Stand on the saucer-shaped viewing deck of the Kenyatta International Conference Centre and the city spreads out below you in every direction: office towers, traffic, and, on a clear day, the green edge of a national park inside the city limits. That combination — a working capital with wildlife on its doorstep — is what makes Nairobi worth more than a stopover.
Nairobi suits travellers who want a city and a safari in the same day, and who are happy to move between museums, forest trails and markets without ever leaving the urban area. It also suits anyone interested in twentieth-century history, from the railway that created the town to the memorial on the site of the 1998 embassy bombing.
This guide covers the sights and experiences in and around the city, with practical notes on timing and what to combine with what. It draws only on the places listed in the source material.
Top things to do in Nairobi
1. Nairobi National Park
The park sits just outside the city and holds large herds of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe, lion, cheetah, hippo and birdlife, with over 400 species recorded. Within it you can also visit the Nairobi Safari Walk, an educational centre focused on wildlife and habitat conservation, and the Nairobi Animal Orphanage.
Because it is a full game-viewing destination rather than a quick stop, give it the better part of a day and pair it with the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, which is close by.
2. Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
The orphanage takes in orphaned elephants from across Kenya and keeps them until they can survive in the wild. Visiting hours are daily at 11:00, so aim to arrive about ten minutes before; the elephants are fed in two groups for around an hour, after which there is a brief time to shop and look around before it closes again around 12:30.
These short visiting windows exist to keep the elephants from being overly exposed to humans. If you are willing to sponsor an elephant for US$50, you can make an appointment to see your elephant put to bed at around 17:00. It is close to the Nairobi National Park, so the two fit naturally into one trip.
3. Giraffe Centre
In Lang'ata, the centre breeds the endangered Rothschild giraffe and runs conservation and education programmes for Kenyan children. You will receive food to feed the giraffes and get close enough to touch them; there are also many warthogs and leopard tortoise on the grounds.
Just outside or opposite the centre is a free nature hiking trail that is popular among residents. The centre is not far from the Karen Blixen Museum and the Elephant Orphanage, so these can be combined in a single trip.
4. Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC)
In the Central District, this is the best place to get a far-ranging view over the sprawling, congested metropolis that is Nairobi. You can go up to the saucer-shaped top of the conference centre's round viewing tower and, depending on smog and fog, you might be able to see as far as the slums and the national park.
Go on a clear day if you can, since visibility is the whole point of the climb.
5. Nairobi National Museum
On Museum Hill, this is where visitors can learn about Nairobi, its history and culture. The museum was founded in 1910.
It is an indoor stop, so it works well as a fallback when the weather turns, and it pairs easily with the other central sights.
6. Karen Blixen Museum
Of interest if you have read Karen Blixen's book Out of Africa or seen the film. Her house is now the museum; you have to be accompanied by a guide to visit the house, but you can walk around the gardens on your own. The house has little remaining original furnishings, though some props used in the movie are here — the film itself was not shot on location.
If you are not into the film and do not know the history of the house, it may not be worth the hour or so it takes and the price of admission. It sits on the outskirts of Nairobi in the suburb of Karen, reachable by taxi or bus, and is not too far from the Elephant Orphanage and the Giraffe Centre.
7. Karura Forest
One of the best forest parks to walk, run, ride or picnic relatively close to the city. It is safe, well marked and a very nice place to relax and enjoy nature, with a small waterfall and some monkeys among the attractions. The River Cafe is a good place to rest, and bicycle rental is available.
Single-use plastic is not allowed. It is usually quiet on weekdays but gets very busy on weekends, especially Sunday.
8. UN Office at Nairobi (UN Complex Gigiri)
Sitting between the Karura Forest and the US Embassy, the complex houses international organisations such as the UN Environmental Programme and UN-HABITAT, and is the basis of all UN operations in Africa. Guided tours allow you to see the major buildings and gifts from member states and to walk along a nearby nature trail while learning about the history and work of the UN.
