Is it worth staying in Nairobi?

Nairobi is one of the greenest cities in Africa - with amazing public forest areas (Karura, Ngong Road, Ololuwa, the Aboretum, not to mention the Nairobi National Park). There are also some of the continent's best restaurants and nightlife, good shopping and arts spaces. It's a fantastic city, hugely underrated.



Nairobi is frequently dismissed as just a "layover city" on the way to a safari, but it is absolutely worth staying in for at least 48 hours to experience its unique blend of urban energy and wildlife. It is the only city in the world with a national park within its borders—Nairobi National Park—where you can see lions and rhinos against a backdrop of city skyscrapers. Furthermore, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust offers a heartwarming opportunity to see orphaned baby elephants being fed, and the Giraffe Centre allows for up-close interactions with endangered Rothschild giraffes. For history and literature fans, the Karen Blixen Museum (the former home of the Out of Africa author) provides a beautiful look at colonial-era Kenya. The city's culinary scene is also booming, with world-class coffee houses and the famous "Carnivore" restaurant. While traffic can be intense and safety requires a basic level of urban awareness (using reputable car services like Uber), Nairobi offers a vibrant "Afropolitan" culture that provides essential context to the Kenyan experience that you simply cannot get from a remote safari lodge.

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Nairobi neighborhoods of Eastleigh and Kibera: Violent crime, such as armed carjacking, mugging, home invasion, and kidnapping, can occur at any time. Street crime can involve multiple armed assailants. Local police often lack the resources and training to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.

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Is Nairobi safe to walk around? Yes, it is safe, but just like any other city you have to avoid the seedier parts of the town. If in doubt of where to go, you can always ask a resident friend or a guide from the hotel on the parts to avoid.

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Nairobi is the sixth most expensive city for the super-rich in Africa to buy property with prime apartments going for $1,200 (Sh177,360) per square metre, according to a new report.

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The best time to plan your Nairobi tour activities is during the dry months of July through October and also January and February. July welcomes the lowest rainfall month of the year, just less than one inch of blessed water. The driest and coolest months in Nairobi are July and August.

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All of my office staff use uber and none have had any issues. Uber is the next big thing in Taxi [ cab] services in Nairobi. The app is fantastic and also allows whoever recommends you to earn some royalty points. Very reliable, highly recommended.

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Most traders will insist on cash (Kenyan or dollars) or mobile money transactions, so be sure to convert some USD to Kenyan shilling. If you go shopping in the supermarkets and local stores, you will use cards and Kenyan money to clear the bill.

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Nairobi neighborhoods of Eastleigh and Kibera: Violent crime, such as armed carjacking, mugging, home invasion, and kidnapping, can occur at any time. Street crime can involve multiple armed assailants. Local police often lack the resources and training to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.

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Kenya Moral Dress Emphasis Accordingly, when visiting the shopping areas, local bazaars and other public areas, make sure you wear knee-length shorts or long pants with polo shirts. Women should refrain from wearing tank tops and short skirts or shorts. Topless bathing is not allowed at all locations.

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Mugging, kidnapping, car-jacking and armed robbery occur regularly, particularly in Nairobi, Mombasa and other large cities. In Nairobi, risk of these crimes is higher in Eastleigh, Central Business District, Mathare, Kibera and slum areas.

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