Africa… that mysterious land of adventure that many of us dream of exploring one day but for the most part hasn’t been the most accessible of destinations to travel to without risky or lengthy stopovers and/or high ticket prices. However, with AirAsiaX flights to Kenya’s capital kicking off in November 2024, it’s time to take that idea off the back burner and think of all the things to do in Nairobi and maybe even other parts of the African continent with this city as your jumping off point.

Exciting Things To Do In Nairobi For First Time Visitors

You’re in Africa, and there is no way you are not going to go on a safari or visit a wildlife park while you’re there. Unless, of course, you have a fear of animals or other specific reasons and we respect that, and you can visit other activities or things to do in Nairobi that we’re sharing here. Take a look at which to add to your list from our recommendations below:-

Visit the wildlife at Nairobi National Park

Only 7km from the city, Nairobi National Park is probably the closest a national park is to a city. It’s no wonder, then, that the city of Nairobi is also known as ‘The Green City in the Sun.’ To visit Nairobi National Park, it’s recommended that you book through a private tour operator or at your hotel rather than winging it at the park. Half-day morning tours being the most popular to book, make sure that the tour includes the Nairobi Safari Walk, which would also have the Nairobi Animal Orphanage visit as part of it, and a drive around the park looking for lions, giraffes, cheetahs, rhinos, gazelles and more. Other must-sees include the Ivory Burning Monument, a landmark sculpture symbolising Kenya’s zero-tolerance to the ivory trade and commitment to conservation of elephants; the David Sheldrick Trust rhinoceros and elephant sanctuary; and the hippo pools, where you can hike along a walking trail by the Athi River.

Tickets cost around USD200 per adult and half that for kids, as per the Klook website here, which encompasses a full day tour and includes a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum : Nairobi National Park Day Tour Tickets

For reference, entry fees to the Nairobi National Park is USD43 per adult and USD22 per child, but this does not include vehicle rental and the much-needed park guide – essential for bringing you right up to spots where you can see plenty of wildlife in the vast 117sq km of open land.

Your tour may or may not include tickets to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Sanctuary, which you can book for three months in advance here: Book the 11am elephant midday mud bath and milk feed. The donation fees are USD20 per adult and USD5 per child, which are separate from the Nairobi National Park fees. Do check with your tour provider if they will help book for you or if you have to do this yourself.

See how the ethnic tribes live at Bomas of Kenya cultural centre

If you want to learn about how the different tribes of Kenya live in their respective villages but don’t have the time or access to go each and every one, then you need to add Bomas of Kenya to your list of things to do in Nairobi. The centre was established with the goal of preserving and promoting the heritage of Kenya’s diverse tribal cultures, offering visitors a glimpse into the life of Kenyan villagers. 

The word “Bomas” means “coal house” in the Swahili language but is interpreted here as homestead. Thus, what you’ll see here are the different traditional houses of various Kenyan tribes, including the Kikuyu (the largest ethnic group in Kenya), the Maasai, the Luo, the Kamba and the Kalenjin. You’ll also get to see the differences in the way they dress and their daily activities. Be sure to catch the daily dances showcasing the different ethnic groups, performed by the Bomas Harambee Dancers resident dance troupe.

Of course, there is also a museum showcasing the different crafts and artwork of each tribe, along with the Bomas of Kenya craft market where you can buy these tribal masterpieces and souvenirs. For meals, there are a few restaurants in the village where you can calm a hungry tummy. 

Entrance fees for non-Kenya citizens or residents are about USD8 per adult and half price for kids and students. You’ll need to buy tickets or book in advance on the Kenya of Bomas website, or book a tour from a reputable tour service to ensure a smooth experience when you visit.

Visit the Karen Blixen Museum to see Africa through a different lense

Only a 20-minute drive from Bomas of Kenya, a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum offers a peek into Nairobi’s colonial past and the contrast between how the Europeans lived versus the lives of the natives. Karen Blixen, also known through her pen name, Isak Dinesen, was the Danish author of Out of Africa, a book chronicling her life in Nairobi, her marriage to the Swede Baron Bror Blixen-Finecke, and her romance with British aristocrat Denys Finch-Hatton, a big-game hunter. When Karen’s aforementioned autobiography was made into the award-winning Hollywood movie of the same name starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, renewed interest in her former home in Ngong Hills prompted The National Museums of Kenya to acquire the house to be made into a museum after reaching an agreement with the college of nutrition that was using it before.

The entrance fee to the Karen Blixen Museum for non-Kenyan citizens or residents are about USD10 for adults, and USD5 for those under 16 years old. The ticketing system at the museum itself can be a bit tricky and troublesome when it comes to payment, as they accept neither cash nor credit card (only online payments) so you might as well book your tickets to the museum online in advance on the National Museums website, or with your chosen travel sites.

Feed the giraffes at the Giraffe Centre on Duma Road

Very close to the Karen Blixen Museum – just a 10-15 minutes’ drive, in fact, is the Giraffe Centre, which is a conservation centre for the Rothschild giraffe, a type of giraffe found only in East Africa. A sanctuary to breed and take care of giraffes at a time when their numbers were dwindling, the centre has sent giraffes to various game reserves and national parks around Kenya, and now this species is thriving.

At the centre, you can visit the Information Centre to learn more about these tall beauties, before mingling with them at the Browsing Centre and feeding them at the Feeding Platform. After that, you can take a stroll on the centre’s 1.5km Nature Trail that brings you down to the Gogo River, affording views of a variety of species of birds during the stroll. Then, quench your thirst at the Tea House before getting gifts and souvenirs at the Daisy Zoovenir shop. 

Fees are about USD12 for non-resident adults and half for kids aged 3-12 years old. You can book visiting slots via a tour company, or just turn up there and pay for your tickets. Find out more about the centre on their official website.

Get in some trainspotting at the Nairobi Railway Museum

Fun fact: Nairobi was actually founded in 1899 as a rail depot on the Uganda – Kenya Railway, by the British East Africa colonial government. The city of Mombasa was the capital at the time before Nairobi took over the mantle in 1963 after Kenya’s independence (Maradeka Day). Naturally, a railway museum was set up to document and display the city’s and country’s rich railway history.

As the museum is just next to the Nairobi railway station and still has railways connected to the main railway (but covered and unused), the museum has amassed a large collection of train engines that have been used throughout the years – 14 engines on display, to be exact. The museum is truly a visual playground for train enthusiasts, design enthusiasts and just curious, knowledge-hungry visitors in general.

To get tickets, scroll down on the Kenya Railways website to the Museum Entry section and pay online. Entry for non-residents of Kenya is about USD5 for an adult, USD3 for a student and USD1 for a child. 

These are just a few attractions to visit in Nairobi that are perfect for a first-timer to the city, that can be enjoyed in a few days. For visitors, the city offers a good mix of culture, history and nature – and with more of these to be enjoyed should you opt to stay longer.