Nairobi: the safari capital of the world

Nairobi: the safari capital of the world

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Established in 1899 as a depot along the Uganda railway, Nairobi is famous as the uncontested ‘Safari Capital’ of the world. This vibrant city offers first-class facilities and entertainment, wildlife and nightlife, rich culture, and one of the world’s warmest welcomes. Take time to explore Kenya’s capital city; as the locals say: ‘Karibu’,
Welcome to Nairobi.

Sheldrick-Wildlife-Trust-elephants
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Nairobi-Maasai-market
One of Nairobi’s maasai markets

City life

Nairobi is a cosmopolitan city offering a stunning selection of wining, dining and entertainment venues. Options range from exclusive international restaurants to chic coffee shops to authentic street food. Drinking venues are equally diverse: from the famous bars of The Stanley and The Norfolk hotels to a host of more informal pubs. Kenya’s own culinary style has been deliciously shaped by her colourful history and Nairobi offers the chance to indulge in local favourites such as ‘nyama choma’, or barbecued meat. Nairobi’s nightlife is equally fresh and exciting, with many of the clubs and bars offering excellent live music.

As for shopping, Nairobi’s popular Maasai Craft Markets are the perfect place to hone your haggling skills. The markets rotate around all of the modern shopping malls and sell everything from beaded sandals to pottery and from stylish woven baskets to leather goods. In the malls, there is a host of boutique craft and fashion shops selling exquisite hand-made jewellery, clothing, and accessories.

The hotspot for African contemporary art, Nairobi is also the ideal place to snap up a masterpiece from one of its stylish galleries.

  • Factfile

    Location: Nairobi is located 140km south of the Equator, 480km inland from Mombasa, and the Indian Ocean coastline.

    Accommodation: Kenya’s capital city offers a huge range of accommodation options: from 5-star international brands to simple guesthouses, as well as several popular campsites and hostels.

    Transport: Nairobi stands at the centre of a modern road network and has two airports: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport (for local flights). It is also the departure point for the new Madaraka Express railway, which takes just 4hrs 30mins to reach Mombasa.

Nairobi tours

Nairobi features

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