Nairobi Overview
Nairobi is Kenya’s biggest city both by land mass and population and by this virtue therefore, it is endowed with several attractions, sites, culture and heritage. The word “Nairobi” is a corruption of Maasai word Enkare Nyarobi meaning a place of cool waters in reference to Nairobi River.
Attractions within Nairobi circuit comprise
Nairobi National Park
One of Kenya’s only national park within a city. Established in 1947, Nairobi national park is on of Kenya’s oldest national park which is home to array of wildlife and close to 400 bird species. Nairobi national park covers an area of 117 sq kms (original acreage). However, in September 2020, the size of the park was increased by 48,000 acres of land which was added from ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute and Swara Plains Conservancy and the government which added extra 2 acres. (Announced by Former Minister for Tourism & Wildlife Hon. Najib Balala)
Accommodation
Accomodation Inside Nairobi national park include:
Nairobi Tented Camp,
Oloololo lodge and Emakoko.
Other hotels within Nairobi include;
Nairobi serena hotel,
Sarova Panafric,
Sarova Stanley,
Ole sereni Hotel,
Norfolk Hotel.
Other attractions within the Nairobi Circuit are
- Panoramic Nairobi city Tour
- National museums
- Railways Museum
- Karen Blixen Museum
- Daphne Sheldrick Elephant orphanage
- Bomas of Kenya
- Maasai market
- Ngong Hills
- Carnivore restaurant
- Karura nature trail
- Ololua nature trail
- Steadmark paradise hotel
- Nairobi Arboretum
Nairobi national park is served by Four major gates as entry points namely;
- Main gate. Accessed from Langata road
- East gate; accessed from Mombasa Road
- Langata gate: Accessed from Karen area
- Banda gate: Accessed from Karen area
- Maasai gate: not in use
- Mbagathi gate
Accommodation
- Nairobi Tented Camp
- Oloololo lodge and Emakoko
- Serena hotel
- Sarova Panafric
- Sarova Stanley
- Ole sereni Hotel
- Norfolk Hotel