Nairobi Safaris - The Top 10 Best Things to Do in Nairobi

 The Top 10 Best Things to Do in Nairobi and Neighboring Areas 

If you are looking for a 1-day safari in Nairobi or a 2-day safari from Nairobi, the destinations below should be among your top picks. You can’t go wrong with any of the selections below. 

 1. Nairobi National Park – The Capital’s National Park

Nairobi is the only city globally with a game park on its fringes. Nairobi National Park lies 10 kilometers south of Nairobi city center and is Kenya’s oldest national park.

You can book a Nairobi National Park safari with us and enjoy its more than 400 mammal species. These include lions, cheetahs, giraffes, African black rhinos, buffalos, and waterbucks. The park will treat you to more than 400 endemic and migratory bird species if you are a bird lover.

Due to its location, right at the heart of Nairobi city, a Nairobi National Park tour offers a beautiful view of the city scrapers and a backdrop of open grass plains. The park is also a favorite among camping fanatics. It offers breathtaking picnic sites where you can spread your shuka and relax. 

It is also ideal for game viewing and picnics. The park is open 365 days from 8 am to 5 pm. 

 Why You Should Visit Nairobi National Park

• The only wildlife park across the globe within a city
• Home to black rhinoceros, currently listed as endangered species
• Kenyan oldest national park – gazette on Dec 16th, 1946.
• Home to more than 100 mammal species, including 4 of the big five (Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino, and Lion)
• Its rich birdlife with more than 400 different bird species
• It offers a chance to see some of the large predators, including the hyena, cheetah, leopard, and lions
• Nairobi National Park safari walk and animal orphanage is located here
• Walking trails at the hippo pools
• It a large number of herbivores – buffalo, wildebeest, eland, zebras and more
• It’s open all year round
• Nairobi safari walk 

 Nairobi National Park Entry Fee Guide 

You should always check the Nairobi National Park entrance fee from the official KWS website here. That said, here is a breakdown of the Nairobi National Park entry fee:

 2. Nairobi National Museum 

The museum was established in 1929, and it is located three kilometers from the busy city center along Museum Hill Road, roughly 10 minutes drive from the Nairobi CBD. It is open 365 days a year from 08:30 am – 5:30 pm. 

A museum tour allows one to savor some of the most celebrated collections of Kenya’s culture, history, nature, and contemporary art. It is the perfect destination for anyone looking to sample Kenya’s rich heritage for both leisure and education purposes.

Other things to do at this museum of Kenya include exploring a variety of dining and shopping facilities and the serene environment of the museum’s botanical gardens. The museum also houses fossils from the cradle of a man discovered along Lake Turkana, and bones believed to be from the Homo Habilis.

We suggest you combine your safari here with a visit to the adjacent snake park, where a wide variety of reptiles, including snakes, are housed.

 Main Attractions at Nairobi National Museum 

• The Art Gallery
• Botanical Gardens and the Nature Trail
• Temporary Exhibitions
• Shopping and dining facilities
• Snake park

 3.  Giraffe Center

The giraffe center was established in 1979 by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife as a conservation center for the endangered Rothschild giraffes. It is located approximately 3 kilometers from the city center and is one of the most exciting places to visit during Nairobi safaris. 

The organization gets about 90% of its revenue from the entrance fee from tourists and sales from its teahouse and gift shop. Your payments at the giraffe center contribute directly to improving conservation education in Kenya.

Nairobi Safaris to the giraffe center is always rewarding. The center is open daily from Monday to Sunday. The giraffe center is among the few places you can get up close, kiss, or pet the long-necked boys.

 4. David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage 

Best safari in Nairobi are rewarding, and as such, the giraffe center is not the only animal orphanage within its border. There is also the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust which lies approximately 10 kilometers from the city’s heart.

It opens for one hour between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm daily, and a visit here will bring you face-to-face with elephants. The orphanage allows animal lovers to see elephant handlers feed the little tusky giants with huge milk bottles. 

You can foster a baby elephant for USD 50 per year; only you don’t have to haul it back home. The center also takes care of orphaned rhinos.

 5. Maasai Market

You cannot afford to stay in Nairobi and fly back without some souvenirs of your visit. You have savored the Nyama Choma and the Tusker, but you will need a souvenir to remind you of “Kiamatawa.” A Kikuyu word meaning “The city of lights” about Nairobi’s bright lights.

This is where the Maasai market becomes a must-visit affair. The Maa culture is mainly synonymous with strictly upheld culture and norms. This market offers a loud array of curios from the Maasai tribe and other Kenyan cultures.

Before you venture out, it’s advisable to acquaint yourself with the official market days that spread across each week. Though it’s called a market, the location changes every other day.

You can catch the artisans and their handicrafts on Tuesdays at the Kijabe Street Park next to the Nairobi River. On Wednesday, the action moves to Capital Center along Mombasa road. You can visit the same on Thursday at The Junction Mall along Ngong road.

On Fridays, the curios, paintings, and Maasai shuka’s can be found at the Village Market. The High Court parking and Prestige Plaza along Ngong road are market days on Saturdays, while the action wraps up at the Yaya Center and High Court Parking on Sundays.

Next time you want to fly back with an exotic Kikoi or a traditional Kiondo, make sure you mark your date and polish your bargaining game; the prices are friendly.