20 Things to do with Kids in Nairobi (2022)

In this modern world where kids have access to phones and computers with high-speed internet. They have become even more susceptible to social media and video game addiction. So, it has become even more important to find activities to stimulate them. Not only physically, but also mentally. Finding a place that does both is hard, so I have come up with a list of 20 locations in Nairobi, to help you out.

 1. Paintballing at Paintball Fury

If you and your kids are adrenaline junkies, then paintballing should be on your bucket list. And Paintball Fury, located at The Waterfront – Karen, is one of the best paintball arenas around. At KSh1500 per person, you get to compete against another team in capture the flag or team deathmatch matches. It’s a really exciting sport and a good way to teach your kids about teamwork. So, grab your kids and go try it out.

2. Go Karting at GP Karting

Go-karting is one of the most exciting sports for kids. Located along Carnivore Road, off Langata Road, GP Karting offers not only a race track but also dining services. Prices for racing range from KSh900 to KSh1300 depending on age. Each racing session is 10 minutes long and can be divided into two 5-minute sessions.

Adults also get to race, so you won’t have to spectate from the side-lines. The minimum age requirement is 5 years old, so don’t forget to bring a nanny to watch over the toddlers as you zoom around the race track with the kids.

3. Ice skating at Panari Sky Centre

Panari Sky Centre has the only Ice Rink in East and Central Africa, and the closest thing you’ll get to sub-zero temperatures in the Nairobi savanna. Ice skating is a really fun sport for both kids and adults alike, and you and your kids will enjoy dancing and sliding on the ice. If you don’t know how to skate, don’t worry, there are instructors on-site to help you learn the basics.

Advanced ice skating and ice hockey lessons are also offered here. So, if you and your kids want to improve your skills on the ice, Panari Sky Centre is the only place in East Africa you can get the lessons.

4. Rock Climbing at Camp Blue Sky

If your kids love climbing on everything including your furniture and other random objects, don’t waste their talent, take them to Camp Blue Sky. This rock climbing and bouldering gym – located in Diamond Plaza, Parklands – is one of the best around. Rock climbing is a really fun activity to have with your kids especially if they are into fitness and climbing. Climbing lessons are also provided if you wish to horn your kids climbing skills. Members of this gym get a lot of perks including discounts to climb trips. If you want to satisfy your kids’ climbing urges, make sure you visit Camp Blue Sky, and maybe consider a membership.

5. Visit the Giraffe Centre

Teaching your children about conservation while they are still young is really important. And Giraffe Centre is one of the places in Nairobi where your kids will get a chance to learn that. At Giraffe Centre, your kids will get up and close with the giraffes as they feed them pellets. It’s really exciting to see the giraffes wrap their tongues around the pellets in your hand. Kids enjoy that. Giraffe Centre hosts Rothschild’s giraffes which are an endangered species. The conservationists give talks about these giraffes and their endangered status. It’s the perfect place to have fun while getting educated. The entrance fees are: KSh400 for resident adults, KSh1500 for non-resident adults, KSh200 for resident children (3yrs-12yrs) and KSh750 for non-resident children (3yrs to 12yrs). It’s free for children under 3yrs. School groups also enter for free if booked a week in advance.

6. Bowling at Village Bowl

Village Bowl is an 11-lane bowling alley located in Village Market – Gigiri. Here your kids will get a chance to be involved in a competitive indoor sport. It’s a really interesting sport to play with family members and friends. The Village Bowl facility offer barriers and other aids to help extremely young children roll the ball and get a strike. This makes it safe for young kids to play the game. So you will be able to involve all the family members regardless of age in the activity and no one will feel left out.

7. Watch A Movie at IMAX – Garden City

Catching a movie with the kids is a great way to pass time and keep them entertained. IMAX located at Garden City Mall is one of the best places to do it. IMAX has the biggest screen in the country and shows all the latest blockbusters within a few days of being released. The cinema has a lot of offers including student Thursdays. On such days your kids will get to watch movies at a reduced price of KSh400.

8. Water Sports at Splash Water World

Splash Water World is the most popular water park in Kenya and has been around since I was a child. I really loved going there and it was the most fun place to go when young. The water park has huge water slides and multiple pools. It has a baby pool with a lifeguard for toddlers and young preteens to swim in. There is also a deep end for more experienced swimmers and a shallow end for the inexperienced teens and adults. So, the whole family gets a chance to enjoy themselves.

The water slides are the most fun thing about this park, and the adrenaline rush you get from sliding down them is really addictive. Your kids will have a lot of fun on them. Quad bikes are also available for rent, and they are also quite enjoyable.

9. Explore Nairobi National Park

Less than a half-hour drive from the Nairobi CBD, Nairobi National Park is the only park in the world located within a capital city. It boasts a wide range of animal species such as giraffes, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, and lions. Nairobi National Park is an exciting place for children and they will get to learn a lot about Kenyan wildlife. It might even influence their carrier choice. Nairobi National Park is a must-visit for kids in Nairobi.

