To a first-time traveler, Nairobi feels big and intimidating. I personally didn’t lie it the first time I arrived for a Kenya safari holiday.
I found the traffic too hectic and it felt a bit crowded. But now it is the one place I love the most. There are so many beautiful places to visit in Nairobi that makes it feel just like home.
In this article, I will share the 5 best things to do and see in Nairobi.
Nairobi National Park
It is the main attraction in Nairobi for a safari. This park is unique in that it is the only national park within a city. From the city perimeter one can see giraffes at a distant. Nairobi National park is 7 kilometers south of the city
Some of the iconic wildlife living in Nairobi National Park includes giraffes, rhinos, cheetah, buffalos, hyenas, lions and a diversity of birdlife.
The park joins to a conservation farm at Athi-Kapiti plains to the south of park.
Adding to the large animals there are a good number of others to be seen here such as; baboons, ostriches, impala, gazelles and elands. This park also has a rhino sanctuary and be assured of seeing a black rhino.
Visit The Ruins of Gedi
This is one of Kenya’s most incredible historical and cultural attraction, the ruins are found in Gedi village which is near Malindi town. These remains are from a Swahili town that thrived in the 13th and 17th centuries.
Mysteriously, no records about the town existence apart from the evidence of its existence unearthed in a ten years time revealing Muslim inhabitants that were in the world trade.
Excavators found a lamp from India, Ming vase from China and beads from Italy. These excavations showed revealed that about 2,500 people lived here.
Gedi is hidden in the forest and it is unknown to the Portuguese traders since it sits on the coastal forest. Magnificent buttress rooted trees and Baobabs dot the area and the ruins on the site include a palace, a mosque, and stone-built houses.
These structures give indication about the people who lived in the town. These buildings do not give insight about the people but also the technological advancement of then. Building materials were sourced from the coral reefs and wells provided water for the inhabitants.
The ruins are very popular tourist attraction with the new population of guenon monkeys. These monkeys have taken over the site and are very interactive.
Visit AjKenyasafaris.com to start planning your Kenya holiday package including a trip to Gedi ruins.
The Giraffe Center
This is a must visit attraction, the center cares for Rothschild giraffe for a breeding program to restock the national parks and help in conservation of giraffes countrywide. This sanctuary has highly archived its goals and it is a major tourist attraction in Nairobi.
The attraction is the raised observation platform where you can feed giraffes. Adding a little diversity to the center you will find some warthogs grazing around.
The Giraffe Center is about 5 kilometers from the city center and it’s a perfect place to spend time out of the busy city.
The center has an additional surprise in s its 95-acre natural sanctuary which is composed of both Ololua and Ngong forest, including the Gogo River.
You can enjoy a trail work in the forest and see different monkeys, antelopes and warthogs. After a long day full of eventful safaris, you can enjoy a cup of tea at the tea house with amazing views of giraffes.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Located in northern Kenya, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The activities in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy include, guided game drives to watch the wide range of wildlife which includes white and black rhino, lions, cheetahs, Kenyan elephants, leopards and many more.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has a fantastic birdlife with over 350 different species within the conservancy.
Apart from game drives you will enjoy fascinating wildlife walks in the conservancy to spot animals and plants; actually, the conservancy prides itself of the walking safaris.
While in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy there are wildlife blinds which are set to improve your photography opportunities, wildlife watching.
This conservancy also includes Ngare Ndare Forest. In Ngare Ndare forest you find the elusive Colobus Monkeys.
Hell’s Gate National Park
Hell’s Gate National Park is known for its steam geysers and geology. A safari to the Hell Gate is a fascinating one as in this park you will find wildlife and birdwatching as well. Hiking down the gorge to the hot springs is another exciting activity, especially when it is guided.
Hell’s Gate National Park is a spectacular place to see the scenery with incredible natural features. Some of the activities in here include rock climbing, mountain biking and visiting the natural hot pools. The park is located about 1 hour 30 minutes’ drive from Nairobi on you way to Masai Mara game reserve.
It is at the red cliffs and the grassland habitat that provides a really fantastic backdrop as you take a wildlife walk among different animals such as antelopes, herds of zebra, gazelles and predators preying on the prey.
Among the 100 different species of birds in Hells Gate is the rare bearded vulture. It is also in this park where you get to see the power plant that provides half of the country’s energy Olkaria Geothermal Plant.
Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha is the highest lake in the Great Rift Valley and it is southwest of Nairobi. This lake offers an excellent place to see the 400 different birds in the region.
With the help of an ornithologist you have a better chance of seeing and learning about the fascinating species in Lake Naivasha safari. During the game drives you will spot animals such as hippos and birds.
You will also have a chance to cruise on the lake and see birds such as pelicans, kingfishers, herons and eagles other bird species include, bee eaters, jacanas, storks and egrets as well. Still when cruising you will see the millions of the greater and lesser flamingoes at the edges.
Diani Beach
This is one of the world class beaches and is the main destination in Kenya. Diani Beach is about 30 kilometers south of Mombasa; its waters are very good for paddling.
It has clear, shallow, warm waters and turquoise blue, palm trees and other vegetation dots its coast. This beach has white soft sand hence a perfect beach.
The white sand in it is good for relaxation and activities such as kite boarding. This beach is preferred by surfers and on can also explore the coral reefs.
The land activities are spotting the colobus monkeys in the forest just next to the beach. In the forest you can enjoy birdwatching, enjoy hardwood exploration, see the velvet and colobus monkeys and the butterflies as well.
See this Masai Mara safari and beach holiday.
Mount Kenya
It is the country’s highest mountain and about 150 kilometers northwest of Nairobi. The highest peak is at 5,199 meters, the area around the mountain has been protected to conserve the scenic beauty of the mountain and its natural habitat.
Activities in Mount Kenya safari include wildlife seeing, Bird watching, Game viewing, Cave exploration, See the sources of various rivers, Mountain climbing, fishing in different lakes and seeing the glaciers.