Almost all East African safari roads lead to Nairobi, and luckily, it is the perfect place to start your safari holiday and experience Kenya’s vibrant culture and warm hospitality. With an Angama City Guide to lead the way, we encourage you to explore this thriving metropolis and fall in love with the beating heart of Kenya.
Right on Nairobi’s doorstep is Nairobi National Park, which is the only national park in the world located within a major city’s boundaries. This unique setting offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to witness some of Africa’s wildlife against the backdrop of Nairobi’s skyline.
If you want to start your safari journey early, we recommend exploring the Park’s diverse ecosystems of open grasslands, acacia forests, and riverine habitats, where you might spot lions, giraffes and rhinos, among other wildlife.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a conservation organisation primarily dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating orphaned elephants. Located in Nairobi National Park, Sheldrick not only provides round-the-clock care to the orphans, but also has numerous conservation initiatives on the go. While watching the cutest elephants go about their business, you can rest easy knowing your ticket fees provide vital funds towards Sheldrick’s conservation work.
If you plan on visiting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, you might like to add on a game drive through Nairobi National Park, as your entry fee to the Park covers the ticket to their Nairobi nursery.
The Giraffe Centre is a conservation and education centre dedicated to preserving the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe species. A visit to the Centre is an exciting opportunity to interact with the world’s tallest creatures up close by hand-feeding them from an elevated platform. Just be careful of their long, slurping tongue on your clean shirt sleeves.
The centre also hosts informative presentations and guided tours, which provide valuable insights into giraffe behaviour, habitat, and conservation efforts.
A wide array of museums and art galleries will take you on a journey of Kenya through the ages until today (or even into the future in some galleries). The renowned Karen Blixen Museum, once home to the famous Out of Africa author of the same name, offers a glimpse into one of the city’s most famous stories. For those seeking a treasure trove of Kenyan art and crafts, we suggest the House of Treasures Emporium, which showcases an eclectic array of handmade jewellery, home decor and gifts sourced from local artisans.
Zooming around Nairobi is hungry work, luckily there are plenty of fabulous restaurants to choose from, one of our favourites being Cultiva which ingeniously blends farm-to-table freshness with innovative culinary artistry.
Right on Nairobi’s doorstep is Nairobi National Park, which is the only national park in the world located within a major city’s boundaries. This unique setting offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to witness some of Africa’s wildlife against the backdrop of Nairobi’s skyline.
If you want to start your safari journey early, we recommend exploring the Park’s diverse ecosystems of open grasslands, acacia forests, and riverine habitats, where you might spot lions, giraffes and rhinos, among other wildlife.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a conservation organisation primarily dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating orphaned elephants. Located in Nairobi National Park, Sheldrick not only provides round-the-clock care to the orphans, but also has numerous conservation initiatives on the go. While watching the cutest elephants go about their business, you can rest easy knowing your ticket fees provide vital funds towards Sheldrick’s conservation work.
If you plan on visiting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, you might like to add on a game drive through Nairobi National Park, as your entry fee to the Park covers the ticket to their Nairobi nursery.
The Giraffe Centre is a conservation and education centre dedicated to preserving the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe species. A visit to the Centre is an exciting opportunity to interact with the world’s tallest creatures up close by hand-feeding them from an elevated platform. Just be careful of their long, slurping tongue on your clean shirt sleeves.
The centre also hosts informative presentations and guided tours, which provide valuable insights into giraffe behaviour, habitat, and conservation efforts.
A wide array of museums and art galleries will take you on a journey of Kenya through the ages until today (or even into the future in some galleries). The renowned Karen Blixen Museum, once home to the famous Out of Africa author of the same name, offers a glimpse into one of the city’s most famous stories. For those seeking a treasure trove of Kenyan art and crafts, we suggest the House of Treasures Emporium, which showcases an eclectic array of handmade jewellery, home decor and gifts sourced from local artisans.
Zooming around Nairobi is hungry work, luckily there are plenty of fabulous restaurants to choose from, one of our favourites being Cultiva which ingeniously blends farm-to-table freshness with innovative culinary artistry.
As the capital of Kenya and a gateway for East Africa, Nairobi is connected to all major international hubs through the national carrier Kenya Airways and other international carriers such as Emirates and British Airways. International flights come into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while domestic travellers must fly in and out of Wilson Airport.
Nairobi is well positioned for your safari, with some of the top safari destinations, such as Amboseli, being a drive away and the Maasai Mara easily accessible via a short flight from Wilson Airport.
Angama has curated a handful of experiences that show off the best of what this beautiful city has to offer. As you connect in and out of Nairobi during your safari, why not scratch below the surface?
