NOTE: I lived in Nairobi for 10 years and I know that the city changes and develops rapidly. If you see any corrections or have recent Nairobi travel updates to contribute, I urge you to please leave a comment (bottom of this article)!

About Nairobi

Nairobi was once a swampy area in the Kenyan highlands, a retreat where the air was fresh and the climate was comfortable.

The Masaai tribe named the area “Enkare Neerobi,” – meaning, a place of cool waters. As the city developed it grew, people flocked to Nairobi from all over Kenya.

The city expanded, and as sky-rise financial banking buildings were erected in central Nairobi, slum villages were setup on the outskirts of town.

Transportation became hectic to say the least; Public vans (matatus) adapted to city life by driving in the most aggressive manner.

Though it’s not exactly that quiet retreat that it once was, Nairobi remains known as the “Green City in the Sun,” a city where the air is still fresh (unless you are walking on the side of the road), the matatus are still chaotic, and the climate is nearly perfect!

As Kenya’s capital and largest city, Nairobi is the giant melting pot of Kenya – a gathering place for Kenyans, people from all over Africa, and a sizable population of expats.

Though the city is sometimes avoided by world travelers seeking get out of Nairobi an see the Big 5 or recline on the Indian Ocean coast, spending a few days in Nairobi can be just as rewarding!

I hope this Kenya travel guide information will help!

Kenya Visa

You’ll most likely need a visa when you travel to Nairobi, Kenya. Most nationalities can apply for a visa on arrival in Kenya. You can check this website to see which nationalities require visas.

• Single Entry tourist visa: $25 (£20) – valid for 3 months
• Multiple entry tourist visa (great if you are traveling around in East Africa): $50 (£30)
• Kenya transit visa: $10

You can also print out the visa form and be prepared to get a speedy visa on arrival! You will need to fill out a visa application form, a landing card, possibly submit photos – and paying with USD is best.

Flying into Nairobi – Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is East Africa’s largest and busiest airport.

Although at times it may seem a bit congested with crowds of travelers and stuffy from a lack of airflow, it is normally the functioning base of quite a few international airlines as well as domestic carriers.

Most likely if you fly into Kenya (or even some other places in Central Africa), your flight will land in Nairobi. From there, you can choose to either remain in the Kenyan capital city or continue on to another Kenyan or African destination.

How to Get from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Nairobi City Center

The airport is located on the outskirts of Nairobi, about a 30 minute drive away – more depending on traffic conditions. If you have pre-booked accommodation in Nairobi, the hotel or guest house may offer airport pick-up. Other than that, there aren’t too many options.

Taxi is the main option

A taxi ride from the airport to central Nairobi should cost around 1000 – 2000 KES depending on where you are going.

Take a taxi from the airport that is operated by a reputable company such as Jatco Radio Call (E-mail: [email protected] | Tel: 020 4446096), Kenatco Taxis (even book online!), or Jimcab (excellent service and book online).

• It’s a good idea to e-mail your guest house or place of accommodation to inquire about the correct fare from the airport. They will be able to offer you a ballpark or exact price range.
• You may need to do some negotiating before you get into the taxi cab to get a better rate.

Kenyan Money

Kenya uses the Kenya Shilling (KES): 1 USD = about 86 KES. Before you travel to Kenya, be sure to check out the exact exchange rate.

Banks and ATMS:

There are plenty of banks and ATM’s located throughout Nairobi. ATM’s are in my opinion the easiest way to get Kenyan currency with a decent rate.

Normal banking hours in Nairobi are from 9 am – 2 pm, Monday through Friday. Some banks may remain open for longer periods in the afternoon and a few are open on Saturday morning, but don’t rely on it if possible.

Money Exchange:

There are money exchange services throughout Nairobi and in the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. I often visit a forex bureau located in most shopping malls within Nairobi if I need to exchange currency.

Accommodation in Nairobi

In this Nairobi travel guide, I won’t get into all the accommodation options within the city, but mostly cover a few budget choices.

NOTE: There are some places in Nairobi where you can get very cheap places to stay, but they probably aren’t very clean and may not even be safe. Be sure to choose a decent place wisely – you might end up paying a little extra, but it’s worth the safety.

