Does Nairobi Intrigue You?

Bendor Tours and Travel brings you an in depth insight on the magical city of the sun-where the sun never sets on adventure!

Jambo Na Karibu! These are the first words visitors hear everywhere they go. They are never more warmly meant than in this country and in particular Nairobi that is the original home of the Safari and the ultimate destination for a world -class holiday. Sitting astride the equator, halfway down Africa's eastern coast, Kenya is the most accessible country in the region and Nairobi is its capital city. With 91 international flights arriving in and departing from Nairobi every week, visitors can be enjoying dinner and observing elephants and other wildlife within a few hours of their arrival or leaving office.

Nairobi city: The Maasai called it Enkare Nyirobi, meaning ‘'the place of cool waters''. Today it is fondly referred to as the Green City in the sun. The area that is now Nairobi was once frequented by the Maasai in search of water for their flocks. In 1890, the British settled there as a camping site while constructing the Mombasa to Kisumu railway line and the city has never looked back since then. In 1905, Nairobi became the capital of the then British East Africa protectorate and in 1963; it became the capital of independent Kenya.

Climate: At an altitude of 1,661 metres (5,449 ft) above the sea level, Nairobi enjoys a fairly moderate climate. The altitude makes for some chilly evenings, especially in the June/July season when temperatures can drop to 10 degrees centigrade (50degrees Fahrenheit). The sunniest and warmest period of the year is December to March, when temperatures average the mid-twenties during the day.

There are two rainy seasons but rainfall can be moderate. The cloudiest part of the year is just after the first rainy season, when, until September, conditions are usually overcast with drizzle. As Nairobi is situated close the Equator, the different between the seasons are minimal.

Accessibility: Nairobi is accessible by air from all International airports through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Nairobi is also the only capital city in the whole world that has a National Park within its perimeter. Safaris or Tours companies do organize group visits to the National Park; again please ensure you do not use middlemen.

Where to stay: The choice of accommodation is wide, ranging from budget- friendly hotels to 5-star luxury hotels, fully furnished apartments, and comfortable sleep in cottages in the suburban. Others are Camping and picnic sites that are found in and around the city. There are also numerous hostels that are pocket friendly especially to the youth.

Where to Eat: Nairobi has literally hundreds of places to eat, both within the city centre and in the surroundings, the choice depends on need and price.

Fast food restaurants are on almost every street within the city centre, serving your traditional take away fish or chicken and chips, hamburgers, pizzas, and indigenous Kenyan food. The shopping malls on the outskirts of the city are very popular with fast foods, especially on weekends.

For more exquisite diner, the choice is as wide as your personal taste. Nairobi restaurants offer world class Mediterranean, European, Oriental, and African cuisines. Generally the food is very good and the service excellent, especially in the top range restaurants.

For the adventurous and those with a huge appetite, Nyama Choma is an exciting eating experience and also an integral part of Kenyan culture. Nyama choma literally means roasted meat, ‘'burnt ‘meat. Chunks of meat are roasted over charcoal fire and served while still hot with various accompaniments. In the Nyama choma sessions, people are known to consume at least a kilogram of meat each in one seating!! To spice up the sessions, a group can have a combination of roasted beef, goat, lamb, pork or chicken.

Where to visit: Nairobi has numerous options to varied tastes, ranging from clubs and discos, to wildlife and Safaris, and sightseeing, live theatres, museums, and parks for quiet relaxation.

The Nairobi National Park:

It is the only park in the world within the proximity of a capital city with a wide variety of animals and bird species.

The diverse flora of the park makes it possible for many different types of wildlife species to co-exist. Among the animals in the park are the lion, buffalo, cheetah, zebra, giraffe, antelopes and gazelles, and the black rhino, as well as over 400 species of birds.

At the entrance of Nairobi National Park is the Nairobi Safari Walk (formerly the Animal Orphanage) established in 1964 as a refuge for the wild animals found abandoned, orphaned or injured throughout Kenya. The orphanage's main objective is to foster and then release the animals back into the wild. However, over the years, it has evolved into a mix between a zoo and an orphanage because some of the animals are not fit to be released back into the wild. The Nairobi Safari walk remains the most visited wildlife facility in Nairobi.

