Tourism in Kenya is the second largest source of foreign exchange revenue, following agriculture in Kenya and is therefore important in the country. Nairobi being the capital city of Kenya is also the only capital city in the world with a National Park. Other than the National Park in Nairobi, the city of Nairobi has several tourist attractions to offer. This makes Nairobi an attraction to both the local tourists and those planning to travel to Kenya or invest in the tourism sector in Kenya. The different tourist attractions in Nairobi include; Nairobi National Park, Bomas of Kenya, Giraffe centre, Nairobi Safari Walk, Nairobi Animal Orphanage, Mamba village, and the many others covered here.
The Nairobi National Park in Kenya
The Nairobi National Park in Kenya is the only one in the world located in a capital city. For those interested in park safaris in Kenya, and viewing of wild animals in their natural habitats in Kenya, Nairobi National Park is the place to visit in Kenya. One can see all of The Big 5 in Kenya excluding the elephant at the Nairobi National Park, You can also picnic at the National park in Nairobi, and for those adventurous at heart you can even camp there as well. There are plenty of opportunities to see a variety of animals throughout the national park in Nairobi. The Nairobi National Park has 7 gates. Two of the Nairobi National Park in Kenya are for KWS service use only. The various Nairobi National Park gates are:- The Nairobi National Park Main gate, KWS headquarters on Langata Road, Cheetah Gate, Langata Gate, Maasai Gate, Mbagathi Gate(service gate) and Banda Gate(service gate). Nairobi National Park is found 7 kilometres south of Nairobi city centre in Kenya on Langata Road.
Nairobi Safari Walk and The Nairobi Animal Orphanage in Kenya
Nairobi Safari Walk and The Nairobi Animal Orphanage in Kenya are Located in Langata at the KWS headquarters which is also the main entrance to the Nairobi National Park. Going to the Nairobi Safari walk and the Nairobi Animal Orphanage is an activity that gives you an opportunity to see Kenya’s wildlife at close range in its habitat on foot rather than seeing it all from a car window. The Nairobi Safari Walk is a lovely leisurely walk through three simulated, forests, wetlands and Savannahs and natural environment in Kenya. There is a good selection of animals in Nairobi Safari Walk which includes the rare bongo, white rhino, albino zebra, a collection of cats (cheetah, leopard etc), antelopes and primates. A team of Nairobi Safari Walk wardens with interesting information plaques about all the flora and fauna found in Nairobi Safari Walk in Kenya usually take you around the animal enclosures. The Nairobi Safari Walk are also several indigenous trees.
The Nairobi animal orphanage consists of various orphaned animals and is the oldest animal orphanage in Kenya. The animal orphanage in Nairobi was established in 1964 as a refuge and rehabilitation centre in Kenya for wild animals which were found abandoned or injured throughout Kenya. Some of the wild animals that one can see in The Animal Orphanage in Nairobi include; Lions, Cheetahs, Hyenas, Jackals and Servals.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi is a trust established for the care and protection of young orphaned elephants in Kenya. At David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust the elephants in Kenya undergo a rehabilitation program that will enable them go back to the wild once they grow up whereby they are later released into one of the major animal parks in Kenya such as Tsavo National Park and Amboseli National Park. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya is located along Magadi Road in Nairobi and is the only place in Nairobi where one can get to see elephants. The opening hours are usually from 11- 12 pm.
Mamba Village in Kenya
Mamba Village in Kenya is located in Karen along Ngong Road in Nairobi. Mamba village in Nairobi houses a crocodile farm in which visitors are welcome to come and see crocodiles and if you’re lucky you can find them feeding during the feeding hour. Other than that there are also ostriches in Mamba Village In Nairobi within the compound enclosed in pens and are also open to the public.
The Giraffe Centre and The Manor in Nairobi
The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi is located in Langata. Giraffe Centre in Nairobi was established in order to protect the endangered Rothschild giraffe. The main attraction at the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi for visitors is feeding giraffes from a raised observation platform. The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi is also home to several warthogs that freely roam the area along with the giraffes in Kenya.
The Manor in Nairobi is a hotel adjacent to the giraffe centre and one can dine together with the giraffes and view them from your room window.
Museums and Archives in Nairobi
There are several museums in Nairobi with different and various artifacts that are not only educative but interesting to the eye. The Museums in Nairobi include: Karen Blixen Museums, Railway Museum, Nairobi National Museum, and National Archives in Kenya.
Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi
The Bomas of Kenya is a cultural centre in Nairobi that showcases the different cultures of the people of Kenya. It consists of Homestead displays of Kenyan communities known as a boma hence the name bomas of Kenya. Bomas of Kenya also includes resident artists that perform traditional dances and songs taken from various cultural groups of Kenya such as the maasai.