivated adventure seekers for more than a century.

Situated at near the Nairobi National Park south gate, this orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation site is a must-see for animal lovers. Daphne Sheldrick founded the project in 1977 in memory of her late husband David, a former warden at Tsavo East National Park.
The center's task is to care for young abandoned elephants and rhinos, and works to release the animals back into their natural habitat. You can watch these lovable creatures up close as they wallow in the mud and drink from giant baby bottles. Proceeds from the entrance fee helps support the project’s conservation efforts and guests can also consider adopting an orphaned elephant, rhino, or giraffe and you’ll receive regular updates on their progress long after you leave.
This is a non-profit Centre and lies on the edge of Nairobi National Park and its main mission is to provide conservation education on the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes.

On a raised platform you are allowed to feed them at an eye-to-eye level with specially prepared pellets. This is one of the most unusual things to do around Nairobi, especially with children – photo ops with wet, grey giraffe tongues slurping little faces are priceless. You can also enjoy a 1.5-kilometre self-guided forest walk in the adjacent nature reserve.

This is one of Nairobi’s top tourist attractions set at the foot of the Ngong Hills and is the former home of the famous author of ‘'Out of Africa'', Karen Blixen. Known by her pen name, Isak Dinesen, she lived in the house from 1917 to 1931, where she ran a coffee plantation. The well-preserved colonial farmhouse, a kitchen in a separate building, a coffee-drying plant in the woodland, and an agricultural college stand on the grounds.

Furniture that belonged to Karen Blixen and her husband is on display, as well as photographs and books owned by Karen and her lover, Denys Finch Hatton. Enthusiastic guides bring to life the story of Karen Blixen and colonial Kenya.

The National Museum in Nairobi is more of an educational site that displays diverse cultural and natural history exhibits of stuffed birds and mammals, fossils from Lake Turkana, ethnic displays from various Kenyan tribal groups, and exhibits of local art. There is also a Geology Gallery where you can explore an impressive collection of rocks and minerals, and thereby learning more about tectonic plates and the life cycle of a volcano. The Hominid Vault contains a collection of prehistoric bones and fossils, including the preserved fossil of an elephant.

At the museum, visitors have an opportunity to purchase combination tickets, which include an entrance to the adjacent Snake Park with live specimens of Kenya’s most common reptiles.

About 10 kilometers from Nairobi is the Bomas of Kenya, a live museum celebrating the colorful tribes of Kenya. This tour helps you to learn more about the lifestyle, art, music, crafts, and culture of each tribe.
Within the complex is a recreated traditional village with homesteads or bomas, each reflecting the culture of the ethnic groups. Every afternoon, a team performs traditional dances and songs in the large theatre. Audience participation makes the performances even more enjoyable.Kazuri means “small and beautiful” in Swahili, and these beautiful brightly coloured beads can only be found in this unique souvenirs and gifts shop. The Kazuri Beads Factory helps disadvantaged local women including many single mothers who make the beads and other pottery items from scratch.