Top 7 Things to do in Nairobi other than safari

Nairobi is one of the most beginner-friendly cities to travel to in the world. Everything is so well-connected and you can find every Kenyan experience in the capital.

At the backdrop of the city lies the Nairobi National Park, a good starting point for your Kenyan visit. But you might be wondering what is there to do in Nairobi other than safari.

Come with me as I take you through some of the most exciting, unforgettable, thrilling, and fun things to do in Nairobi.

Fun things to do in Nairobi

Below is a snippet of some of the most exciting things to do while in Nairobi. We shall look at each in detail, what to expect, and our booking recommendations. Keep it here.

1. Nairobi National Park drive/walking safari
2. Nairobi walking tour
3. Feed giraffes at the Giraffe Centre
4. Take a walk at Karura forest
5. See and pet orphaned elephant calves at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
6. Shop for souvenirs at the Visit Maasai Market
7. Visit Kibera, Africa’s Largest urban slum
8. Visit the National Museum of Kenya //what is found in the Nairobi National Museum
9. See Nairobi from an eagle view at the Kenyatta International Conventional Centre

Game drive and Walk at the Nairobi National Park

The Nairobi National Park is the best place to kick off your Kenyan adventure. Have you never seen the big five…in their natural habitat? Well, you can find them here and in large numbers.

The good thing about the park is you can opt for a walking safari for an up-close encounter with cheetahs, lions, zebras, colobus monkeys, elephants, hippos, the Nile crocodiles and many more.

walking safari takes place inside the park on 2.5-kilometre elevated wooden racks that cut across three major ecosystems (Wetland, savannah, and forestry).

Nairobi city walking tour

Taking a walking tour is one of the best things to do in Nairobi. They say Nairobi reveals itself to those who explore on foot.

On foot, you will explore;

1. Jevanjee Gardens – A public park in the heart of the city
2. The Kenyatta International Conventional Centre – The tallest building in Nairobi, which offers an eagle view of the city.
3. The Nairobi Railways museum.
4. Kenya National Archives.
5. Kibera slums.

Visit and feed giraffes at the Giraffe Centre

Rothschild giraffes are an endangered species. The giraffe centre is a sanctuary is meant to ensure they don’t go to extinction. It’s home to 10 Rothschild giraffes seven females and three males.

The oldest is a giraffe called Betty named after the founder, Betty Leslie-Melville. Betty is 17 years old.

Hope you are ready to pet and feed giraffes. They are ready to welcome you with open mouths and warm furs.

Spend some time with baby elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Elephants are the most emphatic, social and, empathetic in the animal kingdom. Their calves have the innocence of a child. At the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, They take a mid-day mud bath, toss their giant feeding bottles, and play and cuddle with their caretakers.

All this unfolds between 11 am and 12 noon every day. Those are the only allowed visiting hours.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust takes care of Orphaned baby elephants until they are mature enough to be reintegrated into the wild.

I highly recommend you combine your visit to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery with your Nairobi National Park tour.

Visit Kibera Slum

To many, the Kibera slum is one of the unconventional places to visit in Nairobi but trust me it’s worth a visit. A visit to the Kibera slum will make you appreciate the little you have. It’s a good place for kids to learn what it means to lack.

It is the largest urban slum in Africa extending up to 2.5 square kilometres. This congested place is home to between 200, 000 and 1.2 million people Majority of whom live in abject poverty.

Visit the Nairobi National Museum of Kenya

The Nairobi National Museum is a must-visit place in Nairobi. It’s a place to discover, contemplate, and learn about the culture, history, art, and nature of the Kenyans.

The highlight of the Museum visit is interacting with Neanderthal tools and gallery exhibitions that depict the cradle of humankind. There is also a snake park with reptiles such as tortoises, spitting cobras and more

What is found in Nairobi National Museum

Expect to find the following in the Nairobi National Museum.

1. Evolution galleries
2. Snake park
3. Birds of Prey exhibition
4. Preserved animals
5. Exhibitions or the early man.

Visit the Maasai Market

Wrapping up your trip, a visit to the Maasai market should be one of the last things to do in Nairobi. At the market, you can buy traditional Kenyan pendants, bracelets and other souvenirs to take home.

It’s also a good place to shop for unique gifts for your family and friends.

Winding Up

There are a lot of things to do in Nairobi besides safari. Even better, these activities take less than a day to complete.

We highly recommend you choose a guide if it’s your first time visiting Nairobi and when touring places like Kibera.

It is also cheaper to get around with Uber and even more cheaper if you can use public transport.