Kenya’s capital city lies 5,200 feet (1,585 metres) above sea level. It is a lively, bustling cosmopolitan place with some fine hotels, restaurants and excellent shopping. It is the usual starting point for an East African safari. The city population is estimated at two million. From Nairobi many points of special interest may be reached. Nairobi National Park, the first in East Africa, is a few minutes drive from the city centre. Several fine golf courses are within easy reach. Day visits may be made to Kiambethu Farm, Kenya’s earliest tea farm; the Karen Blixen Museum, housed where the famed author of Out of Africa lived and farmed, followed by a visit to the Giraffe Centre where you will see giraffe at close quarters, feed them and learn about the fascinating natural history of these elegant animals; the Elephant Orphanage in the national park, run by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and where orphaned elephants and rhinos are raised before being returned to the wild; Kazuri Beads where attractive ceramic jewellery is made by local craftsmen and women, and the National Museum and neighbouring Snake Park.

Shopping in Nairobi

We list some of the shops where you will find quality goods at reasonable, though in most cases set prices and where you may shop with confidence:

Recommended shopping outlets in Nairobi.

Beach & Bush, (safari outfitters)

Kerongerlou Workshops,(Unique hand made furniture and Bee’s wax candles).

The Village Jewellers, (Specialists in Tanzanite and other African precious stones and

jewellery).

African Heritage (authentic Africana)

Al Safa (jewellery, especially Tanzanite)

Craft Den (Safari Park Hotel, Africana)

Kazuri Beads (crafts, ceramics)

Onyx Jewellers (Jewellery / Tanzanite)

Matbronze ( Fine Art foundry and Gallery)

Rentford Drapers (fabrics, African fashion)

Spinner’s Web (Hand worked fabrics, knitwear, wall hangings and carpets)

Utamuduni (crafts, local jewellery, Africana)

Maasai Market, Village Market on Fridays (Maasai beadwork, various handicrafts)

Recommended Restaurants in Nairobi

Nairobi has many fine restaurants catering for almost every taste. We list some of the most popular, where you will receive good value. It is advisable to make a reservation for the restaurants marked *:

Alan Bobbé’s Bistro- www.africa360.com/Maps/bistro.html

The Carnivore – www.tamarind.co.ke

Chiyo, Safari Park Hotel (Japanese) – www.paradisehotelkenya.co.kr

Lord Errol* – www.lord-erroll.co.ke

Tamarind* – www.tamarind.co.ke

Tamambo* – www.tamarind.co.ke

Ranger’s Restaurant – www.restaurantsnairobi.com

Nyama Choma Ranch – www.paradisehotelkenya.co.kr

The Horseman*

The Rusty Nail

Pagoda (Chinese)

China Plate (Chinese)

Three Bells (curry)

Toona Tree

The usual dress code for Nairobi restaurants is smart casual; international credit cards are generally accepted. For wider list of restaurants in Nairobi, see – www.restaurantsnairobi.com

Four daily newspapers are published: Daily Nation (www.nation.co.ke), East African Standard (www.eastandard.net), Kenya Times, and People Daily. A weekly regional newspaper, The East African, is published on Mondays. Many overseas dailies and magazines are on sale in hotels, newsagents and from street vendors a day after publication.