Nairobi is the capital city and largest town of Kenya, a country in Eastern Africa. It is among the vast towns in Africa, for it’s continued growth and development. The name comes from a Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi which means “cool water”, a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. People refer to it as the Green City in the sun. Nairobi was founded in 1899 by the British colonialists as a rail depot on the Uganda railway. After independence in 1963, it became the capital of the Republic of Kenya.
Official languages used in the city are English and Swahili and street language, Sheng (a mixture of English and Swahili) commonly used by the youth locals. Common currency is the Kenyan Shillings (Ksh) but exchange of other currencies is easy at any forex Bureau. In USD the rate goes for 1 Kenyan Shilling =0.0093 United States Dollar.
Nairobi is situated in Kenya’s Central Highlands region and enjoys the pleasant weather for most of the year, with the coldest month being June and some part of July. Overall, the Nairobi weather is welcoming and pleasant.
Transport within the city is good with well maintained roads within the city. You can use Uber or a taxi to move around but the city traffic is tight during the evening and morning hours. The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the main and largest airport in Nairobi, connecting to most parts of the world. People are friendly and welcoming. You will for sure feel at home once you’re in the city. Nairobi is generally a safe city, a live city, especially at night. Do not miss to visit some of the cool restaurants and clubs and enjoy our Kenyan food (the famous ugali ) as you interact with the locals. Best way to learn the Kenyan culture.
Also get to experience the matatu culture. Matatus are the most common form of public transport in Kenya which comprises privately owned or sacco owned minibuses plying various routes to different parts of the country. The slogan ‘matatu’ translates to ‘three cents a ride’ which was the amount that was charged back in the 60s. They are characterized by graffiti, screens inside where passengers can watch music, not just any music, LOUD music! They are mostly preferred by the youth but one way or another despite your age you will find yourself in one, one day. It can seem chaotic for an outsider, but it serves the major of the population in the city quite well.
- Take a stroll at Uhuru Park. Uhuru park is like an island of green within the city, it’s a nice place from the crowds and traffic of downtown Nairobi. Here you’ll find picnicking couples, local families playing with their children, and anybody looking to spend some time in nature. I recommend visiting on a weekend, when the park becomes like a fairground, with vendors selling drinks and ice cream, rides for children, and paddle boat rentals on the lake, Carmel and horse riding and fun face painting for kids.
- Visit The Girraffe Center. Endangered Rothschild giraffes roam freely around the grounds, and visitors can stand on a tall platform to get face-to-face with giant creatures. Offer them a few pellets of food and they’ll definitely get friendly! The Giraffe Center operates a breeding program that is successfully reintroducing breeding pairs back into the wild to counter their decline. The center is open to visitors from 9 AM to 5 PM, seven days a week, and costs $10 for non-resident adults. Read more