Nairobi National Park and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
Nairobi National Park is a compact and
beautiful area of plains and wild bush, containing a large number
of Africa's best-known animals. Large herds of zebra, wildebeest,
buffalo and giraffe roam the plains, alongside black rhino,
ostrich, baboons, cheetah, leopard and lions. In the park is the
Animal Orphanage where sick, wounded and abandoned animals are
cared for and rehabilitated into the park, as well as an
Educational Centre featuring a Safari Walk. Close by is the
Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, where infant elephants and rhino
orphaned because of poaching activities are looked after and
eventually returned to the wild in Tsavo National Park. The centre
is open every morning and visitors can watch the calves bathing in
the mud hole and being bottle fed by human surrogate mothers.
Address:
Nairobi, Kenya
Zebra at Nairobi National Park
Luigi Guarino
The Giraffe Centre
At the Giraffe Centre, visitors can
experience the rare pleasure of hand-feeding these graceful and
gentle creatures from a platform at eye-level. You can also enjoy
its nature walks, with 160 species of bird among incredible trees
while warthogs and giant tortoises live down below. This is the
single best attraction for children in Nairobi and there are often
groups of school kids that come for tours. Guides at the centre
give educational talks and answer any questions you may have.
Address:
Giraffe Centre, Duma Road, Nairobi
Giraffe
Maria Hagglof
Nairobi National Museum
The Nairobi National Museum is home to the
great prehistoric finds from the Leakey family, including relics
from mankind's earliest ancestors. The most famous fossil is the
1,5 million-years-old Turkana Boy, the most complete early human
skeleton ever found. There are also fascinating sections on art,
wildlife and local history. In many ways, it's a bit old-fashioned
but a great place to learn about Kenya's culture and history. Local
guides are available at the museum, with their knowledge enriching
the exhibits. Apart from the wealth of artefacts and information in
the museum, there are some wonderful sculptures and a herb garden,
and also an attached snake park containing large venomous snakes,
tortoises and crocodiles.
Address:
Kipande Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
National Museum
meaduva
Karen Blixen Museum
Karen Blixen was a notable Kenyan
personality who lived and farmed on the outskirts of Nairobi from
1917 to 1931 when she returned to Denmark bankrupt and heartbroken
at being forced to leave Africa. She authored acclaimed books
including Out of Africa, which inspired an Oscar winning film of
the same name. The main building of the original farmhouse,
M'Bogani House, now houses the Karen Blixen Museum and retains much
of its original furniture and items of interest. The museum is
situated in the suburb of Karen, a short drive from the city
centre. The stunning landscapes of the area, however, will be
instantly recognisable. Those who have seen the much-loved movie
may also be curious about the Muthaiga Country Club: tourists can
visit the original clubhouse, which is still active, but women
won't be allowed in the members' bar.
Address:
Karen Road, Langata, Nairobi
Karen Blixen Museum
Fiona Bradley
Nairobi has a maritime climate, tempered by its high
elevation and tends to be less hot than the rest of Kenya. As the
city is near the equator there is little variation between the
seasons and generally people talk about wet or dry seasons as
opposed to summer, winter, spring, or autumn. However, summers,
between November and February, are warm and pleasant, with
temperatures ranging between 50°F (10°C) and 77°F (25°C).
Winter days, between June and August, are mild with
slightly cooler evenings, but temperatures much like summer. The
rainy season in Nairobi is during late summer and into autumn, when
it is often cloudy and damp, but rainfall is seldom very heavy. The
drizzliest months are March to May and October to December.
Generally visitors flock to Kenya in the country's
dry seasons, between January and March, and July and October,
because these are the best months to go on safari in the national
parks. The best time to visit Nairobi is in summer, between
November and February, but ultimately any time of year is okay in
the city and it is recommended that visitors decide on the time of
their visit to Kenya according to their desired activities rather
than the city's climate.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Location: The airport is situated 10 miles (16km) southeast of
Nairobi.
Time: GMT +3.
Transfer Between Terminals:
There is a shuttle service available.
Getting to the city:
The bus services leave fairly regularly for the city centre;
most travellers however take a taxi or arrange to be picked up by
their hotel or tour operator.
Car Rental:
Most worldwide rental companies are represented at the
airport.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis take passengers to the central city hotels and its best to
negotiate a fixed fare upfront.
Facilities:
The facilities at the airport are fairly limited, but include a
bank and bureau de change, left luggage, telephones, medical aid, a
bar and restaurant, duty-free shops selling curios, tourist
information, and hotel reservations. There are disabled facilities,
but passengers should advise their airline in advance of any
special needs.
Parking
Parking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is charged at KSH
60 per hour for short-term parking.
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The most popular form of public transport
in Nairobi are matatus, minibuses that operate on set routes. Cheap
but unregulated, these overcrowded vehicles have become part of
Kenyan culture. No less risky are the local bus services, renowned
for speeding and dangerous driving.