The Giraffe Centre:

It was founded in 1979, as the creation of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, and is where the Rothschild's Giraffe was saved from extinction. Visitors get an opportunity to come into close contact with these tall graceful animals. The visit can be combined with a visit to the neighbouring Daisy Rothschild's Giraffe manor, one of Kenya's best-known guesthouses where one can have a meal next to the Giraffes.

The Mamba Village and Ostrich Park:

These are located just up the road from Bomas of Kenya, off Langata road. Mamba is the Swahili word for crocodile. It is always thrilling to watch the families of crocodiles beside their shallow pools. Feeding time is quite a spectacle as the attendants walk into the crocodiles' enclosures to toss chunks of meat into their mouths. The Mamba village has a lounge and restaurant for meals and refreshments. Visitors can also go fishing in the manmade lake. A walk across the bridge over the lake leads to the ostrich park where you can watch the tall birds.

The David Sheldrick Animal Orphanage:

It is situated on the edge of the Nairobi National Park. Here, dedicated men and women go about the task of rehabilitation and rearing orphaned baby elephants. Daphne Sheldrick founded it in 1977 in honor of her late husband and the famous naturalist, David Leslie William Sheldrick MBE. The orphanage is a charitable organization, and is open to visitors daily between 11am and midday.

The Nairobi Museum:

This is the custodian of Kenya's natural and cultural heritage, and thus collects preserves and presents the past and present for today and posterity. It is the home to variety of cultural and natural history exhibits. The displays include prehistoric artifacts discovered by the Leakeys, over 900 stuffed birds and animals, fossils from Lake Turkana, ethnic displays from various Kenyan tribal groups as well as local artistic exhibits.

Others:

The others of importance are The Kenya Railway Museum, located off Uhuru Highway in the city centre, representing the historical growth of Kenya through the construction of the railway line from Mombasa to Kisumu.  A visit to the Railway Museum is a fascinating encounter with the story of Nairobi's humble beginnings.

The Bomas of Kenya is located in the outskirts of the city, about one kilometer from the main entrance to the Nairobi National Park. Bomas is a Swahili word for village. The Bomas of Kenya exhibits various traditional homesteads of the Kenyan communities complete with their inhabitants. The traditional dancers are very captivating and many visitors are known to join the dances. Sumptuous traditional dishes are also on offer for those with the appetite.

The Karen Blixen Museum named after the heroine of out of Africa is about 20 minutes drive out of the city centre. Karen's house has much of its original features still intact.

The Arboretum Forest is a beautiful masterpiece of forest tucked away off State House Road and very near the city centre. It is possible to get there on foot (it takes about 30 minutes comfortable walking from the city centre), or by taxi. The forest has a stunning collection of trees, each of which has a rich history, raging from indigenous to exotic. This place is above all a place of peace, serenity and tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Many couples use it as a romantic place to spend time alone. When planning to stay there for long hours, it is advisable to carry packed food.

There are also several public parks in Nairobi for those relaxing moments, namely:

Uhuru Park located between the central business district and capital hill.

City Park located on the edge of the indigenous Karura Forest.

Uhuru Gardens and Heroes Square located on Langata Road.

Memorial Park, located at the former US Embassy offices at the junction of Haile Selassie and Moi Avenue opp Nairobi Railway Station built in honor of those who, lost their lives in the 7^th August 1998 terrorist bombing.

Sports

Kenyans are renowned for their athletic prowess, especially in long and middle distance running. However, other popular sports like soccer, rugby, golf, cricket, tennis and squash are played in various sports facilities and stadiums around the city.

The Nairobi Marathon, sponsored by the Standard Chartered Bank, takes place every year in November and attracts participants from all over the world. As well as being able to witness Kenya's famous runners in action, spectators and participants help to raise funds that support different worthy causes.

Theatre

Performing arts is well established in Nairobi. There are several theatres in the city centre, including the Kenya National Theatre, The Alliance Francaise, Phoenix Theatre, and the Goethe Cultural Centre. Cultural music concerts are also popular. Moviegoers are well catered for by cinemas in and around the city.

Night Life

At night, Nairobi's Central Business is transformed from being a hub for business and commerce into a party capital. There are plenty of venues that offer a vibrant mix of spicy music and cocktails as well as occasional live entertainment.

The world famous Carnivore disco has maintained its reputation as one of the premier entertainment venues in the world. It has been a staple in the Kenyan party scene for over two decades and is still considered hip and trendy by the more youthful partygoers.