Art & Culture
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Food
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Shopping
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Wildlife
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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, Qatar Airways, AirFrance-KLM and British Airways.
Angama’s coffee supplier is local roaster Spring Valley Coffee. Founded by our friend Ritesh Doshi in 2009, Spring Valley Coffee uses 100% Kenyan beans of the finest grade. Ritesh will host you at his new roastery in Spring Valley and, after seeing how the beans are prepared, enjoy a special tasting and, of course, take home a bag of your favourite.
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As with all great cities, there’s heaps to uncover in Nairobi if you know the right people. Local tastemakers, entertainer Patricia Kihoro and stylist Annabel Onyango, will accompany you for a half or full day centred around their passions – fashion and jewelry, art, or homeware – with studio visits to the local artists, designers and creators.
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Book Bunk is a social enterprise dedicated to the restoration and revitalisation of some of Nairobi’s most iconic public libraries. Book Bunk will guide you through the MacMillan Memorial Library, Nairobi’s oldest library opened in 1931. Peruse the shelves of East African literature and periodicals from the early 20th century to present-day here and branches in Eastlands.
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Long-time friends of Angama, sisters Shaheen and Fareen Therani, who contributed the Indian-inspired recipes on our menu, are born and bred Nairobians who love to share the city through their culture. They will guide you through a visit to both Hindu and Sikh temples, along with their favourite bodega, spice market, and shops.
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Kibera, the proudly self-proclaimed “slum” of Nairobi, is a city within the city – yet you won’t find it on any maps. Some 250 000 people call this 680-acre area, divided into 13 villages, home. Guided by our friend Abzed who grew up in Kibera and lives there to this day, get a glimpse of the hardships and triumphs of this community, visiting NGO’s, women’s groups and craft enterprises along the way.
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Take in the sights as you explore this cosmopolitan city. Visit fascinating landmarks, markets and museums as your dedicated Angama Safaris city driver guide takes you on a half- or full-day journey, showing you the best of Nairobi in the comfort of an air-conditioned and WiFi enabled vehicle.
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Regarded by many as the world’s foremost orphaned elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre, The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is not to be missed on a visit to Nairobi. This is a heart-warming opportunity to witness the feeding and playtime of orphaned elephant calves.
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The Giraffe Centre was established to provide a place of learning, educating both Kenyan and international visitors on the plight of the highly endangered Rothschild giraffe. Here, you are able to enjoy a close encounter with the world’s tallest species – while finding out more about the Centre’s successful reintroduction programme.
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Visit the original Kenyan homestead of the author Karen Blixen at the foot of the Ngong Hills just outside of Nairobi. Take a guided walk through the house which features some of the house’s original decor and furniture, as well as props from the 1985 film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, Out of Africa.
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Started over 40 years ago, Brown’s Food Co is known for its incredible dairy produce including 30 types of cheese, along with yoghurt and ice-cream. Enjoy a cheese-making demonstration, tasting and lunch with Angama’s superlative cheese supplier.
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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 17km away from JKIA. The newly constructed byway has made travelling between these two airports much quicker, but it is still important to factor in an adequate amount of time between connections, as the city’s traffic situation varies significantly throughout the day.
Please note that all scheduled internal flights carry a luggage restriction of 15kg 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.
The local currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES) and the current rate of exchange is approximately KES 100 = US$1. US dollars are widely accepted, though you may have some trouble with notes of larger denomination or those issued prior to the year 2000. At certain bank branches US$ are available over the counter, but are not available for withdrawal from ATMs. We recommend travelling with some US$ in cash, for any eventuality, and in multiple denominations. Many local restaurants will accept US$, though prices are shown in Kenyan Shillings and typically inclusive of all taxes and levies. All major credit cards are widely accepted: Visa, MasterCard, American Express & Diner’s Club.
Based in Nairobi, Angama Safaris has a dedicated ground handling team ready to ensure your travels will be carefree, with the same high-touch approach to service that you have come to expect from Angama. With offices at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, we have two five-passenger WiFi-enabled, air-conditioned Hyundai vehicles and professional city driver guides.
Nairobi has a reputation for high levels of traffic congestion but the completion of several byways throughout the city has resulted in a significant improvement in jams and delays. It is strongly recommended, however, that you have an adequate amount of time between flight connections, as traffic remains an ongoing issue and is somewhat unpredictable. Angama Safaris’ vehicles are all equipped with air-conditioning, refreshments and WiFi to ensure a comfortable journey on the road.
While theft is not terribly common, please take responsibility for your safety and that of your valuables by keeping them in a money belt or a safe, and take caution when in the urban areas, especially at night. All the properties Angama Safaris recommends have been vetted to ensure safety procedures are in place and are well-equipped to deal with any security concerns.
Angama Safaris offers a meet-and-greet service at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This service is on a par with a diplomatic meet-and-greet standards, is discreet and seamless. You will be met airside as you enter the terminal building and will be graciously escorted to the front of the queue at diplomatic immigration counter where formalities are finalised. The host will then accompany you to the luggage carousel, assisting with bags before escorting you through customs. The host is in constant contact with our city driver guide who will be waiting to collect you just outside the terminal building.
In an effort to reduce the impact on the environment, Kenya has recently made the use and importation of all plastic bags illegal. The ban applies to carrier bags, flat bags, zip lock bags etc, with severe consequences if not complied with. Plastic bags (includes those from duty-free shopping) are known to be confiscated upon arrival in Nairobi.
Do you have more questions?
Contact our travel teamGiraffe Manor
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Hemingways Nairobi
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Villa Rosa Kempinski
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Eden Nairobi
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