There are so many places to visit in Nairobi. This can be achieved by taking a Nairobi city tour. Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and largest city, has long been the gateway to some of Africa’s best adventures. But this vibrant metropolis has plenty of exciting places to visit before you head out on safari.
Nairobi’s rich history and tribal culture are brought to life in its excellent museums. The Karen Blixen Museum is a big hit – especially with fans of the Out of Africa book and film, who come to see where the namesake Danish author toiled on her coffee farm at the foot of the beautiful Ngong Hills.
Even in such a bustling city, wildlife is a huge draw. Nairobi is one of the only cities in the world with a safari park within its borders. A mere 15-minute drive from the skyscrapers of the city center, 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.
Within the Nairobi national park, is the Nairobi safari walk where you can experience Kenya’s wildlife reserve at a glance since you will experience the three main ecosystems from all the parks in Kenya.
Discover places to visit in Nairobi with our well-researched and experienced places that you might be interested in visiting on your visit.
Nairobi national park
With only 15 15-minute drive from the city, Nairobi National Park offers the perfect wildlife experience. It is the haven of wildlife, a rhino sanctuary that protects these endangered species. one place in Nairobi that brings you close to nature and quenches your exploration thirst.
In addition to the rhinos, there are other animals which include: lions, gazelles, buffaloes, warthogs, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, and ostriches, and more than 400 species of birds have been recorded in the wetland areas within the park
Nairobi National Park is also a famous ivory-burning site. In 1989, President Moi ignited 12 tons of elephant tusks and rhino horns here, boosting the country’s conservation image on the world stage. Today, a monument marks this historic site. The place makes a perfect picnic site for people to take pictures, take their lunch in the wild, and network.
The Nairobi Safari Walk is a popular attraction, offering animal lovers the chance to spot wildlife on foot, and walking trails weave around the area known as Hippo Pools.
David Shedrick Wildlife Trust
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a rhino sanctuary that is meant to protect rhinos. The center cares for young abandoned elephants and rhinos and works to release the animals back into the wild. You can watch these lovable creatures up close as they frolic in the mud and drink from giant baby bottles. Best of all, your entrance fee helps support the project’s conservation efforts.
If you want to help, even more, consider adopting an orphaned elephant, rhino, or giraffe – you’ll receive regular updates on their progress long after you leave. By so doing, you will have boosted the efforts of protecting these noble creatures.
Giraffe Center
Giraffe Center is one of the best places to visit in Nairobi at any time you visit. At the Giraffe Centre, visitors can come face to face with endangered Rothschild’s giraffes. This non-profit center lies on the grounds of the plush guesthouse, Giraffe Manor, and its main mission is to provide conservation education for children.
The visitor center displays information about these towering creatures, and a raised platform allows you to feed them at eye level with specially prepared grass pellets.
This is one of the most unusual things to do around Nairobi, especially with children – photo ops with wet, gray giraffe tongues slurping little faces are priceless.
After communing with these long-lashed beauties, you can enjoy a 1.5-kilometer self-guided forest walk in the adjacent nature walk reserve.
Karen Blixen Museum
One of Nairobi’s top tourist attractions, the Karen Blixen Museum, at the foot of the Ngong Hills, is the former home of the famous namesake Out of Africa author. Karen Blixen, also known by her pen name, Isak Dinesen, lived in the house from 1917 to 1931, where she ran a coffee plantation.
Today, you can tour the well-preserved colonial farmhouse, a kitchen in a separate building, a coffee-drying plant in the woodland, and an agricultural college on the grounds. The ancient machinery she used for land plowing, coffee transportation, and irrigation are all on display.
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 the story of Karen Blixen and colonial Kenya to life.
Nairobi National Museum
The National Museum is 2km from the city. This makes it more accessible and hence should be on the top list of places to visit in Nairobi. It is the perfect place to learn about Kenya’s history, the prehistoric sites, and the cradle land of mankind, Nairobi National Museum is the place to visit.
The museum displays diverse cultural and natural history exhibits including more than 900 stuffed birds and mammals, fossils from Lake Turkana, ethnic displays from various Kenyan tribal groups, and exhibits of local art.
In the Geology Gallery, you can explore an impressive collection of rocks and minerals and learn 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.
Visitors can purchase combination tickets, which include entrance to the adjacent Snake Park with live specimens of Kenya’s most common reptiles.
If you’re looking for a dose of nature on your Nairobi trip, save time to stroll around the tranquil botanical gardens here after your visit.
Bomas of Kenya
About 10 kilometers from Nairobi, Bomas of Kenya is a living museum celebrating the colorful tribes of Kenya. This is a great place to visit in Nairobi to learn about the lifestyle, art, music, crafts, and culture of each Kenyan tribe.
The complex encompasses a recreated traditional village with homesteads (bomas), each one reflecting the culture of a major ethnic group. Every afternoon, a team performs traditional dances and songs in the large theater. Audience participation makes the performances even more enjoyable.
Bomas of Kenya is quite big and it hosts conferences and other activities. The 2022 Magical Kenya expo was hosted here.
Kenyatta International Conference Center. (KICC)
Named after Kenya’s First President, Jomo Kenyatta, the distinctive cylindrical Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC) offers breathtaking 360-degree views from its rooftop viewing deck.
The building is an internationally acclaimed venue for conferences, meetings, and exhibitions, and it’s an eye-catching landmark in the city. Though not the tallest building in Kenya, it dominates the skyline with a 28-story tower overlooking a large amphitheater. Its pale terra-cotta façade recalls the color of traditional African huts, and the central plenary hall resembles the ancient Roman Senate.
Zoom up to the rooftop viewing platform to take photos of the sprawling city below, and you can also enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants.
Generally, Nairobi is a beautiful city with a lot of places to visit. At least, you don’t need to leave the city for you to experience nature. You will experience it here due to so many places to visit.
We have various city tours you can select and help you tour the city.