Nairobi is located in Kenya’s highlands, which enjoys a moderate and pleasant climate all year round. Daytime temperatures typically range from 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F), while nighttime temperatures can drop significantly, sometimes reaching as low as 10°C (50°F) during the cool dry season. Kenya has two distinct seasons; the long rains from mid-March through June; and the short rains during November and early December.
–Long Rainy Season (March to May): Temperatures average between 15°C and 25°C (59°F to 77°F)
–Cool Dry Season (June to August): Temperatures range from 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F)
–Short Rainy Season (October to December): Temperatures average between 15°C and 25°C (59°F to 77°F)
–Hot Dry Season (January to February): The warmest and driest time of the year, temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F)
Based in Nairobi, Angama Travel has a dedicated team ready to ensure your travels will be joyful, personalised and, most importantly, carefree. As soon as you step off the plane, we will take care of you and show you the very best that Nairobi has to offer. We have two WiFi-enabled, air-conditioned Hyundai vehicles driven by Angama’s Nairobi City Guides who know the roads of the city like the back of their hand (and all the best spots to stop at).
Nairobi has two main commercial airports. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is the main hub that major international airlines fly in and out of and is likely to be your first arrival port when entering Kenya. The smaller regional airlines, such as Air Kenya and Safarilink operate out of Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, which is a half an hour drive from JKIA.
There are no visa requirements for any traveller visiting Kenya.
To enter Kenya you will need:
–An approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). All foreign travellers, including infants and children, must have an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) prior to travel to Kenya
–The eTA must be applied for through the Online Portal . Your eTA is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance
–An eTA fee is applicable for many nationalities including the US and UK
–An eTA is not required if you have a valid East African Tourist Visa (EATV) for travel to Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda
–A valid passport for at least six months from the date of entry, recommended with at least two blank pages (temporary passports will not be accepted)
–Passport holders from the following EAC countries are exempted from applying for an eTA: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda
Please note that all scheduled internal flights carry a luggage restriction of 15kg/33lb per person in soft bags, including carry-ons. The acceptance of excess baggage is at the sole discretion of the airline but some offer the option to purchase an additional freight seat for luggage weighing up to 75kg/165lb.
There are no compulsory vaccinations required for entry to Kenya.
–Travellers arriving from an endemic country will be required to present a valid yellow fever certificate for all travellers older than one year
–Vaccinations need to be administered 10 days or more prior to travel, and the certificate will need to be provided as proof. Depending on your onward travel plans, or country of residence, you may also be required to have a yellow fever certificate for entry
–Yellow fever certificates now have a lifetime validity
Kenya is classified as a malaria area. We recommend that travellers contact their local medical clinic for professional advice, and that they obtain comprehensive travel insurance, including health cover, prior to travelling. Insect repellent is provided at all Angama properties and at most lodges in the region, please confirm for your specific itinerary.
Angama Travel offers a meet and greet service at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport — skip the queues, leave the heavy lifting to us and we’ll take care of the rest. As you enter the terminal building, a host will be eagerly waiting to meet you and after brief introductions, will sweep you through the airport and the necessary formalities as quickly and efficiently as possible. Once they have dealt with passport control, your host will help you find and carry your luggage and finally, deliver you into the waiting arms of your City Guide who will be ready and waiting for you just outside the terminal building.
Like in any bustling city, visitors must be mindful of their possessions. While each property recommended by Angama has undergone thorough safety inspections, we still recommend you use the safe in your hotel room and keep valuables close to you at all times when exploring the city.
In an effort to reduce the impact on the environment, Kenya has recently made the use and importation of all single-use plastic bags illegal. With this in mind, we suggest you lean in to Kenya’s eco-friendly ways and leave any single-use plastic bags behind.
–US$ are widely accepted, though you may have some trouble with notes of larger denomination or those issued prior to the year 2000
–We recommend travelling with some US$ in cash
–Many local restaurants will accept US$, though prices are shown in Shillings and typically inclusive of all taxes and levies
–All major credit cards are widely accepted: Visa, MasterCard, American Express & Diner’s Club etc.
–Gratuities are entirely at guests’ discretion and are not included in Angama Travel quotes. There is no hard and fast rule for this, and tipping recommendations vary from property to property across the country
We recommend purchasing travel insurance at the time of booking to ensure you are covered for the unexpected. The insurance should include coverage for trip delay, trip interruption, trip cancellation, emergency medical and emergency evacuation/repatriation, and baggage delay and loss.
The experienced Angama Travel team is here to create an itinerary tailored to your dream holiday and destinations. They are ready to assist you during every step of your journey, from the exciting process of itinerary planning to support throughout your trip and keep in touch once you have returned home.
