Everyone deserves a break once in a while either from an exhausting week at work or the ever-existent hustle and bustle of Nairobi City. With a variety of exciting options to choose from on how you can spend your free day in Nairobi, why you haven’t taken a few hours off yet to enjoy the numerous unique experiences Nairobi has to offer is definitely a question to ponder about. A few hours is enough to have the ultimate outdoor experience in the city so if you don’t have the time to go on safari, below are 10 memorable day trips within Nairobi we’ve highlighted just for you!
1. Nairobi Safari Walk
It is located on Langata Road next to the Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters around 7km south of Nairobi city. Nairobi Safari walk has a raised wooden boardwalk that serves as a bridge running through the Nairobi National Park. This gives a perfect uninterrupted view of the park animals in their natural habitat. If you are a die-hard nature lover you will definitely be pleased to hear that this place houses over 150 species of trees thus giving you a chance to appreciate nature at its finest. The 2.5km tour of Nairobi Safari Walk allows you to observe predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, hippo pools, zebras, wildebeests, and buffalos. It is also a perfect site for bird-watching.
2. NAIROBI GIRAFFE CENTRE
Giraffe centre otherwise known as the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) is located in Experience an unforgettable moment here seeing the rare Rothschild Giraffes. What draws people to this amazing place is the fact that there is an elevated feeding platform that allows you to feed the giraffes off your palms. Giraffe Centre is open daily including public holidays and weekends thus the place to visit at your convenience. Besides the giraffes, warthogs can be spotted nearby in the mud and a self-guided walk in the nearby Gogo River Bird Sanctuary is also an activity to look forward to.
3.Nairobi Mamba Village
The Nairobi Mamba Village is East Africa’s largest crocodile farm covering over 30 acres of land and houses around 70 Nile crocodiles. Mamba is Swahili for ‘crocodile’ and Mamba Village is located in the suburbs of Karen, therefore, a visit here can be combined with that of other places in the neighborhood such as the Giraffe Centre and the Bomas of Kenya.
Besides the fascinating crocodiles, there are ostriches present at Mamba Village as well that can be seen walking around and on occasion the guides allow one to feed them. Other activities at Nairobi Mamba Village include horse riding, boat riding on the man-made African-shaped lake there, exploring other reptile species, and camel riding. The charges are quite budget-friendly ranging from 10 dollars for non-residents and 2 dollars for citizens.
4. Karura Forest
Trail through the jungle in a valley of Karura Forest in Nairobi, Kenya
Karura Forest located in Parklands is one of the places in Nairobi that offers a vast eco-friendly area with fresh air and a countryside feeling amidst the hustle of Nairobi city. The Karura experience is budget-friendly there the perfect place to take a break if you want a quick getaway within city limits.
Besides providing beautiful picnics sites, Karura Forest gives one a chance to do so many outdoor activities such as hiking where you actually get to see a 15-meter waterfall present in the forest during the hike, bike riding, bird-watching of species like the African Crowned Eagle, Owls, doves and weavers, running and forest walks to see bushbabies, bush pigs, porcupines, bushbucks, Syke’s monkeys among others. You can also get a chance to do butterfly watching since the Karura forest is known to house the African Queen and Desmond’s Green Banded snow tail species.
5. NAIROBI ANIMAL ORPHANAGE
The Nairobi Animal Orphanage is located within the Nairobi National park and serves as a rehabilitation centre for wild animals and is, therefore, a perfect place to see a variety of wild animal species. Nairobi National Orphanage also serves as an education centre and you can get to learn a lot about the rescued animals for instance their age, and when and where they were found. The Nairobi National Orphanage hosts lions, leopards, baboons, cheetahs, jackals, the Sokoke cat, parrots, Guinea fowls, and warthogs.
6.NGONG HILLS FOREST RESERVE
If you love spending a lot of time outdoors, Ngong hills are just the perfect fit for you! A trip here is budget-friendly so there is no excuse as to why you should not experience the numerous fun activities here at as low as 10 dollars per person. These activities include zip-lining which for just 10 dollars you can get to zip-line across 200metres, bike riding to explore the beautifully rugged terrain of the Ngong hills usually at 5 dollars per every 3hrs, archery which is quite fun charged at 10 dollars for a 20- arrow shoot session.
7. BOMAS OF KENYA
The Bomas of Kenya is a tourist village located in Langata was founded to preserve ancient traditions and culture. A tour of the Bomas (homesteads) gives you a feel of the traditional Kenyan culture. The cultural dances are especially exciting not to forget the storytelling and traditional song performances. A visit here will help you discover the diversity in Kenyan Culture.
8. SHOPPING AT NAIROBI MAASAI MARKET
The Maasai Market is an open-air market located on Slip Road. It offers a great experience of Kenyan cultural authenticity to travelers on safari from both within and without. This is arguably the best place to experience Kenyan Culture at its best. Products sold here include curios to carry back home as souvenirs, shukas, Maasai sandals, kiondos, drawings, jewelry made of brass or beads, and artwork. You definitely can’t go wrong with this wonderful place.
9. VISIT THE NAIROBI NATIONAL MUSEUM
The museum is located just a few minutes from the Central Business District. Entry fee at Nairobi Museum is quite pocket-friendly standing at $6 entrance fee into the museum and $4 to get into Snake Park for locals and $12 for non-residents. Nairobi National Museum is divided into 4 sections namely nature, culture, Kenyan history, and contemporary art. The vast collection of bird species is quite interesting.
A visit here is quite informative and mind-blowing as you get to learn so many facts. Inside the museum is the snake park which hosts an impressive collection of snake species which include the Gaboon viper, Black mamba, Egyptian cobra, and puff adder. The guides take some out of their cages and allow one to hold them in case you want to take photos so it is quite a memorable experience.
10. ELEPHANT AND RHINO NURSERY
Also known as the Elephant and Rhino Orphanage, this shelter provides one of the most unique experiences you could ever hope for in Nairobi. The nursery serves as a rehabilitation centre for orphaned elephants and rhinos. What makes the experience unique is the fact that you can get up close to the baby elephants and interact with them for about an hour. Watching them being fed is a fascinating sight, however, the Elephant and Rhino nursery is only open between 11 a.m and 12 p.m so be sure to be time conscious so you don’t miss out on this wonderful experience.
Click the links below to get more insightful tips and tricks:
10 BEST SAFARI TOURS IN KENYA.
TOP 10 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN MOMBASA
TOP 10 HISTORICAL SITES AND MONUMENTS IN NAIROBI, KENYA.
TOP 10 NATIONAL PARKS WITHIN AND NEAR NAIROBI.
TOP 10 SAFARI LODGES IN KENYA.
TOP 10 THINGS KENYA IS FAMOUS FOR.
TOP TEN GLAMPING SITES IN KENYA.
I am a bubbly extroverted 25 year old currently living and studying in Nairobi. I enjoy travelling and trying out new places to eat. My favourite place to be is anywhere by the beach, with a beer. You will most likely find me with my nose in a book or dining alone, like most extroverts do, of course.
I am a bubbly extroverted 25 year old currently living and studying in Nairobi. I enjoy travelling and trying out new places to eat. My favourite place to be is anywhere by the beach, with a beer. You will most likely find me with my nose in a book or dining alone, like most extroverts do, of course.
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