Tips on what to see in Nairobi, where the city is used by many as a starting point for their safaris in this country of Africa.
Tourist information
Capital of Kenya, Nairobi rises at 1662 meters above sea level, above an plateau in East Africa.
The city, although close to the equator, has a climate mitigated by altitude, characterized by little difference between one season and another.
To participate in safaris in the country's national parks, the dry seasons, between January and March, and July and October, are the best times.
Nairobi represents a valid starting and arrival base for this type of excursions, the Nairobi National Park, which is located only 7 km from the city center, is the closest nature reserve.
Until the end of the nineteenth century the territory on which the city stands was an uninhabited lagoon, then with the construction of the East African railway between Mombasa and Kampala, a station was established that gave rise to the first nucleus of the town, which became capital British East Africa in 1907, despite the fires and epidemics it faced in the early years of its founding.
After independence from the British government in 1963, rapid population growth put urban infrastructure to the test, slums were born, where most of the population still lives, and almost all colonial-era buildings were replaced. with common concrete buildings used as offices.
What to see in Nairobi
Today Nairobi has two faces, that of the rich residential neighborhoods where villas surrounded by parks with swimming pools and tennis courts rise, and that made of mud shacks, without running water, electricity and sewers, and survive by looking for material in landfills.
Despite this, Nairobi is among the most important African cities in economic, political and cultural terms, and is the largest city in East Africa.
Its urban territory is occupied by parks, gardens and many green areas, there are many high-level hotels.
The tourist flow of Nairobi is mainly made up of groups of travelers who set the starting or final stage of their safari in Kenya here.
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The city still has some attractions not to be missed, such as the Nairobi National Park of rare beauty, located in the suburbs, where you can observe typical African savannah animals, including hundreds of birds, giraffes, rhinos and lions.
But in addition to this, the city of Nairobi boasts numerous green areas located within the urban area.
The National Museum of Kenya represents the largest in Kenya and it contains the finds relating to a human being called homo erectus, as well as collections relating to the culture and natural history of the country.
In addition to this there are also other museums of moderate importance, such as the Nairobi Railway Museum and the Karen Blixen Museum.
Also worth seeing is the monument to Jomo Kenyatta, the Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art, the Mzizi Arts Center and the Kenya National Theater.