Combine a tour with time in the Karura Forest next door, since the two are adjacent.
9. August 7 Memorial Park
In the Central District, this is the site of the 1998 truck bomb attack on the US Embassy building, which reduced it to rubble and killed 213 people, mostly bystanders, and left more than 4,000 injured. The former embassy site today contains a memorial park with a monument engraved with the names of every victim.
It is a short, sober stop in the city centre and can be slotted in alongside other central sights.
10. National Railway Museum
Southwest of Haile Selassie Ave and the Uhuru Highway roundabout, this museum covers the history of Kenya's railways and the Kenya/Uganda railway, and houses some of the engines and rolling stock from the country's colonial period.
It is open daily, including holidays, and makes a logical companion to a walk through the central business district.
11. Bomas of Kenya
On Langata/Forest Edge Road, this portrays Kenya's culture, with exhibits of traditional Kenyan homes, artifacts, dances, music and song.
It is on the Langata side of the city, so it fits into the same day as the national park and the wildlife attractions nearby.
12. Nairobi Mamba Village
On Langata N Rd, this is an adventure-tourism park with Nile crocodile feedings, tortoise holding, ostrich viewing, horse and dromedary rides, and boat rides. There is also a restaurant on site.
One croc feeding takes place on Sundays at 16:30, so time a Sunday visit around it. It is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00.
13. Westlands by night
Westlands has turned into the new nightlife centre of Nairobi, with many restaurants and bars lining the busy Woodvale Grove and Mpaka Road. Security is generally tight, and the action spills out from packed clubs into the street.
Traffic can become hectic well into the early hours, so plan your transport back rather than counting on finding a ride quickly at closing time.
14. Uhuru Park
A spacious park in the city centre, with a monument, a playground and boat rental. Entry is free.
It is an easy green break between central sights; do not confuse it with Uhuru Gardens, which is on Langata Road and was closed for construction as of August 2024.
15. Arboretum Park
A very nice park to walk in and to relax away from the hectic town. Because of the entrance fee, you will not be bothered by beggars or sellers.
It works best as a quiet hour between busier stops rather than as a headline sight.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, arriving about ten minutes before the 11:00 visiting hour so you are admitted for the feeding. From there, continue into the Nairobi National Park, which is close by, and take in the Nairobi Safari Walk and the Nairobi Animal Orphanage while you are in the park.
Afternoon: Head to the Giraffe Centre in Lang'ata, where you can feed the giraffes and, if you have time, walk the free nature trail opposite. If you have read Out of Africa or seen the film, add the Karen Blixen Museum, which is not far from the orphanage and the centre.
Evening: Return to the centre and go up the Kenyatta International Conference Centre viewing tower for the view over the city, then spend the evening in Westlands, where the restaurants and bars along Woodvale Grove and Mpaka Road keep going well into the early hours.
Frequently asked questions
When should I arrive at the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage?
Visiting hours are daily at 11:00, and you should aim to arrive about ten minutes before that time. The elephants are fed in two groups for around an hour, after which there is a brief time to shop and look around before it closes again around 12:30.
Can I visit the UN Office at Nairobi as a tourist?
Yes. Guided tours allow tourists to see the major buildings and gifts from member states and to walk along a nearby nature trail while learning about the history and work of the UN. The complex sits between the Karura Forest and the US Embassy.
Is the Giraffe Centre worth combining with anything else?
Yes. It is not far from the Elephant Orphanage and the Karen Blixen Museum, so these attractions can easily be combined in a single trip. There is also a free nature hiking trail just outside or opposite the centre.
What should I know before visiting Karura Forest?
Single-use plastic is not allowed. The forest is usually quiet on weekdays but gets very busy on weekends, especially Sunday. Bicycle rental is available, and the River Cafe is a good place to rest.
Pick the two or three places that matter most to you, check the visiting times that apply, and start building your days around them.