Taxis are widely available and convenient,
usually congregating around hotels and areas frequented by
tourists. If they aren't metered, the fare should be agreed upon
before departure. Nairobi taxis are marked with a yellow line along
the side of the vehicle, or appear as large black London taxis.
The better taxi companies have more modern
vehicles, which are booked by telephone. The best option if you are
spending a day or two in the city is probably to hire a taxi and
driver recommended for you by your hotel or tour operator.
Three-wheel auto-rickshaws, or tuk-tuks, are also used as taxis in
Nairobi. Walking in the city can be dangerous and is not a good
idea after dark or outside of tourist areas.
Nairobi is the largest city between
Johannesburg and Cairo, and a trip gives visitors insight into the
many facets that make up urban Africa. The main reasons people
travel to Nairobi are to either launch into one of Kenya's famous
wildlife safaris or else travel to the coast. But the city itself
offers buzzing markets, some interesting sightseeing and a lively
nightlife.
Many visitors to Kenya don't spend too long
in Nairobi, partially because of the city's reputation for danger
and congestion. This is a shame because Nairobi is ultimately a
welcoming and fascinating place with a range of worthwhile things
to see and do. A day or two is all you will need to get the
highlights package of Nairobi before setting off on your Kenyan
adventures.
It's a good idea to hire a taxi driver,
based on a recommendation at your hotel. Some of the top
attractions are the National Museum, the delightful Giraffe Centre,
the Karen Blixen Museum, and the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, not
to mention the national park on the city's doorstep. A holiday in
Nairobi can be taken virtually any time of year, although the
summer months (November to February) are most popular with sunny,
warm days.
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli is a park of giants, renowned for
its herds of mighty tusked elephants presided over by the
magnificent backdrop of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. One
of Africa's most unforgettable images is the picture of these large
creatures standing in silent reverence before the gigantic
snow-covered mountain just over the border in neighbouring
Tanzania. It's a relatively small park with wide plains merging
with the distant skyline, affording good visibility in all
directions.
Observation Hill rises from the centre for
breathtaking views over the park and towards Mt Kilimanjaro,
especially in the pink light of dawn. Meaning 'Place of Water' in
the Maasai language, it has a continuous supply from Kilimanjaro's
snowmelt, forming underground springs that feed the marshy patches
and swamps home to hippos and a great variety of bird life.
Predators are relatively scarce, apart from jackal and hyena, but
there are large numbers of grazers such as wildebeest, zebra and
gazelles on the grassy plains and giraffe among the thorn
trees.
A popular way to take in the scenery is by
way of a noiseless microlight flight, either from Nairobi or the
Amboseli airstrip. There is a wide range of accommodation in and
around the outskirts of the park for those wanting to extend the
experience.
Address:
Loitoktok District, Rift Valley, Kenya
![Elephant]()
Elephant
Paul Mannix
Mount Kenya National Park
This national park encompasses Africa's
second highest mountain, Mount Kenya, an extinct volcano with a
series of jagged snow-covered peaks. The local Kikuyu people revere
the mountain they call Kirinvaga as the home of their Supreme
Being, Ngai, and traditionally Kikuyu homes are built to face the
sacred summit. Part of the attraction is the incredible variation
in flora and fauna due to the changes in altitude and its position
on the equator. A favourite with hikers, the slopes are covered in
thick forest, home to a variety of animals such as the black
leopard. Bamboo, moorland and alpine vegetation give way to rock,
ice and one of the world's rarest sights - equatorial snow. For
those not wishing to climb, the park offers a pristine wilderness,
lakes and glaciers, and is good for game viewing and hiking.
Address:
Mount Kenya National Park, Kenya
![Mount Kenya]()
Mount Kenya
Chris Murphy
Masai Mara National Reserve
Kenya's most visited park, commonly known
as the Mara, is a wildly beautiful place with rolling savannah
grasslands. It's an extension of the Serengeti Plains in
neighbouring Tanzania. It offers wonderful views and an
extraordinary concentration of wildlife, including the Big Five,
its large grazing herds attracting many other predators such as
cheetah, leopard and hyena. The annual highlight is the Great
Wildebeest Migration, when an estimated two million animals leave
the dry plains of Tanzania to seek greener pastures in the north,
arriving in the Mara from late June. Their entrance into the Mara
makes a breathtaking spectacle, as they cross the crocodile
infested waters of the Mara River. Also within the reserve is a
Masai village holding demonstrations of traditional dance and
music. The proud warriors have become a symbol of tribal Kenya with
their beadwork, spears and red blankets.
Address:
Narok County, Kenya
![Sunset & Hot-Air Balloons]()
Sunset & Hot-Air Balloons
Svein-Magne Tunli
Zebra at Nairobi National Park
Luigi Guarino
Giraffe
Maria Hagglof
National Museum
meaduva
Karen Blixen Museum
Fiona Bradley
Elephant
Paul Mannix
Mount Kenya
Chris Murphy
Sunset & Hot-Air Balloons
Svein-Magne Tunli
