Green capital at 1,800 m altitude, Nairobi blends an in-city safari park, an elephant orphanage and the colonial heritage of Karen Blixen. Here's how to enjoy it in 2 or 3 days before your safari.
Nairobi at a glance
Population
5.5M (metro)
Airport
NBO
Ideal stay
2 to 3 days
Budget / day
โฌ50-250
Flight Paris
~8h direct
Time diff
+2h winter, +1h summer
Current climate
Best season
In brief
Apply for the Kenya eTA before boarding
Mandatory since January 2024, ~USD 32 (KES 5,500), valid 90 days. File online at etakenya.go.ke at least 3 days before your flight. No approved eTA, no boarding.
Stay in Karen or Westlands, not downtown
Karen for the leafy residential calm near the park and the Blixen Museum, Westlands for restaurants and nightlife. The CBD is fine by day but skip walking it after dark.
Combine Sheldrick Trust and Giraffe Centre in one morning
Sheldrick: single 11am-12pm public slot, 1,500 KES (~$10) plus Nairobi National Park entry $80. Giraffe Centre is 15 min away, 1,500 KES ($15 non-resident), open 9am-5pm.
Book a morning game drive in Nairobi National Park
The world's only safari park inside a capital: rhinos, lions, giraffes against the skyline. Entry $80/day non-resident, 4x4 with guide $80-150, departure 6.30am.
Uber and Bolt work everywhere in town
Far safer and cheaper than a street taxi (250-800 KES in town). Switch to cash mode if your foreign card is declined, or use M-Pesa once you have a local SIM.
Must-see
The world's only safari park hugging a capital. Rhinos, lions, buffalo, giraffes against the skyline. $80/day non-resident.
Elephant orphanage. Single public slot 11am-12pm on weekdays. Bottle feeding, calf introduction, fostering option. 1,500 KES.
Wooden platform at giraffe height with Rothschild giraffes, an endangered subspecies. Hand-feeding, conservation briefing. Family-friendly.
The Danish writer's former farmhouse, the setting of Out of Africa. Period-furnished home, coffee plantation, gardens. $18 non-resident.
Reconstructed villages of the country's main ethnic groups, tribal dance show in the afternoon. 10 km from the center. A solid cultural primer before the Mara.
Rotating by day: Westgate on Tuesday, Yaya Centre on Sunday, Village Market on Friday. Jewellery, kanga wraps, baskets. Haggling expected.
Turkana hominid collection, taxidermy birds, tribal exhibits. The adjoining snake park rounds it off. Good rainy-day plan.
1,000 hectares of urban forest saved by Wangari Maathai. Jogging trails, a waterfall, Mau Mau caves, cafรฉ at the gate. Entry 600 KES (~$4).
The district of restaurants, rooftops and cocktail bars. Brew Bistro, Alchemist, Tribe Hotel. Lively Thursday to Saturday.
Dormant volcano 1h30 away. Crater rim loop in 5-6 hours, Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha views. A nice warm-up before the Mara.
Choose your district
Upscale residential southwest, 5 min from the Giraffe Centre and Blixen Museum. Lodges and boutique hotels, calm, green. From โฌ80/night.
โ Recommended
Modern district northwest of the CBD: restaurants, bars, malls. Handy for nightlife. From โฌ60/night.
Modern
Quiet residential areas between Westlands and Karen, plenty of expats, hip cafรฉs. From โฌ70/night.
Quiet
Busy historic center by day, extra caution after dark. For seasoned travelers who want it raw. From โฌ40/night.
Lively
Getting around
Uber & Bolt
The easiest, safest option. 250-800 KES in town, 1,500-2,500 KES to the airport. Switch to cash mode if needed.
Private taxi
Book through your hotel or a registered company (Jimcab, Kenatco). Pricier than Uber but safe and reliable. Around 2,000-4,000 KES per ride.
Matatu (minibus)
The colourful local minibuses. Very cheap (50-100 KES) but a raw experience, not advised for newcomers on safety grounds.
SGR Madaraka Express
Fast Nairobi-Mombasa train (4h30), useful if you combine coast and safari. Departs Syokimau station. Book via Apple/Google Pay.
Climate & crowds
01
Jan
02
Feb
03
Mar
04
Apr
05
May
06
Jun
07
Jul
08
Aug
09
Sep
10
Oct
11
Nov
12
Dec
Cool dry
Jun to Oct ยท 10-25ยฐC, dry ยท Ideal: best window, clear skies, Mara safari season
Short rains
Nov to Dec ยท 13-26ยฐC, brief showers ยท Good: short afternoon rains, lush vegetation
Warm dry
Jan to Feb ยท 14-27ยฐC, dry ยท Good: warm and dry, calving season starts in the Mara
Long rains
Apr to May ยท 13-24ยฐC, heavy rains ยท Avoid: daily rain, muddy safari tracks
How much
Backpacker
โฌ50
per day
Comfort
โฌ130
per day
Premium
โฌ350
per day
Our tested itinerary
Day-by-day program.
Around
1h30 away ยท Dormant volcano, crater rim loop and Rift Valley views
2 h away ยท Freshwater lake, hippos and rose farms, Hells Gate nearby
4 h away ยท Elephants in front of Kilimanjaro, Kenya's other postcard
๐ 5-6 h by road or 45 min by plane ยท The absolute Kenya safari myth
FAQ
Thomas Bernard โ
ยทGeographer & traveler
Last updated: June 9, 2026.