Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya. The name Nairobi comes from the Masai phrase “Enkare Nairobi“, which means “cool water”. This is a reference to the Nairobi river running through the city. The city is also referred to by some as ‘the green city in the sun’.
Nairobi was founded in 1899 as a rail depot on the Ugandan Railway. During that time the city grew so much that it replaced Mombasa as capital city of Kenya in 1907.
During the colonial days Nairobi became the centre of the colony’s coffee, tea and sisal industry. Currently Nairobi is still the hub of over thousand of businesses and over a hundred major international companies and organizations like UNON ( United Nations Office at Nairobi).
The city currently has a population of about 4.4 million people and is home to Africa’s largest slum ‘Kibera’
Sights worth seeing
Although Nairobi is more of a business hub than a tourist destination, it still has some sights that a definitely worth seeing. Find a small list below of some of our attraction in and around Nairobi
Nairobi National Park
This is the only park in the world that is located so close to the capital city. The park has a variety of wildlife including the rhino. Which is why this park is a popular attraction.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
One of the places that you must see in Nairobi is the ‘ David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. This foundation is well known for taking care of elephants orphans. They take care of the elephants until they are strong and old enough to return to their natural habitat. It is a very special experience to be so close to those “little” ones.
Karen Blixen Museum
“I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills … ” Anyone who knows the book or the movie ‘ Out of Africa’ knows that this is how the story of Karen Blixen begins. To get a brief sense of how it would feel to live in colonial times you should pay a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum.
Nairobi Giraffe Centre
Always wanted to see a giraffe up close or even wanted to kiss it? Well then a visit to the ‘Nairobi Giraffe Centre’ can’t miss . Here you will have the opportunity to feed the giraffes and with a little bit of luck you might even get a kiss! With the money this foundation collects they can continue their work in protecting the Rothschild giraffe.
Also a fun fact is that the centre overlooks the Giraffe manor, the hotel which can provide a breakfast with giraffes.
Nairobi National Museum
Want to know a little more about the rich history of Kenya, then visit the ‘Nairobi National Museum’. The museum was built in 1929 and features many historical artifacts from the Kenyan history that are exhibited throughout the museum. On the compound of the museum you can also find the ‘Nairobi Snake Park ‘ where you can learn more about the reptiles of Kenya.
Karura Forest Reserve
Do you really need a break from the busy Nairobi and want to go to a serene place, that is possible! The ‘Karura Forest Reserve’ is a wooded area just outside the center of Nairobi. You can take a nice walk or bike ride through the woods. The park has a number of caves, a waterfall and a beautiful lake.
Carnivore
When you are in Nairobi and want to end your trip with a special night you have to go and eat at the ‘Carnivore’ . When you love meat, this is the place to eat. In the middle of the restaurant they build a huge barbecue. Above the barbecue there are roasting all the meat on swords and spears. The waiters will come up to your table with all kinds of meat and you can choose what you want to taste. It is a great way to end your Nairobi trip.
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