Before going on your safari, it’s worthwhile to spend some time in Kenya’s capital, which is the most vibrant city in East Africa. For our list of the top activities in Nairobi, continue reading.

1. National Park in Nairobi

There are zoos in other cities. Nairobi has a national park of its own. Where else in the world can you have lunch or dinner in one of Africa’s most vibrant big-city dining scenes while admiring utterly untamed black rhinos and lions against the backdrop of city skyscrapers?

The likelihood of seeing gazelles, warthogs, zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and buffaloes is high in Nairobi National Park. You may be fortunate enough to spot leopards and cheetahs. This is all before your safari has even started.

2. The Giraffe Center

Another close-up look at wildlife is promised by the Giraffe Centre. Additionally, it blends serious conservation with a close-up look at a creature you could encounter while on safari, much like the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

The center, which has been home to endangered Rothschild giraffes since the 1970s, allows visitors to get up close and personal with these elegant animals from an elevated wooden platform. Numerous representatives of the species have been released by the center into national parks throughout the nation.

3. Wildlife Trust David Sheldrick

One of the most remarkable sites to visit in Nairobi is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which is located just on the edge of Nairobi National Park. Since 1977, the Trust has provided care for wildlife orphans, particularly elephants.

See the caretakers bottle-feed the youngest batch of newborn elephants at 11 a.m., after which they happily wallow in the mud. The goal is to eventually return these elephants to the wild as part of a long-term initiative. It’s a lot of fun, too.

4. The Home and Museum of Karen Blixen

Many tourists rank seeing the former residence of Karen Blixen (also known as Isak Dinesen) as one of their top priorities when deciding what to do in Nairobi. Out of Africa nostalgia abounds in this stunning colonial house in the lush Karen district outside of Nairobi, where the film’s real-life heroine resided from 1914 to 1931. The truth is that the film was shot in a different location.

5. Carnivore

Nyama choma, or grilled beef, is a favorite among many Kenyans. When they are unable to have it, they fantasize about it. And they can’t stop arguing about where it’s best. For many years, Carnivore has been a safari destination in Nairobi, offering unlimited barbecues of beef, hog, lamb, poultry, crocodiles, and ostriches. It will be impossible for you to look an animal in the eye ever again.

6. Kazuri Pottery & Beads Center

Don’t miss this amazing craft center while you’re in Karen. It was founded in 1975 to give local single mothers jobs. From the factory floor, where the raw clay is sculpted, to the kilns, where the beads are burnt, the free tour walks you through every step of the process. The chance to sit down with the women and observe them at work is probably going to be the high point of your stay. Of course, there’s a gift shop.

7. The National Museum

The National Museum is without a doubt the most fascinating of the many attractions in downtown Nairobi. You may ponder Kenya’s incredibly rich natural and human history for an entire morning or afternoon. Exhibits honoring the nation’s various human cultures come last, after you’ve seen some of the earliest human fossils. Stop along the road to see exhibits of birds and mammals. Additionally, there is a snake park.

8. The International Conference Center in Kenyatta

Reaching the top of one of Nairobi’s highest structures must be at the top of any list of things to do, literally. As a marabout stork would see it, the view from the 27th floor, perched high above the busy city streets, is breathtaking. If you’re lucky, you might even spot these famous birds circling close.

9. Karen shopping

One of the greatest places to shop in Africa is the peaceful Karen neighborhood, which is located west of the city center of Nairobi. Showrooms range from the gorgeous bronzes (mainly with a wildlife theme) of Matbronze to the incredible array of crafts at Utamaduni and the boutique-style Souk.

10. A Westlands Night Out

One of the most iconic things to do in Nairobi is to join the natives for a night out in Westlands; this city truly knows how to party. Get dressed to impress and go to the Havana Bar or Alchemist for dancing and beverages. Choose from a plethora of additional possibilities in the vicinity or stay till dawn.