Nairobi, originally little more than a watering hole for Masai tribes in Kenya, became a substantial town by 1900 due to the building of the Mombasa to Uganda railway. In 1905 it succeeded Mombasa as the capital of the British protectorate. Today it is the largest city between Cairo and Johannesburg.
With so much to see and do, the experts at Bench have compiled a list of our Top 5 Nairobi sightseeing tours to help you make the most of your stay!
Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen Tour
This unforgettable includes a visit to the Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum.
The Daphne Shedrick Elephant Orphanage is where you can get up close and personal with orphaned elephant (and often rhino). This is where Daphne Sheldrick has perfected the raising and re-integrating of orphaned elephants into the wild.
At the Giraffe Centre you will see Giraffes up close and even feed them! The majority of your entrance fee goes toward supporting the important efforts of the organisation.
Karen Blixen Museum is open every day for informative guided tours. Karen Blixen Museum was once the centre piece of a farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills owned by Danish Author Karen and her Swedish Husband, Baron Bror von Blixen Fincke. Located 10km from the city centre, the Museum belongs to a different time period in the history of Kenya. The farm house gained international fame with the release of the movie ‘Out of Africa’ an Oscar winning film based on Karen’s an autobiography by the same title.
Enjoy lunch at Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens.
Nairobi National Park and Elephant Orphanage
This is without a doubt a "must do" when you're in Nairobi.
Nairobi National Park is unique by being the only protected area in the world with a variety of animals and birds close to a capital city.
Nairobi National Park is one of the most successful of Kenya’s rhino sanctuaries that is already generating a stock for reintroduction in the species former range and other upcoming sanctuaries. Due to this success, it is one of the few parks where a visitor can be certain of seeing a black rhino in its natural habitat.
Combine this with a visit to the World renowned elephant orphanage in Nairobi, to see the cute baby elephants wallow in their mud baths. An great opportunity to learn about elephants and have the opportunity to adopt a baby elephant.
Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is today the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world and one of the pioneering conservation organisations for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa.
'Out of Africa' Tour
Follow in the footsteps of Karen Blixen, the Danish writer who lived in Kenya in the early 1900s, on this 4-hour tour from Nairobi. As you travel toward the Ngong Hills, you'll feel like you've been swept onto the set of 'Out of Africa' the moment you arrive at the Karen Blixen Museum, her old colonial farmhouse that features some of her original items.
Explore the gardens, where old coffee machines have laid untouched for decades, and then continue to the Giraffe Centre, which protects the highly endangered Rothschild's giraffe.
Nairobi City Tour
Nairobi comes from the Masai word, "Enkare Nyrobi" meaning the "place of cool water". This half day tour is a safe and engaging way to explore the highlights of this dynamic city.
Visit the city centre, shopping areas, Parliament Buildings, National Museum and Snake Park.
The Carnivore Restaurant
The award-winning, internationally renowned Carnivore restaurant needs little introduction! The Carnivore Restaurant is the ultimate 'Beast of a Feast' A variety of meat including ostrich, crocodile and camel is roasted over charcoal and carved at your table. Set in tropical gardens, the service and the décor are great!
There's nothing else in Kenya quite like it and it's a fun and unforgettable dining experience! It's all you can eat so make sure you bring your appetite!
For more information on any of these tours or to book a holiday in Kenya, please contact our Africa experts.
