Complete Guide to Nairobi
Complete Guide to Nairobi
Kambu Campers
Welcome to the Green City in the Sun!
Nairobi is a beautiful city with lots to offer. Because the city is large and can have a lot of traffic, these itineraries cover a specific area of the city. This will help you spend your day exploring— not sitting in traffic. All locations (except the game drive in the national park) are accessible by Uber or Bolt. These schedules are action-packed, so if you prefer to travel at a more relaxed pace, you may want to skip some activities or spread them over multiple days.
Itineraries are written assuming you will visit the Giraffe Center and Elephant Orphanage in the morning. If this is not your plan, you will have time to do one set of activities in the morning and another in the afternoon. Be sure to check out reviews before you go (especially for nightclubs) to make sure they match your vibe!
Your afternoon/evening options are:
• Wildlife Experience
• Downtown Experience
• Kenyan Culture
• Karen Experience
• Westlands Experience
• Ngong Road Experience
• Market & Museum
• Outdoor Experience
• Mall Experience
If you want to visit other parts of Kenya, contact us at bookings@kambucampers.com for custom itineraries and tour packages!
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Morning
Tin Roof
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For early risers only! Start at Tin Roof Cafe (Langata Branch) around 8 AM. Grab a coffee and pastry and take a 30 minute walk to the Giraffe Center. Follow the Google Maps directions, staying on the paved roads (Ushrika & Koitobos) to avoid construction sites.
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Giraffe Centre
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Meet, feed, and learn about the endangered Rothschild's giraffe. Book your tickets ahead of time for the 9-10 AM slot. An hour is the perfect amount of time to explore the museum exhibits, feed the giraffes, and stop by the cafe and gift shop.
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Elephant Nursery
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The elephant orphanage is a 20 minute drive from the Giraffe Center. Meet the elephant orphans and watch them enjoy their lunch! Book your tickets ahead of time for the 11 AM-12 PM feeding.
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Wildlife Experience
Enjoy Kenya's wildlife in Nairobi National Park. Choose one of two activities: a safari walk (which is self-directed and affordable) or a game drive (which gives you the best chance to see a variety of animals).
Wildly Coffee
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Wildly Coffee is located at the entrance to Nairobi National Park, making it a convenient place to stop for lunch.
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Nairobi Safari Walk
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Walk through Nairobi National Park on the Safari Walk, a 5 km elevated boardwalk.
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Game Drive
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Use Safari Bookings or Trip Advisor to book in advance a half-day Nairobi National Park game drive (usually beginning at 1:30). Uber/Bolt cars are not allowed in the park.
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Captain's Terrace
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Captain’s Terrace overlooks the national park and gives you an opportunity to watch Kenya’s amazing wildlife while you eat dinner.
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Zipang Bar And Restaurant
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Zipang Bar and Restaurant is located in Nextgen Mall and plays different types of music each night.
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Downtown Experience
Explore downtown Nairobi with a local guide. Plan to take photos with your phone, as large cameras are not allowed in many places.
Lunch on the Go
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Pack some snacks or have cash/M-PESA to purchase food downtown. You might not have time to eat a proper lunch before the Nairobi City Tour begins.
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Nai Nami
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The Nairobi City Tour with Nai Nami is a “3-hour storytelling walking experience, guided by former street children.” Book tickets ahead of time for the 1:30 PM tour.
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Kenyatta International Convention Centre Rooftop
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After the tour, visit the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) rooftop. Take the elevator to the top or climb 33 flights of stairs to complete the “staircase challenge.”
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Apple Green Restaurant
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There are many restaurants in the downtown area that serve traditional Kenyan food for dinner. Ask your Nai Nami guide for a recommendation or visit our favorite: Apple Green.
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Woodvale Grove
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Westlands (specifically, the Woodvale Grove area) and Ngong Road are each only a 15 minute drive from downtown and have safer and more interesting nightlife options.
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Kenyan Culture
Experience the culture of Kenya's 42+ ethnic groups. In the evening, choose between a meat-lovers dream on Langata Road or vegan-friendly alternatives in nearby Karen.
Utamaduni Restaurant
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For lunch, Utamaduni Restaurant at Bomas of Kenya serves a wide variety of traditional Kenyan foods.
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Bomas Of Kenya
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Visit Bomas of Kenya to experience Kenyan culture through food, music, and dance, Daily cultural performances are 2:30-4 PM weekdays and 3:30-5:15 PM weekends.
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G-Crafts at Galleria Mall
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After visiting Bomas, shop at G-Crafts in Galleria Mall for handmade crafts, jewelry, and clothing.
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Carnivore
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Eat dinner at Carnivore (Nairobi’s famous all-you-care-to-eat restaurant; reservation required). For a vegetarian/vegan evening, opt for Cultiva Farm in Karen.
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1824 Bar & Restaurant
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After dinner at Carnivore, visit the nearby 1824 Bar & Restaurant to experience Nairobi's nightlife. If you ate dinner at Cultiva Farm, you will be closer to RE-BAR and Club M.
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Karen Experience
Explore Karen, Nairobi's largest suburb. With great restaurants, shopping, and outdoor experiences, Karen is a relaxing place to spend your afternoon.
