Must-see attractions in Nairobi

  • Locals and tourists enjoying the Sheldrick Trust Elephant Orphans Project on a cloudy day in Nairobi, Kenya.

    David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

    Nairobi

    Occupying a plot within Nairobi National Park, this nonprofit trust was established in 1977, shortly after the death of David Sheldrick, who served as the…

  • Zebras in a field at Nairobi National Park with Nairobi city in the background.

    Nairobi National Park

    Nairobi

    Welcome to Kenya’s most accessible yet incongruous safari experience. Set on the city’s southern outskirts, Nairobi National Park (at 117 sq km, one of…

  • Entrance of Nairobi National Museum.

    National Museum

    Nairobi

    Kenya’s wonderful National Museum, housed in an imposing building amid lush, leafy grounds just outside the centre, has a good range of cultural and…

  • A Masai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchii aka Kilimanjaro giraffe) and her calf in Nairobi National Park with the city in the background.
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giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchii, kilimanjaro giraffe

    Giraffe Centre

    Nairobi

    This centre, which protects the highly endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, combines serious conservation with enjoyable activities. You can observe, hand…

  • The Karen Blixen house

    Karen Blixen's House & Museum

    Nairobi

    If you loved Out of Africa, you'll love this museum in the farmhouse where author Karen Blixen lived between 1914 and 1931. She left after a series of…

  • Making pottery at Kazuri Bead Factory, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa
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making pottery, beads, kazuri bead factory

    Kazuri Beads & Pottery Centre

    Nairobi

    An interesting diversion in Karen, this craft centre was started by an English expat in 1975 as a place where single mothers could learn a marketable…

  • Go-Down Arts Centre

    Nairobi

    The Go-Down Arts Centre, a converted warehouse in Industrial Area, contains 10 separate studios and is a hub for Nairobi's burgeoning arts scene, bringing…

  • Bomas of Kenya

    Nairobi

    The talented resident artists at this cultural centre perform traditional dances and songs taken from the country’s various tribal groups, including…

  • Railway Museum

    Nairobi

    The main collection here is housed in an old railway building and consists of relics from the East African Railway. There are train and ship models,…

  • Kenyatta International Conference Centre

    Nairobi

    Nairobi’s signature building was designed as a fusion of modern and traditional African styles, though the distinctive saucer tower looks a little dated…

  • African Heritage House

    Nairobi

    Designed by Alan Donovan, an African-heritage expert and gallery owner, this stunning exhibition house overlooking Nairobi National Park can be visited by…

  • Ivory-burning Site

    Nairobi

    This is one the most important landmarks in the annals of conservation: it was here that Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi made a dramatic statement to…

  • Nairobi Safari Walk

    Nairobi

    Just outside the main entrance to Nairobi National Park, off Langata Rd, this safari walk is a sort of zoo-meets-nature-boardwalk, with lots of birds as…

  • Kitengela Hot Glass

    Nairobi

    Brave the suspension bridge and enjoy a stroll around the quirky, colourful grounds of Kitengela Hot Glass. There are regular glass blowing demonstrations…

  • Red Hill Art Gallery

    Nairobi

    The Red Hill Art Gallery is tucked away in the lush green hills of Limuru, just outside Nairobi. The space is devoted to African Art with a focus on…

  • Circle Art Gallery

    Nairobi

    One of Nairobi's better exhibition spaces for contemporary art, Circle Art Gallery is, unlike some other Nairobi galleries, more a gallery aimed at…

  • Hippo Pool

    Nairobi

    Nairobi National Park's main concentration of hippos.

  • Uhuru Park

    Nairobi

    An expanse of manicured green on the fringe of the central city, this attractive park is a popular respite from the downtown noise and bustle. It owes its…

  • Snake Park

    Nairobi

    In the grounds of the National Museum, the Snake Park has some impressive snake species, including the puff adder, black mamba, Egyptian cobra, African…

  • Animal Orphanage

    Nairobi

    Just inside the main gate to Nairobi National Park, this animal orphanage houses formerly wild animals that have been recovered by park rangers. Although…

  • Parliament House

    Nairobi

    If you fancy a look at how democracy works in Kenya, it’s possible to obtain a free permit for the public gallery at Parliament House when parliament is…

  • Karura Forest

    Nairobi

    Karura Forest is a firm favourite among locals for walking, cycling, running and horse riding under its shady green canopy. The Sigiria entrance now has a…

  • Jamia Mosque

    Nairobi

    Amid the clutter of downtown, Nairobi’s main mosque is a lovely building in typical Arab-Muslim style, with all the domes, marble and Quranic inscriptions…

  • National Archives

    Nairobi

    Right in the bustling heart of Nairobi is the distinctive National Archives, the ‘Memory of the Nation’, a vast collection of documents and reference…

  • American Embassy Memorial Garden

    Nairobi

    This well-tended walled garden occupies the former site of the American embassy, which was destroyed by terrorist bombings on 7 August 1998. It’s a lovely…

  • Khoja Mosque

    Nairobi

    Looking for all the world like a colonial-era post office, this stone mosque for the city's Ismaili community was built in the 1920s and is one of…

  • Kuona Trust Centre for the Visual Arts

    Nairobi

    As much a studio for artists as a place for visitors to see art, this dynamic space hosts temporary exhibitions, artist workshops and seminars.

  • Python Pool

    Nairobi

    It's always worth checking what's going on at this watering hole in the park's south.

  • Tazama Art Gallery

    Nairobi

    Tazama displays works by Kenyan artists in a modern shopping-centre venue.

  • All Saints' Cathedral

    Nairobi

    An important landmark overlooking Uhuru Park, All Saints Cathedral is the city's premier Anglican house of worship.

  • Holy Family Cathedral

    Nairobi

    The main Catholic church in the city, this is a key downtown landmark and one of Nairobi's most important churches.

  • Ngong Road Forest

    Nairobi

    This forest parkland just north of Karen has walking trails, but walking here alone is not recommended.

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