Dorm Rooms and Camping:

One of the cheapest place to get a decent dorm bed in Nairobi is at the Kenya Youth Hostel. Dorm beds can be found for anywhere from $6 – $10 per night, which includes a bed in a shared room with a communal bathroom facility.

Wildebeest Camp provides dorm rooms for around $10 per night and they also have the option of setting up your own tent for just $5 – $10 per night.

Bush House is another good place to stay in Nairobi that offers dorm beds for $12 and private rooms for $25 – $40 per night. You can also set up your own tent.

Located in a great location, also check out the Upper Hill Campsite for private rooms, dorm beds and camping options with similar pricing.

Private hostel rooms in Nairobi are in the range of $20 – $30 per night, which normally includes a private double room with a private bathroom.

Guest Houses and Bed and Breakfast:

Nairobi supports a large range of guest houses and bed and breakfast style accommodation – often used in the more upscale meaning of the word.

Guest houses in Asia are usually the cheapest places to get a room, but in Nairobi, guest houses are usually set up in nice homes offering comfortable and quiet rooms for a price. Guest houses usually charge $30 – $60 per night for a double room.

Transportation in Nairobi

Taxi:

Taxis don’t usually use meters in Nairobi, so it can be tricky to figure out the correct fare when taking a taxi. If you are uncomfortable, use a reliable company such as:

• Kenatco Taxis (even book online!)
• Jimcab (excellent service and book online)
• Jatco Radio Call (E-mail: [email protected] | Tel: 020 4446096),

Note: It can be beneficial to ask a random 3rd party person what a correct fare should cost from Point A to Point B (if you take a random taxi) so that you have a price range to keep in mind.

Matatu Minibus:

The notoriously rowdy mini buses that chaotically control the streets of Nairobi are known as matatus. Though they are crazy, when you travel to Nairobi taking them is a must.

Matatu routes are all over Nairobi and cost a minimum of about 30 KES per ride. Sometimes touts will charge more for specific routes, or depending on the time of travel.

Click here to see a decent map of Nairobi bus routes.

Kenya Bus Service (KBS):

In an effort for Nairobi city to get more organized with their transportation system, Kenya Bus Service offers bus routes throughout the city.

Click Here to take a look at their website and see a list of Nairobi city bus routes.

Attractions in Nairobi

In this Nairobi travel guide I just listed a few of the many attractions in Nairobi to get you started.

Please check out my other list of 101 Things to Do in Nairobi for many more ideas!

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi has its very own national park! Just moments from the city center, you can take a safari drive through the grasslands and observe cheetah, lions, hippos and giraffes in their natural habitat.

Nairobi National Park makes a great day activity. Unfortunately, there are no elephants in this park.

Nairobi Elephant Orphanage

The Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage is an orphanage that houses baby elephants and rhinos. They are truly incredible to see running around, being fed and playing with each other.

Walk Around Downtown Nairobi

Safety is improving in parts of downtown Nairobi, and that’s great, because there are lots of things to see and places to walk around. Take a stroll though central Nairobi and check out the old paliament buildings, the McMillan Memorial Library, and quite a few colonial buildings. It may be easiest to begin your walk from Nairobi Hilton hotel.

If you are interested in group tours, check out these tours of Nairobi.

Museums

Like many capital cities in the world, Nairobi is full of interesting museum. Kenya National Archives houses memorabilia from colonial Kenya and the Nairobi National Museum has exhibits displaying culture from around the country.

Tribal Art from all over Africa can also be found in the personal collections here.

City Park Hawkers

When I travel, there’s not much I like better than going to local style produce markets. One of the biggest food markets in Nairobi is City Park Hawkers, located in the Parklands area of town.

Maasai Market

If you are looking for Kenyan made souvenirs, you’ll need to go to the Maasai Market. The giant market is filled with vendors selling all kinds of curio handicraft things.

Nairobi Nightlife

Nairobi nightlife is rather famous throughout Africa. There are lots and lots of bars and quite a few night clubs. Just be cautious going out at night and you should have a great time!