Cultiva Farm Kenya
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Eat lunch at Cultiva Farm for a farm-to-table, upcycle-minded, community-oriented experience.
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Langata Link Shops
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Visit Langata Link Shops to shop for made-in-Kenya gifts, homeware, and fashion.
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Oloolua Nature Trail
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Visit the Oloolua Nature Trail to see a natural cave, a beautiful waterfall, and a papyrus swamp.
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Under the Swahili Tree
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There are many great restaurants in Karen for dinner, including Mangrove Cafe, Tamasha Joint, Under the Swahili Tree, Boho Eatery, & Claypot Restaurant.
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Westlands Experience
Cultiva Farm Kenya
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Eat lunch at Cultiva Farm for a farm-to-table, upcycle-minded, community-oriented experience.
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Bao Box
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Play some board games while enjoying a drink or a snack at Bao Box, a board game cafe.
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Nairobi Street Kitchen
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Visit Nairobi Street Kitchen or Sarit Rooftop for a unique food hall dinner experience.
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254 Beer District
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From dinner, you can walk to the bars on Woodvale Grove (including Brew Bistro Fortis and Havana) or cross the highway to 254 Beer District.
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Ngong Road Experience
Explore Ngong Road to experience great Kenyan food and secondhand shopping. If you are looking for made-in-Kenya items, Junction and Yaya are the closest malls.
Mama Oliech Restaurant
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Eat ugali and “wet fry” fish (or one of many other Kenyan dishes) for lunch at Mama Oliech.
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Toi Market
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Shop for secondhand clothes, shoes, and home goods at Toi Market, a large open-air market on the outskirts of Kibera. Bring cash/M-PESA to pay, and be ready to bargain!
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Soma Nami Books
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Find your next great read at Soma Nami ("Read with Me") Books, a pan-African bookstore inside Greenhouse Mall.
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Jiweke Tavern
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Eat nyama choma (grilled meat) or kochokocho (grilled meat served in a hot skillet with onions and peppers) for dinner at Jiweke Tavern.
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Brew Bistro and Lounge
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Some popular nightclubs in the area include Brew Bistro and Lounge (Ngong Road), Onyx Lounge, Ozone Lounge, and The Bar Next Door. These are great options for dinner as well.
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Market & Museum
Parklands is a central neighborhood with a public park, a large fruits and vegetables market, and Indian food. It borders Westlands, making it easy to spend your evening in either (or both!).
City Park/Diamond Plaza
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For lunch, choose one of the small local restaurants at the back of City Park Market. For an indoor restaurant experience, try the Indian food at Diamond Plaza's Chowpaty or food court.
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City Park
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Stroll through City Park, a free public park with many monkeys, and buy fresh fruits and vegetables at City Park Market.
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Nairobi National Museum
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Visit the Nairobi National Museum (and the next door Nairobi Snake Park, if you’re feeling daring) to learn about Kenya’s history. The museum is open until 5:30 PM.
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Swaad Restaurant
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Enjoy Parklands’s great Indian food at Swaad Restaurant. Alternatively, head over to Westlands for dinner at Nairobi Street Kitchen or Sarit Rooftop.
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Outdoor Experience
See why Nairobi is known as "the green city in the sun" as you spend the day outdoors between Karura Forest and The Gigiri Courtyard.
Cultiva Farm Kenya
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Eat lunch at Cultiva Farm for a farm-to-table, upcycle-minded, community-oriented experience.
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Karura Forest
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Walk or bike in Karura, a 2500 acre urban forest. The Limuru Road entrance is the most popular, while the Sigiria entrance leads to a quieter part of the forest.
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The Gigiri Courtyard Craft Centre
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Shop for Kenyan crafts at The Gigiri Courtyard Craft Center.
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The Gigiri Courtyard
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Eat dinner at one of the 10+ outdoor restaurants in The Gigiri Courtyard. After dinner, get a scoop (or four) of gelato from NEEd Gelato.
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The Gigiri Lounge
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There are several bars inside The Gigiri Courtyard. For a change of scenery, visit The Gigiri Lounge (a 5 minute walk) or head over to Westlands (a 15-20 minute drive).
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Mall Experience
Explore Village Market, a mall with great restaurants, shops, and games, Check the Exhibition Hall to see if there are any art exhibits during your visit!
Pomodoro Village Market
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Village Market has two food courts and many self-contained restaurants, giving you 40+ lunch options. For a quick lunch, Pomodoro sells pizza by the slice.
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The Village Market
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Some Village Market shopping highlights include Africa Handmade, Kitengela Glass, Blue Rhino, Halfpriced Books, Handcraft Centre, Natural Lamu, and Sandstorm.
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The Yard Mini Golf
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Play glow-in-the-dark mini golf at The Yard, bowl a few frames at Village Bowl, or get a “fun pass” to do both.
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Village Market
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Village Market has two food courts and many self-contained restaurants, giving you 40+ dinner options.
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Ballpoint Social Club
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At Ballpoint Social Club, grab a drink and play ping pong, darts, pool, or board games. The club is open daily until midnight.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kambu Campers
Kambu Campers is a tour operator in Kenya offering budget safari packages that combine camping and self-drive transport options to make your safari affordable and unforgettable.
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