10. Visit Nairobi Railway Museum

If you want your kids to learn the history of the founding of Nairobi, a visit to the Nairobi Railway Museum should be on your itinerary. The museum features small train exhibits – which kids love viewing. Large trains that were used throughout Kenya’s history, including hand-pushed train wagons, are also showcased. The history of railway transport in Kenya is really interesting and it is tied to both the colonization and founding of Nairobi, so it is an important lesson for both adults and children alike.

11. Hiking in Karura Forest

Karura Forest is the largest gazetted forest in the world that is fully located within a city’s limits. It is a must-visit for children who live in Nairobi. They not only get to ride their bikes within the trail while enjoying the fresh air but also can get a lesson on the significance of the forest in the Kenyan struggle for independence – if you hire a tour guide. The reason Karura Forest exists is due to the selfless acts of Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. So this is the chance to educate your kids on the importance of selflessness. Karura Forest is filled with history and I highly recommend you visit it.

12. Visit Funscapes – The Hub

Funscapes is an indoor amusement park located in The Hub – Karen. They have miniature golf, a jungle gym, arcade games, and bumper cars, so it’s a really exciting place for kids. Funscapes is also a really good venue for hosting birthday parties too. The only inconvenience is you need to buy a smart card to use the rides. You can’t deposit money directly into the rides. However, it’s a really fun experience for kids.

13. Visit Maasai Ostrich Farm

Have you ever ridden an Ostrich? If your answer is no, Maasai Ostrich Farm is where you and your kids will get a chance to do so. Maasai Ostrich Farm is located in Athi River, Kajiado. About an hour’s drive from the Nairobi CBD. There are other activities at this farm too including swimming, ostrich petting, and ostrich feeding. A restaurant is also available on the farm. Ostrich eggs go for KSh3500 and 1KG of Ostrich meat for KSh5000. An ostrich ride is KSh500 and a tour of the farm KSh300.

14. Explore Nairobi Safari Walk

Nairobi Safari Walk is an elevated wooden boardwalk that winds around a park showcasing different fauna and flora. It is a really unique way of exploring wildlife and visitors to Nairobi Safari Walk always leave satisfied and impressed. The animals present are the endangered black and white rhinos, leopards, lions, crocodiles, and an albino zebra. It’s a really long boardwalk, around 2.5km long, and your kids will enjoy every minute of it.

15. Visit Snake Park

Snake Park is located in Museum Hill Centre along Muthithi Rd, Nairobi. Here your kids will get to see various reptiles. Including snakes, tortoises, crocodiles, and an American alligator. Some of the most notable snake species present are the green mamba, black mamba, viper, cobra, python, and the most venomous snake in Africa, the African puff adder. The keepers bring some of the reptiles and snakes out so that you can take a picture holding them. Snake Park is a good place for your kids to be educated about reptiles

16. Visit Nairobi Lunar Park

Nairobi Lunar Park is a really fun place for kids, especially those who love adrenaline. The place has a lot of rides including the Banana Ride which is very popular. The bumper cars are also really fun for kids. There are multiple merry-go-rounds and a Ferris wheel, so you can’t miss a ride that you will enjoy. I would suggest trying out the place on a weekday since Nairobi Lunar Park tends to get really crowded on weekends.

17. Picnic at Uhuru Park

If you are on a budget and want to spend time with your kids, Uhuru Park is the perfect place to do it. The Park located in the Nairobi CBD, along Uhuru highway, offers a wide range of activities for your kids. There is boat riding, horse riding, bouncing castles, and merry go rounds. Uhuru Park gets really crowded on the weekends, so to avoid the crowds visit in on the weekdays.

18. Oloolua Nature Trail

Every once in a while, it’s advisable to take your kids out into the wild to enjoy and explore nature. Oloolua Nature Trail, located on Karen Road, is one of the best places to do so. Oloolua Nature Trail has a waterfall and caves that are ready to be explored. There are also numerous animal and bird species such as the sykes monkey and the crown eagle.

Oloolua Nature Trail is a really fun place for both kids and adults, and I encourage all lovers of nature to visit it.

19. Explore Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost is located along Kiambu road, about a thirty-minute drive from the Nairobi CBD. There are a lot of fun activities for kids to participate in at Paradise Lost, these include boat riding, horse riding, camel riding, and exploration of the caves. However, when you visit Paradise Lost, prepare to spend a lot of money. Other than the entrance fee (KSh400 for adults and KSh300 for kids), you will also have to pay for all other activities separately, including exploration of the caves and waterfall (KSh300), and access to the children’s play area (KSh500). If you come with a vehicle you will also be charged an extra KSh200.

20. Water Sports at Maji Magic Aqua Park

Located in Waterfront Mall – Karen, this is Africa’s first inflatable aqua park. Maji Magic Aqua Park has a lot of fun activities such as ‘stand up paddle boarding’ and bumper boats. Exploring the course and scaling obstacles is one of the most fun things to do in this aqua park, and you and your family are guaranteed to have a good time as you race against each other.

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