Check out the complete list of 101 Things to do in Nairobi!

Eating in Nairobi

When you travel anywhere in the world, food can be one of the most important aspects. The food in Nairobi offers a pleasant mix of everything from delicious local Kenyan dishes to international famed restaurants.

Kenyan style roasted meat (known as nyama choma), Indian food, and Ethiopian cuisine are among my favorite things to eat in Nairobi. In this Nairobi travel guide, I’ll go over a few of my top dining recommendations.

Local Kenyan Food

1. Ugali: Ugali is usually made from ground cornmeal (but the staple can also be made with sorghum or cassava) that is cooked into a thick paste and is recognized as Kenya’s national starch. Many Kenyan’s eat ugali everyday.

2. Sukuma Wiki: Sukuma wiki (which in English is known as collard greens or kale) is the most popular green vegetable eaten throughout Nairobi and Kenya. The vegetable is usually sliced thinly and mixed with tomatoes, onions, and a sprinkle of mchuzi mix (secret salt flavoring).

3. Beans: Forms of beans are cooked with small bit of tomatoes and onions to create a pleasant bean dish with sauce that goes great with ugali, chapatis, or rice. I ate a great Nairobi street food meal near Adam’s Arcade.

4. Chapatis: Originating from Indian influence, the chapati has become a Kenyan staple. Kenyan chapatis are often eaten with a plate of beans and cabbage or sukuma wiki as well.

5. Nyama Choma (Roasted Meat): There’s nothing as good as Kenyan roasted meat at a local joint! One of the most popular ways to enjoy goat or beef is roasted and sliced on a cutting board right on your table! Look here for the best nyama choma in Nairobi. It’s my favorite thing to eat!

6. Chai: Despite the Kenyan coffee reputation, it’s tea that is the most popular hot beverage in Nairobi. Black tea is made strong, toned down with milk, and sweetened up with 3 spoons of sugar!

International Restaurants in Nairobi

The Smart Village:

The Smart Village Eritrean restaurant in Nairobi is a place you don’t want to miss! The powerful scent of brewing berbere sauce, sizzling meat, and Ethiopian butter is tantalizing.

Start your meal off with the mixed Eritrean platter and maybe order a few extra dishes like Tibbs or Shiro Wat. Click Here for more information and directions.

The Smart Village is one of my favorite Nairobi restaurants. Don’t forget to sample the Ethiopian coffee or the homemade honey wine!

Diamond Plaza (Indian Food):

There’s no better place in Nairobi for cheap Indian food than Diamond Plaza. The entire shopping center is full of dining options and a giant outdoor Indian food court.

From tandoori chicken and naan, to tasty samosas, Diamond Plaza is a one stop Nairobi Indian food dining spot! (Again, huge thanks to my friend Khan here for the tour, check out his African Tribal Art here)

Anghiti Indian Restaurant:

If it’s a more sit-down Indian restaurant that you are after, Anghiti Restaurant will deliver you some serious culinary quality. The Indian curries and clay pot dishes are what Anghiti is most famous for.

There are a number of location throughout Nairobi, including Muthaiga and Westlands.

Mediterraneo Italian Restaurant:

Close your eyes, sample the food, and you just might think you have been miraculously transported from the rowdy streets of Nairobi to the cobblestones alleys of Florence.

Mediterraneo serves what might be the best Italian food in Nairobi, along with a truly Italian ambiance. Click here to see the official website.

Burger Hut:

There is a certain burger that I dream about, and travel to Nairobi just to eat. It’s down a dark little alley in the Westlands Area of Nairobi, a restaurant known as Burger Hut.

Though they switch their menu quite frequently, no trip to Nairobi would be the same without the Double Hut – possibly Kenya’s best hamburger.

Nairobi Travel Video

If you have a few minutes and want to get a better feel for Nairobi, please watch this video I made!

(If you can’t see the video, click here to watch it on Youtube)

Thanks for watching!

Prices in Nairobi

How much money will you need when you travel to Nairobi?

