Explore Nairobi City in Kenya

Do you need to Explore Nairobi? Here are the best directions to follow when you want to enjoy your vacation in Nairobi city Kenya.

Explore Nairobi - Nairobi National Park

Situated only a few km south from the city centre, near the airports. Buffalo, Cheetah, Giraffe, Hippo, Lion, Wildebeest, Zebra can be seen in the park, it is one of the few parks where Black Rhino can be seen in its natural habitat.

The park has a rich bird-life with over 400 species recorded. Also in the park is the Nairobi Animal Orphanage where young abandoned animals are nursed back to health.

Explore Nairobi - National Archives

The National Archives is a museum and art gallery housed in the old Bank of India building. It has a vast collection of paintings, photographs from throughout Africa, documents, selections of contemporary art, furniture and tribal objects such as weaponry, instruments, masks and other artifacts.

Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:00pm, Sat 8:30am-1:00pm Address: Moi Avenue next to Ambassadeur HotelTelephone: +254-20-2228959

Karen Blixen Museum

The residence of Baroness Karen Blixen, the author of "Out of Africa", is now the home of the museum.

The house was originally built in 1912 and in 1986 was opened as a museum, much of the original furniture is on display in the house.

Hours: 9:30am to 6:00pm Address: Karen Road, 2 km from Langata Road. Telephone: +254-020-882779

Explore Nairobi - Uhuru Gardens

Uhuru Gardens, located near Wilson Airport on Langata Road, was built in remembrance of the Kenya’s independence from Britain in 1963.

The monument is a 24 meter high triumphal column and supports a pair of clasped hands as the dove of peace,

Uhuru Gardens has also a musical fountain and a viewing platform. In 2003, the monument was the site of a public destruction of arms.

Lake Magadi

Lake Magadi is the most mineral-rich of the soda lakes, it is completely surrounded by vast natural salt flats. A visit to Magadi is to enter another world the landscape has a weird lunar appearance with very beautiful scenes. The lake is featured in The Constant Gardener film.

How to Travel With in Nairobi City

By bus

There is an excellent shuttle service to the airport and main residential suburbs, The main bus stage is outside the post office on Kenyatta Avenue.

A new Bus service in Nairobi is Citi Hoppa (yellow and green bus). This bus operates on most of the routes in Nairobi.

The shuttle buses run regularly, every 10 - 20 minutes from the main bus stops (ask locally if unsure)The Sunday service at the time of writing operates only to Karen, but check the situation locally.

There are plans to extend the service to Upperhill, Ngong and Kileleshwa. There are also normal buses, which tend to be packed, and , matatus, which are cheaper (KSh 10 - 30, depending on how far you are going).

By taxi

Taxis are readily available for hire, found at the airport, outside the large hotels and at the shopping centres around town. Agree a fare first, Among taxi firms operating in Nairobi are Jambo taxis (tel: 020 822011), Hallo taxis (tel: 020 825469) and Edmar taxis (tel: 020 827296).

Getting organized

In Nairobi city centre, for changing money, there are numerous bureaux de change which generally have the best rates - try Taipan and Chase in Muindi Mbingu Street and Crown Forex on Mama Ngina Street (open 09.00—17.00).

There are several branches of Barclays, Standard and Kenya Commercial banks around the city centre, open 09.00 - 15.00; most have ATMs. The main branch of Barclays is on the corner of Kenyatta and Moi Avenues. The large hotels will exchange money, but at a premium rate.

Post

The main post office is on Kenyatta Avenue, open Monday to Friday 08.00-17.00, Saturday 09.00—12.00. For Internet access there’s a good choice of places, with similar rates — try the Bazaar Business Centre on Muindi Mbingu Street and Safari Surf Café in the IPS building on Kaunda Street.More about postal/courier services

Medical needs

There’s a pharmacy in the Hilton Hotel on Mama Ngina Street and a Metropolitan Chemist in Mercantile House on Loita Street and the Nyakinya Kangei building on Kenyatta Avenue, and plenty of others in town.

In a medical emergency go to the Aga Khan Hospital on 3rd Parklands Avenue (tel: 020 740000) or Nairobi Hospital on Argwings Khodek Road (tel: 020 722160).

Police

The police station is on University Way, Nairobi tel: 999

Immigration department

If you need to extend a visa the immigration department is in Nyayo House on Posta Road (tel: 020 332110).Department of immigrations in KenyaIf you need to register for a national identity card visit http://www.identity.go.ke/

Petrol Stations

There are plenty of petrol stations in and around Nairobi, For vehicle repairs, the Chequered Flag in Westlands (tel: 020 441888) gives a reliable service.

General Business Information

More info about Currency, office hours, legal holidays, visa, custom, resident permit, Foreign currency, Personal belongings and passenger car

Kenya; Land of Contrasts

No other country on earth can offer the visitor as much to see and do. Within the borders of a single country, you will find savannahs rich with big game, timeless cultures unchanged by the modern world, pristine beaches and coral reef, equatorial forests and mighty snow-capped mountains, searing deserts and cool highland retreats and endless opportunities for adventure, discovery, relaxation; more than you would ever expect.

Tips for Travellers

These outline the rules and regulations that travellers ought to abide by to make their stay in Kenya easy and memorable. Short listed here are also safety tips.

Visa and health Certification

Note: Information provided in this section is correct as of January 2007.

A valid passport, not expiring for at least six months, is required for entry into Kenya. A valid entry visa is also required (cost US$50) and may be obtained in advance from the Kenyan Embassy or High Commission in your country of origin.

In the absence of either, the British Embassy will generally represent Kenya in the issuance of visas.

Note: visas are not required by citizens of the Republic of Ireland and the Common wealth countries (except Antigua, Bermuda, Guyana, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom).

Obtaining a visa upon arrival

Visas can also be obtained upon arrival. The fee is US$50.

Kenyan visas requiring advance clearance

Nationals from the following countries require special advance visa clearance by the Kenyan authorities (as of January 2007): Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Georgia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Jordan, Mali, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan and Yemen.

Currency

The shilling is the currency of Kenya. It is divisible into 100 cents. As the Kenyan shilling is the most stable and strongest currency in east Africa, it is used outside the country mostly in unstable places like Somalia and southern Sudan and is favoured over the local currency.

Getting organized

There are numerous bureaux de change which generally have the best rates. There are several branches of Barclays, Standard and Kenya Commercial banks around the city centre, open 09.00 - 15.00; most have ATMs. The main branch of Barclays is on the corner of Kenyatta and Moi Avenues. The large hotels will exchange money, but at a premium rate.

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