Top 10 Things to See and Do in Nairobi, Kenya

Don't just pass through Nairobi, begin your safari in Kenya’s capital. It will provide you with an understanding of the vibrant nation before you even set foot in the bush. This city will provide you with context that will infuse your game drives with deeper meaning of the country’s culture, wildlife, and the conservation efforts that protect it.

It’s a Symbol of Coexistence

In Nairobi, the boundaries between sophisticated metropolis and ancient wilderness blur in captivating ways.

• Iconic Vistas: Witness the surreal, stirring image of giraffes grazing gracefully against the backdrop of the city's glittering skyline.
• Shared Spaces: Feel the crisp dawn air, shared by early-morning joggers in leafy suburbs and lions finishing their night's hunt just miles apart.
• Cultural Fusion: Savor world-class, chef-driven cuisine on the same day you browse a rustic, timeless Maasai market brimming with artisan crafts.
• Thriving Hub: Experience the energyof a modern African city that’s a center of art, fashion, and commerce, yet borders ancient, protected savannas.
• Effortless Access: Enjoy the unique luxury of proximity, moving from your serene, boutique hotel to face-to-face encounters with giraffes in mere minutes.

It’s the Heart of Conservation, Not Just a Showroom

Nairobi is the engine room of Kenyan conservation, offering hands-on, deeply moving encounters you simply won't find anywhere else.

• Personal Connections: Form a heartfelt, unforgettable bond as you watch playful, orphaned elephants enjoy their morning mud baths.
• Pioneering Efforts: Stand in the very place where world-famous conservation initiatives are born, funded, and managed on a daily basis.
• Direct Impact: Feel the tangible reward of your visit, knowing your presence directly supports the rescue and rehabilitation of endangered species.
• Living History: Step into the romantic past at Karen Blixen's farm, understanding the colonial origins that helped shape modern conservation.
• Real-Time Stories: Listen to the poignant, firsthand accounts of resilience from the dedicated keepers, learning the names and personalities of the animals you're helping.

Delve into Kenya’s rich history and nature at the Nairobi National Museum. This institution houses world-class exhibits that span from prehistoric origins to contemporary culture. It is a quiet, contemplative space in which to understand the context of the landscapes and people you are about to see.

What to Expect

• Human Origins: Stand in awe in the Hominid Skull Room, home to one of the world's most significant collections of early human fossils.
• Natural History: Marvel at the "Great Hall of Mammals" and the "Birds of East Africa" gallery, featuring meticulous, grand-scale displays.
• National Heritage: Gain deep insight into Kenya’s journey to independence and its diverse cultures in the "Hall of Kenya" and "Historia ya Kenya" exhibits.
• Iconic Displays: Pay homage to "Ahmed the Elephant," a famous tusker preserved here as a powerful symbol of national conservation.
• Art Galleries: Discover rotating exhibitions of contemporary East African art in the museum's dedicated gallery spaces.

Best exhibits to see

• The Cradle of Mankind
• The Great Hall of Mammals
• The Birds of East Africa Gallery
• The Hall of Kenya
• Historia ya Kenya
• The Joy Adamson Gallery

For more information, take a look at our Places to Visit in Kenya Beyond Safari.

In Nairobi’s markets, you will be plunged into a vibrant atmosphere of color, sound, and artistry. These open-air emporiums are the places where hundreds of local artisans and entrepreneurs present their creations. They are a delight and the perfect places to find an authentic, handcrafted piece of East Africa to take home.

What to Expect

• Sensory Immersion: Navigate bustling aisles filled with colorful fabrics, the scent of leather, and the cheerful sounds of commerce.
• Artisan Crafts: Browse a vast abundance of handmade items, from intricate beadwork and unique jewelry to hand-carved wooden sculptures.
• Authentic Textiles: Discover vibrant East African fabrics, kikois, and traditional, hand-woven blankets in a riot of colors.
• Polite Bargaining: Engage with the vendors directly, as bargaining is expected and part of the friendly, interactive cultural experience.
• Artisanal Art: Find original paintings and drawings depicting wildlife and village life, perfect for a unique souvenir.

What to shop for

• Intricate Maasai jewelry
• Beaded bowls and tableware
• Hand-carved wooden sculptures
• East African prints and textiles
• Leather goods, including sandals and bags
• Original wildlife paintings

Our local guides know the best markets and artisans. Find inspiration in Reasons to Choose Kenya for Your Safari.

Experience one of the world’s most heartwarming and successful conservation stories. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a world-renowned rescue and rehabilitation center for orphaned elephants and rhinos. A visit here gives you an intimate chance to learn about these intelligent creatures and the efforts to protect them, set against the backdrop of Nairobi National Park.

What to Expect

• Public Viewing Hour: Arrive for the daily viewing, where you can watch the baby elephants playfully splash in mud baths and be fed by their dedicated keepers.
• Keeper Stories: Listen to the professional handlers share each elephant’s unique, often poignant, rescue story and its distinct personality.
• Foster an Elephant: Learn about the foster program, which allows you to support an orphan's journey back to the wild and receive personal updates.
• Conservation Focus: Gain a deep appreciation for the complex challenges of anti-poaching and habitat protection from the trust's experts.