The cost of traveling in Kenya can be as little as $15 per day, however to be comfortable you probably need around $30 as a budget traveler. Of course, things can be much higher depending on how you are living and what you are seeing.

At the least, you’ll be paying around $10 per night for accommodation (see accommodation section in this guide). You can get a little less if you check out the Nairobi camping options. Private guest house rooms run in the $40 range and hotels might cost in the $50 – $80 range.

Street style local Nairobi food is cheap, about $1 for a meal, but international restaurants can be more expensive. You might pay about $5 – $10 for a good meal out at a sit down restaurant.

500 ml bottles of beer are $1 – $2 at local pubs, but if you go to more upscale night places, the prices will double.

As for attractions, if you are a tourist, many things are not that cheap in Nairobi. For instance, the entrance fee for Nairobi National Park is $40 per day – not cheap!

Museums and monuments cost in the $5 – $10 range for non-residents.

You can check out my more in depth guide breakdown of Kenya travel costs here.

Safety in Nairobi

I’m going to write this article less about the criminal statistics, and more about my personal experience of living in Nairobi.

Just like any other city in the world, some areas of Nairobi are safe while other areas are not safe at all. Depending on where you are, what you do, and how you act, is what can make the safety difference.

Nairobi does have its share of theft, but using some common sense is a way to avoid some of it. I’ve had a couple mobile phones and a wallet stolen. When I first moved to Nairobi my Mother had a gold necklace ripped off her neck and my Father had a watched ripped off his wrist.

Lesson: Be careful what you wear, don’t wear anything flashy, and be careful with electronics ie: cameras.

That being said, I don’t feel in danger when I’m in Nairobi (in most areas of town, apart from places like Dandora). I would definitely recommend traveling to Nairobi, but when going to places like downtown or slum areas, it’s always a good idea to find a group to walk around with or some traveling companions.

Solo Women

For solo women, be careful, be alert, and be especially cautious going out at night. If possible venture out with a group of people. If you go to any parties where there are a lot of people, be careful of pickpockets and purse snatches.

Be careful carrying a purse as they are quite easy to rip off. If you do use a purse, make sure it has a secure zipper and that it can be carried close to your body, maybe with your arm tightly wrapped around it.

Safety Tips for Nairobi

• Try not to wear anything overly ostentatious or over the top stylish
• Go to Busy Places with a Group
• Be Cautious Taking Photos
• Don’t Wear Any Valuable Jewelry
• Backpack When Sitting
• Be Confident and Know Where You Are Going
• Avoid Areas That Don’t Feel Safe

How to Carry Money and Cameras

I normally carry an “in the pants” wallet pouch that has a belt loop and then lays vertically down my pants. This way, I don’t obviously have money and I don’t have a traditional wallet that can be stolen with ease. So that I don’t have to keep reaching into my pants, I keep a small amount of cash in my front pocket in order to purchase small necessary things like water and snacks.

My advice for carrying money is to make it as hard as possible for someone to take it without you knowing.

Going Out At Night

Many people go out to enjoy the nightlife of Nairobi.

I normally leave my wallet in a secure location and bring a certain amount of counted cash for the night with me in my pocket (or use my in-pants money wallet). I also throw in an extra 1000 KES in my sock or somewhere hidden just in case there is an emergency.

Giving Money to Beggars

Nairobi has its share of beggars, many legit and very much in need. It’s a toss up and dilemma what to give or even if to give anything to beggars.

I’ve seen countless occasions of street boys receiving money and then fighting over it, doing more bad than overall good. Other occasions, it can be good to give food or clothes. My advice is to give food or clothes instead of money, but still be careful and use discretion on when and how to give.

Also, before you travel to Nairobi, it might be helpful to read about the current situation, you can start searching for information on places like the World Travel Watch or the US Security and Safety website.

Remember, that while Nairobi does have some crime, so does every other city in the world. It should not discourage you from visiting the amazing city of Nairobi!

Conclusion

You’ve made it to the bottom of this massive 3,000 word Nairobi travel guide. I really hope this information can assist you with some tips and advice on visiting Nairobi – one of my favorite cities in the world!

If you have any updated / new information, please post a comment (below). Thanks!