About Nairobi

Nairobi is the capital of Kenya. Nairobi budget travel offers the best of Kenya's safari circuit, with a host of attractions on offer including prime game viewing and views.

Nairobi Budget Travel

Below is a list of Nairobi's top activities, click on the link to view all details and tours.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Rhino Sanctuary

View all activities in Nairobi

Airports

Nairobi airports include the following:
• Jomo Kenyatta Nairobi International Airport

Birdlife

Nairobi birdlife is rich and diverse, with a number of Important Bird Areas (IBA’s) including Nairobi National Park which is home to some 516 species, including 27 of Kenya's 94 Somali-Masai biome species and 25 of Kenya's 67 African Highland species. The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) Nature Reserve is also a prime birding area in Nairobi, which has a number of endemic species common to the city and surrounds.

Conservation

With poaching, land abuse, deforestation and habitat loss among some of the city’s environmental issues, Nairobi conservation is vital to preserve and protect the number of plant, bird and animal species to be found within the remaining habitats across the city. Major reserves such as Nairobi National Park, the Giraffe Sanctuary, AFEW Wildlife Reserve, the snake park and assorted roadside nurseries and community gardens are therefore a vital part of conservation in the city.

Culture

Nairobi cultures include the following:
• Food and drink has a mixed ethnic heritage and influence
• Sport is a popular pastime for many Nairobi locals
• Festivals and celebrations are a popular aspect of modern culture
• Film and television is an emerging trend
• Music plays a key role in traditional and modern cultures

Customs

Nairobi customs allowances for free import by passengers of 16 years or older includes:
• 1/2 lb. of tobacco, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars
• 1 bottle of alcoholic beverages
• 1 pint of perfume

Health

Nairobi is more developed than some East Africa cities or rural areas in Kenya, but Nairobi health should still be a major priority during your travels. Health care facilities are not always up to western standards, and equipment may not be sterile. Nairobi has a number of fairly good hospitals, but medication is not always available and over-crowding is common.

AIDS

Nairobi HIV/AIDS precautions include the following:
• Don’t ever share needles or syringes
• Practice safe sex at all times
• Equipment should be sterilized
• If you require self-administered injections, take an adequate supply of your own needles
• Avoid tattoos, acupuncture treatment or body piercing

Vaccinations

The following Nairobi inoculations are required:
• Yellow Fever
• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Polio
• Rabies

Languages

Nairobi languages include the following:
• English (official language)
• Swahili (official language)
• Kikuyu
• Luo
• Kalenjin
• Kamba

Malaria

Nairobi malaria medication includes the following:
• Mefloquine (Lariam)
• Doxycycline
• Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)

Money

Nairobi money and banking information includes the following:
• American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted
• Currency and travellers cheques can be exchanged at all major hotels, airports or banks
• Dollars, Pounds and Euros are easier to exchange than other currencies
• ATMs or cash points can be found across the city, however try and avoid using these as tourists are often targeted around ATMs
• Banks operate from Monday to Friday from 09h00-15h00 and Saturday from 09h00-11h00

People

Nairobi people include the following groups:
• Kikuyu
• Luo
• Luhyia
• Kalenjin
• Kisii
• Kamba
• Asian
• Somali
• Europeans

Phrase

Nairobi local phrases include the following in Swahili:
• Hello - Jambo
• Can I please have...? - Tafadhali nipatie...?
• Do you speak english? - Unajua kizungu?
• Excuse me ' Samahani
• No problem! - Hakuna matata!

Vaccinations

The following Nairobi inoculations are required:
• Yellow Fever
• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Polio
• Rabies

Plants

Nairobi plants are fairly rich and diverse, and include a number of lush plant species such as banana trees, bougainvillea, lantana, hibiscus and palm trees. There are varied ecosystems within the city ranging across its habitats and reserves, with typical vegetation including open, rolling grass plains, riverine woodland, valley thicket and bush, artificial dams and ponds, rocky gorges and upland dry forest.

Religion

Nairobi religion includes the following:
• Christianity
• Islam
• Indigenous beliefs

Safety Tips

• Robberies, muggings and scams are fairly common in Nairobi so be on your guard
• Do not carry large sums of cash on you at any time and try and avoid using ATM’s during your stay in Nairobi
• Be wary of locals who try to scam tourists using all sorts of stories and pleas for help ' including taxi drivers who offer assistance or recommend hotels
• Avoid walking around alone, especially after dark
• Avoid large crowds or street demonstrations which may turn violent
• Keep valuables safe and out of sight, and don’t wear flashy jewellery which could make you an obvious target

Transport

Nairobi local transport includes the following:
• Bus
• Taxi
• Car

Travel Books

Nairobi recommended travel books include:
• A City of Farmers: Informal Urban Agriculture in the Open Spaces of Nairobi, Kenya by Donald B. Freeman
• The Rough Guide to Kenya 8th Edition by Richard Trillo, Daniel Jacobs and Nana Luckham
• Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi by Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe
• Globetrotter Safari Guide: Kenya by Dave Richards and Val Richards
• Culture and Customs of Kenya by Neal Sobania

Visa Requirements

Get more information on visas in Kenya

What To Buy

• Durable luggage such as a backpack plus a good moneybag
• Sleeping bag and camping mattress if you are on an overlanding tour
• Nairobi guide book and Swahili phrase book
• First aid kit with basic supplies and medicines
• Malaria medication and mosquito repellent

What To Pack

Lightweight clothes in neutral colours
• Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and sandals
• Sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Camera, spare film, batteries and binoculars
• Warm jacket and raincoat for rainy season and cooler days

When To Go

• Main tourist seasons are from December to February and from July to August
• January to February is hot and dry, making it ideal for game spotting
• September offers some great festivals and events including World Tourism Day
• Rainy seasons run from March to June and October to December The landscapes are at their greenest and most beautiful from March to October

Wildlife

The capital of Kenya is home to a number of great wildlife reserves and parks, making Nairobi wildlife a great inclusion to the Kenyan safari experience. Nairobi National Park offers excellent sightings of lion, elephant, giraffe, rhino, hippo and many other species. The Giraffe Sanctuary offers the chance to see giraffe up close and personal, and there is also a snake park which offers an array of reptile species.