Plan trips like this one. Open by request.Request access
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0
Destinations / Kenya

Nairobi

Safari capital with giraffes at the city edge

natureadventurefamilieshistory
Plan your trip to NairobiSee the top 10
4,397,073Population
English, SwahiliLanguage
KESCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$130-250Typical day

Nairobi is Kenya's busy capital and the main hub for East African safaris. A national park on its edge has lions against a skyline. Elephant orphans, giraffes and Karen Blixen's house are close by.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. Nairobi National Park is a wildlife reserve on the edge of the city, with lions, rhinos and giraffes against a skyline backdrop. It is Kenya's oldest national park.

    Half a dayTime needed
    about $80Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    KWS non resident adult conservation fee is 80 USD per day (schedule from October 2025); vehicle and guide extra.

    Tip. Go at dawn on a guided game drive; pay park fees by card or mobile money.
    See on the map

  2. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery raises orphaned elephants and rhinos before returning them to the wild. A daily visiting hour lets the public watch feeding.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $20Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Nursery visit is 20 USD, but you also need the 80 USD park fee as it sits inside the park (2026).

    Tip. Book online in advance; the visiting slot is short.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. The Giraffe Centre breeds endangered Rothschild giraffes and lets visitors feed them from a raised platform. It is popular with families.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $11-12Cost
    noBook ahead

    Non resident adults pay about KSh 1,500.

    Tip. Go early to avoid school groups.
    See on the map

  4. The Karen Blixen Museum is the farmhouse of the Out of Africa author, set in gardens at the foot of the Ngong Hills. Guides tell her story.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $10-15Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Combine with the Giraffe Centre nearby.
    See on the map

  5. The Maasai Mara is Kenya's most famous reserve, known for big cats and the great migration. It lies far from Nairobi.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $100-200Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Daily fee.

    Tip. Fly or plan at least two nights; the road takes about 5 to 6 hours.
    See on the map

  6. Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in the Rift Valley, with hippos, birdlife and boat rides. Crescent Island offers walking safaris.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $20-40Cost
    noBook ahead

    Boat.

    Tip. About 2 hours by road; take a boat early.
    See on the map

  7. Hell's Gate is a park where you can cycle or walk among zebras and giraffes. Gorges and cliffs make it unusual.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $25-30Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Hire a bike at the gate and take a guide for the gorge.
    See on the map

  8. The National Museum covers Kenya's history, cultures and early human fossils. It has gardens and a snake park.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $10-15Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Allow two hours.
    See on the map

  9. The Maasai Market is a rotating craft market selling beadwork, fabrics and carvings. It moves to different sites on different days.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Bargain politely and carry small notes.
    See on the map

  10. Karura Forest is an urban forest with trails, a waterfall and caves. It is a calm escape from the city.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $5-10Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry.

    Tip. Go in the morning for walks or cycling.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access
Make it yours

Turn Nairobi into your plan

Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.

Plan day by dayAdd any place here to a day of your trip, with times and costs.
Bookings from emailForward flight and hotel confirmations. They land in your trip.
Weather for your datesForecast and usual weather for your exact days, in your units.
Share with your peopleInvite family or friends, split costs, keep one plan.
Request access
Hodolog is open by request for now. Each request is reviewed.
Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Nairobi in three days

Add Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate.

  1. Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage1 hour · about $20
  2. Nairobi National ParkHalf a day · about $80
  3. Giraffe Centre1 hour · about $11-12
  4. Karen Blixen Museum1 hour · about $10-15
  5. Maasai MaraFull day · about $100-200
  6. Lake NaivashaFull day · about $20-40
  7. Hell's Gate National ParkFull day · about $25-30
  8. Nairobi National Museum2 hours · about $10-15
  9. Maasai Market1 hour · Free
  10. Karura Forest2 hours · about $5-10
Beyond the city

Day trips

Amboseli National Park

Elephants under Kilimanjaro.

149 mi · Car about 4 hours

Mount Longonot

A crater hike.

56 mi · Car about 1.5 hours

Lake Nakuru National Park

Flamingos, rhinos and lake scenery.

99 mi · Car, about 3 hours each way

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Chimpanzee sanctuary and northern white rhinos.

118 mi · Car, about 3.5 hours each way

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: June to October and January to February. Dry seasons with good wildlife viewing.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.7JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

81°F
Typical daily high
Average69°F
Rain1.5 in
About5 rainy days
Sun strength6.5 kWh/m²

Shoulder season. Good balance of weather and crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jul

Great Migration in the Maasai Mara

July to October

Herds cross from Tanzania.

Jun

Madaraka Day

June 1

National holiday marking self rule.

Oct

Mashujaa Day (Heroes Day)

October 20

National holiday honouring heroes.

Dec

Jamhuri Day

December 12

National holiday marking independence and republic.

Oct

Nairobi Marathon

Usually late October or November

A big road race; confirm dates.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

3/5
Safety

The US State Department rates Kenya at Level 2 (increased caution); in Nairobi street crime and carjacking are risks, so use ride apps.

2/5
Walkability

Walking is limited; use cars.

2/5
Public transport

Matatus are cheap but chaotic; visitors use Uber or Bolt.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
1234

1. Westlands

$$$

Best for: nightlife, business

Restaurants and malls.

2. Karen

$$$$

Best for: couples, families

Leafy and near attractions.

3. Kilimani

$$

Best for: budget

Central.

4. CBD

$

Best for: business, budget

Central but busy; pay attention to safety.

Getting there and around

Main airportJomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 11 mi from the center
To the centerA taxi or ride app takes 30 to 60 minutes.
Around townUse ride apps and drivers.
Ride appsUber, Bolt
Taste it

What to eat

Nyama choma

Grilled meat.

Ugali

Maize staple.

Chapati

Flatbread.

Ugali and sukuma wiki

Maize meal with greens.

Samosas and mandazi

Popular street snacks.

Kenyan coffee and tea

Well known local products.

Good to know

PlugsType G, 240 V
Tap waterUse bottled water
TippingTip about 10 percent in restaurants.
PaymentsM-Pesa and cards are common.
EtiquetteGreetings matter; say jambo or habari. Ask before photographing people, and dress modestly away from tourist areas.
  • Use ride share or hotel cars after dark.
  • Traffic is heavy; allow extra time to reach the airport.
  • Mobile money is widely used, and cards work in larger places.
  • The city sits at about 1,700 meters, so nights are cool.
  • Traffic is heavy; allow lots of time for airport transfers.
  • Use ride apps and avoid walking after dark.
  • Book the elephant orphanage visit ahead; slots are limited.
  • Park fees for non-residents were USD 80 per adult per 24 hours at Nairobi National Park from October 2025.

A short history

Nairobi began in 1899 as a railway depot on the line from Mombasa to Uganda. It became the capital of British East Africa. Kenya won independence in 1963 after the Mau Mau uprising. It is now a major UN and business hub.

Found your base? Add it to a trip with Hodolog.
Request access

Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Nairobi