Nairobi is a Masai name meaning "place of cold water" and that was good enough for the British to choose it as a camp for their railway from Mombasa to Lake Victoria. Today it is a bustling modern capital at crossroads of east Africa with a population of 4 million.
The Nairobi towns generally pleasant and temperate climate make it an ideal staring point for exploring the Kenyan game parks of the interior or fine place to relax after a safari. African lions roar a mere 8 kilometers (5miles) from the city center, in Nairobi national park. While tea plantations cling to the foothills of the high plateau.
The Nairobi city carefully planned from the beginning, Nairobi has kept its tidy purposeful appearance.
Nairobi city center
Bounded by Uhuru highway to the west. Haile Selassie Avenue to the south, Moi Avenue to the east and university way to the north. The town center is the beating heart of Nairobi. all the shops and trades, offices, restaurants and most of the large hotels are clustered in this area.
The imposing centerpiece and a good place to start your sightseeing Nairobi tour is the huge Kenyatta conference center overlooking city square. its cylindrical honeycomb effects owes little to its African roots. But next door amphitheatre is shaped like a rondavel (African hut) and nicely balances its neighbor. From the 28th floor (entry is free but tip is expected) the view over Nairobi extends to the west as far as the Ngong hills the bastion of the British in Kenya
The center forms a strange contrast to the quintessentially English neoclassical law courts built during colonial times Across the road are the parliament buildings, if you'd like to see African democracy at work you can obtain permission to sit in at one of its sessions. Beyond stretch the city's common gardens. You can also visit the National archives opposite site the Hilton on Moi Avenue. There is an interesting ethnographical collection and even an art gallery
Nairobi National museum tour
Take a taxi to visit the splendid national museum a mile from the town center. It's anthropological and Pala ontological departments provide an exhilarating visual account of Africa's prehistory with fossilized remains and the fossilized human bones which identified Kenya (specifically the Rift valley) as the cradle of humanity pride of the place goes to the renowned Cranium 1470 at the time it was discovered the oldest known homo habilis skull.
Opposite the museum is the snake park where you can see all manner of snakes, crocodiles and lizards. Once a week(usually on Wednesdays) it is possible to watch the snakes being milked for their venom. On your way back to town center you can stop for a cup of tea or coffee at the famous Norfolk hotel a relic of colonial days
Nairobi National park excursion
Conveniently situated almost on the doorstep of the capital close to the airport the Nairobi national park is ideal for making acquaintance with Kenya and good preparation for a safari.. smaller and more compact than game sanctuaries further afield the beautiful well kept Nairobi national par contains a satisfying number of Africa's best known animals- gazelle, zebra, giraffe and buffalo, lion, leopard, and cheetah that may prove to be camera friendly than those in the bush.
The park is one of the best places in Kenya to spot rhinos .in the southeast of the park you can walk through an acacia forest to try to spot hippopotamus and crocodiles sunning themselves on Athi river.
Bomas of Kenya
Beyond the Nairobi national park in the in the direction of Langata the Bomas of Kenya is a culture center a collection of traditional houses that showcase the different Kenyan cultures. You can watch Kenyan traditional songs and dances of 16 Kenyan tribes. the most interesting are by the Samburu, Masai, the Wakamba and the Mjikenda. There is a demonstration of tribal crafts and shop. The shows take place at 2:30pm during the week and at 3:00pm on weekends.
Nairobi giraffe center
This is a sort of an open museum where you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about giraffe. You can also feed the Rothschild giraffe wandering freely in the grounds of giraffe manor.
Karen Blixen museum
In the Karen museum has been set up in a farm of the Danish write made famous by the film out of Africa. Her house is the archetype colonial residence of early 20th century.
Close by you can visit the Karen Racecourse.
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