Top projects to learn about

• Orphans’ Project
• Anti-Poaching Units
• Aerial Surveillance
• Community Outreach
• Mobile Veterinary Units

Let us arrange your visit to Nairobi as part of our Personalized Kenya Safari.

Learn about Kenya's 40-plus ethnic groups in one location. Bomas of Kenya is a "tourist village" in the best sense. It acts as a living museum that preserves and showcases the nation's diverse traditions. It features meticulously recreated homesteads, or bomas, and culminates in a spectacular daily performance of traditional music and dance.

What to Expect

• Cultural Performances: Witness a high-energy performance in the massive auditorium, featuring a rich spectrum of sound, movement, and traditional attire from across Kenya.
• Village Tours: Stroll through the 23 replica homesteads, each reflecting the unique architectural style and social structure of a different ethnic group.
• Artisan Displays: Observe cultural artifacts, crafts, and tools, gaining insight into the daily lives and customs of tribes from the coast to the highlands.
• Authentic Music: Hear the diverse sounds that shape the culture, from the energetic Kalenjin warrior dance to the melodic Swahili taarab songs.

Top highlights and experiences

• Harambee dance show
• Tour of the cultural homesteads
• Cultural artifact displays
• Live traditional music
• Restaurant for traditional cuisine

Gather your loved ones for a Family-Friendly Kenya Safari that you can customize to include cultural experiences.

Come face-to-face with the endangered Rothschild's giraffe at this beloved conservation center. Originally created to protect this rare subspecies, the Giraffe Centre is now a world-famous destination. It offers a joyful opportunity to interact with these graceful giants from a specially designed elevated platform, all while supporting vital conservation and education programs.

What to Expect

• Eye-to-Eye Feeding: Stand on the lofty viewing platform to feed the resident giraffes specially prepared pellets by hand. This is a wonderful experience.
• Conservation Education: Listen to a short, engaging talk from the staff about giraffe biology, the threats they face, and the center's conservation successes.
• Nature Sanctuary Walk: Take a tranquil stroll along the forest trails of the adjacent Gogo River Bird Sanctuary to spot birds and other indigenous wildlife.
• Iconic Guesthouse: Glimpse a one-of-a-kind guesthouse from the grounds, where giraffes famously poke their heads in the windows.

Highlights of the center

• Giraffe feeding platform
• Conservation education talks
• Gogo River Bird Sanctuary
• Adjacent Guesthouse views
• Tea House

This is a must-do in Nairobi and our travel specialists can include it in a Luxury Bespoke East Africa Safari: Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Experience the surreal juxtaposition of wilderness and city at Nairobi National Park. This is the world's only national park that borders a capital city. It places you in a thriving wildlife sanctuary with a backdrop of urban skyscrapers. The park is a vital rhino sanctuary and provides a full-fledged safari experience just miles from your luxury hotel.

What to Expect

• Classic Game Drives: Take a morning or afternoon game drive in a 4x4 vehicle to track lions, cheetahs, zebras, and giraffes on the open plains.
• Rhino Sanctuary: Enjoy opportunities to see the endangered black rhino, as the park is one of Africa's most successful sanctuaries.
• Skyline Photography: Capture the iconic photograph of a giraffe or buffalo grazing peacefully on the savanna with the city's skyline in the distance.
• Nairobi Safari Walk: Opt for a guided walk on the raised boardwalk of the Nairobi Safari Walk to safely observe animals in a more zoo-like, educational setting.

Fauna to spot

• Black Rhino
• Lion
• Cheetah
• Masai Giraffe
• Cape Buffalo
• Zebra
• Over 400 bird species

Start your safari the moment you land. For more information, take a look at Zicasso’s How to Plan a Kenya Safari: Frequently Asked Questions.

If you are looking for a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of modern urban life, a visit to Kibera is eye-opening. As one of Africa’s largest informal settlements, it is a place of incredible resilience, innovation, and community. A guided, respectful tour with a resident transforms stereotypes and reveals a vibrant hub of social enterprise, art, and daily life.

What to Expect

• Resident-Led Tours: Navigate the narrow lanes with a guide who was born and raised in Kibera, offering authentic, first-hand insights and ensuring your visit is respectful.
• Community Initiatives: Visit local projects, such as bead-making workshops, educational centers, and art galleries, that are run by and for the community.
• Social Enterprise: Learn about innovative solutions to infrastructure challenges, from biogas plants to community recycling programs.
• Cross-Cultural Exchange: Engage in meaningful conversation and understand the hopes, challenges, and entrepreneurial spirit of the residents.

Informative Kibera activities

• Resident-led community walk
• Visit a local, non-profit initiative
• Tour an artisan workshop
• Explore Galleries
• Ethical, supportive engagement

Our specialists can arrange a respectful, ethical tour that directly benefits the community when you embark on a safari like our Cheetah Safari: Expedition Through Kenya.

