Things To Do In Nairobi In 2021
Kenya is home to the most mesmerizing safaris in the world. Its capital city, Nairobi, offers various picturesque sceneries that make it a place worth visiting. If you are heading to Kenya, but you’re not sure what you want to do in this fabulous city, we’re here for the rescue. Check out this quick guide that will tell you about the best things to do in Nairobi;
1. Experience the adventure of safaris
Nairobi’s natural landscapes are obviously going to be your first stop. It is also known as the “Green City in the Sun” and is a fantastic city because of its beautiful natural sights that will blow your mind.
Because Kenya is the safari capital of the world, you have to go on a safari adventure. Here’s the list of the best safari options;
Masai Mara National Reserve
If you want to opt to go to the best-known safari park, then the Masai Mara should be your choice. It is popular with its extraordinary population of Masai lions, leopards, and cheetahs. It is famous for its important wildlife conservation, making it one of the key tourist spots that you should visit.
Nairobi National Park
Do you want to have a quick tour of the safari? You can easily go to Nairobi National Park, where it is just within sight of the city. Even with its vicinity to the urban center, it will not disappoint you with the beautiful wildlife you can witness. It consists of vast open grassland with a lot of dwelling safari animals.
An activity that draws many tourists is seeing the elephant orphanage. You can get up close to the magnificent wildlife on an early morning game drive in a group.
Hells Gate National Park
Hell’s Gate is famous global-wide. This is a little park that offers an impressive scenic view of cliffs. You can see lots of herbivores around, such as buffalos, zebras, and giraffes. It also allows you to go on a picnic which will be a unique experience in your life.
Lake Nakuru National Park
In Lake Nakuru National Park, you can enjoy fun activities such as hiking, bird watching, picnic, game drives, and more! Aside from the adventures, this park offers you woody and bushy grass fields that fascinate the visitors. There are a million pink flamingos that flock on the shores of Lake Nakuru. You can view white rhinos, hippos, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, and even lions along with the beautiful birds.
Samburu Game Reserve
If you want a safari that gives you the best wildlife experience, then Samburu Game Reserve is your stop. This is the first place to start your safari adventure in Nairobi. The game drives offer hundreds of animal sights to see that include elephants, buffalos, lions, buffalos, leopards, zebras, and giraffes.
2. Eat at Kenyan restaurants
A trip to Nairobi would not be complete without trying out the local cuisine. The Kenyan cuisine is impressively diverse. Many signature dishes make it so unique and will surely spark your interest to try.
In Nairobi, many multicultural restaurants offer attractive scenes of the city’s landscape and innovative dishes. We’ve made you a list of the best places to eat:
The Arbor
Location: 904 James Gichuru Road Lavington, Nairobi 00606 Kenya
Contact number: +254 729 400291
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Sunday open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
If you want the best cafe that offers outstanding outdoor seating, head to The Arbor Cafe. It is known to be an eco-friendly eating place with a beautiful garden view. Many people do not only go here to eat their best-selling chicken wings but also to unwind because of the calming garden setting. Plus, it is also near salons and cosmetic shops where you can treat yourself after a huge meal.
Mama Ashanti
Location: Muthangari Gardens Road, Nairobi
Contact number: +254 736222324 or +254 736222324
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Friday to Sunday open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 AM
Want to try authentic West African cuisine? You need to reserve a table at Mama Ashanti. It provides the best dishes at a reasonable price. This should be your choice if you want to savor west-African food and experience the essence of being in the capital of Kenya.
Maru’s Bhajia Cafe
Location: Fourth Parklands Avenue Diamond Plaza, Nairobi Kenya
Contact number: +254 736222324 or +254 736222324
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Friday to Sunday open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 AM
Enjoy fast food in Nairobi in Maru’s Bhajia Cafe. It was originally a drive-thru restaurant which made it popular. A recommended dish is the crunchy turmeric yellow bhajia’s, which is served on paper plates. And for the drinks, you should get a cold glass of fresh tree tomato juice.
3. Go shopping
A big thing that you should never pass on when visiting Nairobi is to shop. It is said that shopping in Nairobi is a form of Art. There are lots of supermarkets, malls, thrift shops, and many small local shops to explore.
If you go to the market, it is usually jam-packed with vegetable stalls and souvenir vendors, which is a great place to buy cheaper knickknacks. Meanwhile, when you go explore the shopping centers, you can see the various upscale stores that sell African goods.
Moreover, Nairobi has lots of interesting crafts and local goods that you should buy at least once in your life. Check out the items to get when you are exploring the shopping centers and the local shops:
Maasai Beads
Nothing can compare to the necklaces, earrings, and bracelets that are made of Maasai beads. These are special crafts made by the Maasai people. You’ll usually see them in local shops, street vendors, or even in boutiques. Each color of the beads symbolizes something special. So once they are mixed together to form a piece of jewelry, it is said to be special.
Hand-Carved Wooden Sculptures
As you may now know, Nairobi’s safari is the best in the world. This made the locals sell traditional sculptures and carvings that depict the “The Great Five,” which are lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino, and leopard. The carving that you usually see varies in price. It depends on the wood that’s used. The wood carvings are made of mango trees, Neem trees, or ebony. Ebony carvings are rare, so you expect to pay higher on these crafts.
Baskets
Are you one of the people who are fond of baskets? Getting hand-woven baskets from Nairobi should be one of the things on your list. The quality of these baskets is unique. The materials are prepared well beforehand to make the best out of them. “Kudos,” as what the locals call them, are available everywhere in Nairobi. You can buy them in street markets, malls, antique shops, hotels, and souvenir shops.
Kitengela Glass
If you want to buy something with a special purpose, you can buy Kitengela glass made by the Kitengela artists’ community. The glass material they use is 100% recycled. You can choose a variety of items, from tableware to suncatchers. You can go directly to the main studio where you can buy the crafts at a fair price.
Coffee
If you get the opportunity to travel to Kenya, which is the largest producer of coffee in East Africa, it means you need to take home their coffee. Many say that you can get whole bean coffee rather than ground coffee when you go to the market. The coffee beans will maintain their full flavor for a much longer time than the coffee grounds.
Soapstone Carvings
Other carvings that you must see and buy are soapstone carvings. The locals call them “Kisii” stones, and they are available in several designs. You can buy decorative art pieces and other useful items that you can use at home. These are easy to find, and they are all over the city’s markets and souvenir shops.
Sweet Beer
The Traditional Kenyan beer is the beverage that you should not miss out on. It is made from sugar cane and honey, which give tourists a unique taste. You should specifically get the homemade or the non-commercial version which is known as “Muratina.” This has a fruity flavor. Or, you can get the Tusker beer that is locally known as “Keroro.” It has a lightly fruity and sweet taste. Many say that it is like drinking sweetened malt because it only has mild carbonation and no bitterness.
4. Tea and coffee farming
A one of a kind experience is to become a local farmer for three days. You get to wear gumboots and overcoats when you are tea picking and coffee berry picking. You also have a chance to interact with the local farmers where you can learn lots of things about what they do and more about their culture.
Here’s a list of things of what you get when you avail yourself this unique Kenyan tour;
- You’ll get two nights accommodation at Sangare Gardens Farm in Mweiga, Nyeri.
- You get free breakfast and dinner
- You’ll have a driver and a guide to bring you from the airport to the location as well as to drop you off.
There is no question that Nairobi is a majestic place that is worth visiting. You have a lot of tour options to choose from. Make sure you take a note of this list to enjoy the magnificence of Nairobi.
