Thinking of where to visit while in Nairobi? There are many best places to visit in Nairobi. Here are the six best to start with.

Best places to visit in Nairobi

Nairobi is hands-down one of the best cities in Africa, and even in the world. It is the best destination for those looking for a more upbeat vibe, with hundreds of amazing chill spots, numerous events happening almost every weekend, and of course, the many things that you can do.

For instance, how many major cities around the world have a national park inside them? If you’re looking for something to do while in Kenya’s capital, fret not. We have compiled a list of 6 of the best places to visit in Nairobi:

1. Nairobi National Park

The park is located on the southern outskirts of the city. It is one of Africa’s smallest parks occupying around 177sq km of land. The park has abundant wildlife that you can view while you’re on the city’s skyscrapers.

Over the years, the park has been given a nickname (Kifaru Ark) because of its success in protecting rhinoceros. The park has more than 50 black rhinos, making it the only park in the World with many black rhinos.

You can also enjoy the spectacular view of hyenas and lions roaming within the park. Thankfully, the rangers at the entrance can update you on their movements.

It would help if you had a lot of patience to spot leopards and cheetahs. However, one can easily spot animals such as warthogs, gazelles, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and ostriches. For those who enjoy bird watching, the park is ideal because it has over 400 bird species.

The park has a Wildlife Conservation Education Centre that provides videos and lectures to visitors who want to know more about wildlife. A Safari Walk was created by the Kenya Wildlife Service that highlights various animals and plants in Kenya.

Image Credit: Movenpick.com

2. Nairobi Snake Park

The Nairobi Snake Park is a fascinating herpetology attraction center that opened in January 1967. The park was opened to preserve the reptiles and snakes found in Kenya. Snake Park acts as a tourist attraction center and a peaceful place for those who want to relax.

Apart from viewing snakes, you’ll get a chance to see other reptiles, fish, birds, and invertebrates such as giant snail, freshwater prawns, among others. In addition to public attractions, the parks work hard to protect and preserve abandoned reptiles. The conservation park has a community-based program that educates people on handling reptiles and avoiding snake bites.

Image Credit: Nairobi Snake Park

3. The Nairobi National Museum

The Nairobi National Museum is among the best places to visit in Nairobi. The museum was opened in 1930 to act as a repository that preserves Kenya’s history and cultures. Visiting the museum will give you a relaxing and educational experience as you will spend most of your time exploring the rich collection of Kenya’s history.

Located less than 3km from the capital, the Museum is opened year-round.  The Nairobi National Museum also offers a sensational setting of botanical gardens and interesting shopping and dining venues.

Taking a walk in the museum, you will discover different collections such as the history, nature and culture pillars. You will also find different exhibitions. Recently, the museum added the Peace Path, a collection of different stones laid carefully on a green lawn. The Peace Path is designed to represent a place of meditation used by many Kenyan cultures.

Image Credit: Kenya Museum Society

4. The Bomas of Kenya

The Bomas of Kenya was opened in 1971 to preserve the traditions of different tribes in Kenya. The Bomas is also home to a luxurious auditorium that can hold up to 3500 people. You can also watch the Harambee dancers, an internationally recognized dancing group there.

If you would like to know more about the Kenyan cultures, visit the Bomas of Kenya, where you can enjoy watching impressive performances from different ethnic groups. Boma is a Swahili word meaning homestead, and here you will see replicates of different traditional villages. Each village will provide amazing insight into the tribe’s crafts, dancing, music, and societal structures.

Bomas of Kenya also hosts different events such as music, fashion show, sports, poetry readings, theatre, seminars, and many more.

Image Credit: Wikipedia.org

5. Giraffe Center

The Center was opened to protect and preserve the endangered Rothschild giraffes.  Previously, the giraffes had severely declined due to negative agricultural practices that encroached on their native habitat.

You can visit the Center any day since it is open year-round.  The Center provides free environmental education to its visitors to raise awareness. Apart from enjoying Rothchild’s giraffes’ spectacular interaction, you can enjoy relaxing in the adjacent hotels.

Image Source: Lascar

6. Ngong Hills

The word ‘Ngong’ is a Maasai word meaning “knuckles” since the hill’s pointed peaks resemble a fist facing the sky. This is a thrilling place to visit if you want to escape the scorching heat from the city.

The traversing walking trails offer you a beautiful view of the valley. You can view wildlife such as gazelles, buffalo,  bushbuck, giraffes, baboons and troupes grazing along the road.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

From visiting national parks to enjoying traditional dances, there are many things you can do and see in Nairobi. You can easily access the best places to visit in Nairobi in minutes because they are near the CBD. You can visit the place even if you’re on a tight budget since the entrance fees in most places not that expensive. Check out our blog for more ideas and tips on how to travel in Kenya.