Escape the city's hustle and discover Nairobi's "green lung" at Karura Forest. This stunning urban forest, saved from development by conservationists, is now a pristine oasis for recreation and nature. Its lush canopy, serene waterfalls, and well-maintained trails will provide you with a tranquil retreat for walking, cycling, or simply enjoying the sounds of nature just minutes from the city.

What to Expect

• Shaded Forest Trails: Walk, jog, or cycle on over 30 miles of clearly marked trails that wind through the dense, indigenous forest.
• Scenic Waterfalls: Hike to the picturesque 50-foot Karura Waterfall and the smaller, equally charming Lily Lake.
• Wildlife Spotting: Look for the forest's resident wildlife, including Sykes' monkeys, bushbuck, and a diversity of butterflies and birds.
• Riverside Café: Relax after your walk with a coffee or fresh juice at a beautiful restaurant located within the forest.

Fauna and flora to see

• Sykes' Monkeys
• Bushbuck
• Dik-dik
• Karura Waterfall
• Ancient Caves
• Indigenous trees

Enjoy a perfect, relaxing morning in nature. Ask our specialists to add this to your Kenya Safari for Couples: Romance and Adventure in the African Bush.

Step back in time to Kenya’s colonial era at the former home of Danish author Karen Blixen. This beautifully preserved farmhouse, famous as the setting for her memoir, Out of Africa, and the subsequent Oscar-winning film, is a window into a bygone era. The museum and its expansive, lush gardens offer a tranquil and romantic glimpse into the life of one of Kenya's most famous European settlers.

What to Expect

• Guided House Tour: Be led through the historic farmhouse by a knowledgeable guide, viewing original furniture, personal items, and props used in the 1985 film.
• Stunning Gardens: Stroll through the immaculate, sprawling gardens, which retain their original colonial-era layout and offer beautiful views.
• Historical Context: Learn about Blixen’s life as a coffee farmer, her complex relationships, and the broader context of colonial history in Kenya.
• Iconic Scenery: Recognize the landscapes and settings made famous by the book and film, including the view of the beloved Ngong Hills.

What to see

• The original 1912 farmhouse
• Period furniture and personal effects
• Props from the Out of Africa film
• The original coffee-processing equipment
• Manicured gardens with views of the Ngong Hills

We can seamlessly blend this historic visit with a trip to the nearby Giraffe Centre on an itinerary like our Essential Kenya: Safaris in Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru.

Just a short journey from Nairobi, Hell’s Gate National Park will give you a completely unique safari experience. Named for its dramatic, geothermal-carved landscape, this park is one of the few places in Africa where you can safely walk or cycle unguided. The absence of major predators allows you to get out of the vehicle and immerse yourself in the savanna, surrounded by zebra, giraffe, and gazelle.

What to Expect

• Biking Safari: Rent bicycles at the park entrance and ride through the main valley, sharing the dusty roads with herds of zebra, giraffe, eland, and warthogs.
• Gorge Exploration: Hike into the Ol Njorowa Gorge, a stunning, water-carved canyon with narrow passages and towering, colorful rock walls.
• Rock Climbing: Test your skills on the park's iconic rock towers, Fischer’s Tower and Central Tower, which are the solidified volcanic plugs.
• Geothermal Vistas: Marvel at the dramatic, steam-venting cliffs and volcanic formations that give the park its evocative name.

Things to see and do

• Biking on the savanna
• Hiking the Ol Njorowa Gorge
• Rock climbing at Fischer's Tower
• Spotting zebra, giraffe, and gazelle
• Visiting the Olkaria geothermal hot springs
• Birdwatching

For more information on ways to experience a safari, take a look at our comprehensive Extraordinary Safaris Happen Off the Vehicle.

Is Nairobi Safe?

Like any major city, Nairobi requires awareness. However, when on a private guided tour with Zicasso, your safety is managed by our local experts. It is generally safe for tourists, especially in the popular areas and suburbs like Karen and Gigiri, but it's wise to be cautious and walking at night is not recommended. So if at any point you are traveling independently, using pre-arranged private drivers or reputable ride-sharing apps is the most secure option.

How Many Days Do You Need?

We recommend at least two full days in Nairobi to experience the main wildlife, cultural, and historical sites without feeling rushed. A third day offers a more relaxed pace and allows for a day trip to Hell's Gate National Park or a deeper exploration of the city's culinary and art scenes.

Getting Around the City

The most seamless and secure way to navigate the city's notorious traffic between sites like the Sheldrick Trust and the Giraffe Centre is with a pre-arranged private driver and guide. This removes logistical stress, ensures your safety, and maximizes your sightseeing time.

This list is only the beginning of what Nairobi and greater Kenya have to offer. The country’s bustling capital is a dynamic gateway to a world of adventure, from urban culture to untamed wilderness. Whether you dream of a city-and-safari combination, a culinary exploration, or a deep dive into conservation, your perfect journey can be brought to life.

Your journey into the heart of East Africa awaits. To find out more, see our Kenya safari guide or our Kenya safari tours and vacations. Then, contact our destination specialists to start crafting your personalized Kenyan adventure today.