Nairobi things to do: nature & wildlife viewing

Imagine leaving your Nairobi hotel and in minutes, you’re at the edge of the city, deep in a dramatic savannah, on your own private safari at Nairobi National Park. You’ll be on the lookout for buffalo, zebra, giraffe, ostrich, hyena and of course the big cats.

From there you’ll head to the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage to delight in the most adorable creatures feeding from giant baby bottles! Founded in 1977, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust works with the Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service to preserve and protect Kenya’s unique natural habitats. For as little as $50/year, visitors can “adopt” a baby elephant, providing financial support for its annual care. This is a special visit and not to be missed!

Other big game viewing awaits at the Giraffe Center, home of the endangered Rothschild’s Giraffes. On these stately grounds, you can get up close and even feed these imposing creatures. For 40 years, the Giraffe Centre has saved and restored the population of this endangered subspecies of giraffe. At the same time, it has provided opportunities for its millions of visitors to be delighted and informed about these special creatures.

Other nature and animal viewing spots around Nairobi

Karura Forest: An urban forest in Nairobi offering activities like trekking, walking, biking, and picnic spots.

Nairobi things to do: food, history & culture

The Karen Blixen Coffee Garden is rich in history and storytelling. Named for the famous author of ‘Out of Africa,’ the coffee garden dates back to 1906. About a 30-minute drive from downtown Nairobi, the grounds feel like a wild oasis, steeped in history and tradition. The site also includes luxury cottages, built more recently in 2001.

Food service at the Coffee Garden extends well beyond coffee. The restaurant’s menu serves fresh soups and salads, as well as classics like sandwiches and pizza. It also features local Kenyan specialties such as Kuku Kienyeji, chicken cooked with fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic and fresh coriander.

Carnivore Restaurant, located in Nairobi near Wilson Airport, is a famous Nairobi landmark offering open-air seating, and, you guessed it, meat for miles! Dine on skewers of lamb, pork, beef, and more exotic cuts like ostrich and even crocodile. Meats are roasted on traditional Maasai swords over a charcoal pit near the restaurant’s entrance. The interior feels like a mix between a rustic farmhouse and a medieval banquet hall.

A visit to the Karen Blixen Museum follows, made famous in “Out of Africa”. Anyone who has read the book or seen the movie will remember the words, “I had a farm in Africa.” These are the words of narrator Karen Blixen as she describes her life running a coffee plantation at the foot of Kenya’s Ngong Hills.

Today, the house and gardens have been beautifully restored and are definitely worth a visit on a day-trip from Nairobi. You’ll discover within its expansive rooms including items belonging to Karen, as well as furnishings and props from the film.

Wrap up the day at the dazzling Kazuri Bead Center, where female artisans create bright, handmade, ceramic jewelry. Started in 1975 as a workshop in Nairobi, Kazuri, derived from the Swahili word for “small and beautiful,” helps to support single mothers in the surrounding area. Kazuri was founded by Lady Susan Wood, whose mission of creating employment opportunities for these resilient women continues to this day. 

Other historical and cultural things to do around Nairobi

Kenya Railway Museum: A museum featuring rich exhibits from East Africa’s rail history dating back to the early 1900s.

Fairview Coffee Estate: Offers a comprehensive tour through lush gardens, exploring the history of coffee production, plantations, and includes a sensory coffee tasting experience.

Bomas of Kenya: A cultural village showcasing traditional homesteads of various Kenyan tribes, preserved through architecture, crafts, music, and dance.

Spinners Web: The largest arts and crafts shop in Kenya.

Other recommended restaurants in Nairobi

• Big Fish: Known for serving coconut fish curry and other local fish specialties
• Fogo Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse: Offers a wide range of Brazilian-style grilled meats
• Haandi Restaurant: Renowned for its North Indian Frontier cuisine.

1 day safari trips from Nairobi 

Kenya is all about wildlife and going on safari. So naturally, its capital city of Nairobi is a portal to many nearby safari adventures. If you don’t have the time for a long country-wide trip or you’d just like to sample one or two national parks, Natural World Kenya Safaris has many safari options to choose from. 

The best one day wildlife tours around Nairobi

Choose from our top 5 one-day Nairobi safari getaways for a non-stop dawn to dusk adventure exploring a diversity of landscapes, wildlife, and activities. We feature trips to Kenya’s unmatched national parks, refuges and wildlife sanctuaries so you can experience the wonder of our natural environment.

Amboseli National Park is perhaps best known for its great elephant herds. You are guaranteed to view elephants of all sizes in this outstanding park. You’ll depart Nairobi before dawn and experience the African sunrise while traveling over the savannah. And you just might get views of Mt. Kilimanjaro along the way. The trip includes a safari breakfast, several game drives, lunch and an afternoon game drive, before heading back to Nairobi.

Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island & Hell’s Gate National Park You’ll have time to visit all three parks with their variety of scenery, wildlife and activities, in one very active day. Departing from your Nairobi hotel at 7 am, you’ll have opportunities to view the towering escarpments of the Great Rift Valley. At Lake Naivasha enjoy a boat ride as you view wildlife on both land and water. Take a walking tour at Crescent Island Sanctuary and stroll amongst the giraffes. Then you’re off to Hell’s Gate National Park to hike and bike alongside zebra, giraffe and more. And to keep you fueled for the adventure, an ample buffet lunch will be served.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is well known for its chimpanzee sanctuary and multitude of wildlife. Here it is possible to view the Big Five during your game drives as well as rhino and other small game. After your early morning Nairobi pickup, you’ll view coffee and tea plantations and possibly the snow-capped peak of Mt. Kenya. You’ll also enjoy the unique experience of crossing the equator. And should you choose, there is an optional visit to a Maasai village for a small fee.

Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island Tour At Lake Nakuru National Park get set to view the endangered black and white rhinos, giraffe, zebra, lion, leopard, buffalo and more. The park also provides sightings of colorful birdlife, even flamingos. On freshwater Lake Naivasha, enjoy a water safari to view nearby hippos plus wildlife on the shore. Your day-long adventure caps off with a walking safari at Crescent Island.

Nairobi History & Geography

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, with a population of about 4.4 million

The name “Nairobi”  is derived from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to “the place of cool waters”

Founded in 1899 as a simple rail depot on the railway linking Mombasa to Uganda, the city quickly grew to become the capital of a free Kenyan republic in 1963

The city lies on the Nairobi River, in the south of the nation, and has an elevation of 1,795 m above sea-level

Mount Kenya is situated north of Nairobi and Mount Kilimanjaro is towards the south-east

The main airport is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, located about 12 miles from Nairobi’s central business district

Caution should be taken when walking around Nairobi without a guide, but it is generally safe to visit Nairobi in the daylight hours

Most tour operators can provide private hotel transfers from the Nairobi airport

Nairobi Weather & Climate 

The altitude makes for some chilly evenings, especially in the June/July season when the temperature can drop to 10 °C (50 °F)

The sunniest and warmest part of the year are from December to March, when temperatures average the mid-twenties during the day. The mean maximum temperature for this period is 24 °C (75 °F).There are two rainy seasons but rainfall can be moderate

As Nairobi is situated close to the equator, the differences between the seasons are minimal

The cloudiest part of the year is just after the first rainy season, when, until September, conditions are usually overcast with drizzle

Nairobi is popularly known as the “Green City in the Sun” due to its proximity to the equator, ample rainfall and year round sunshine