Nairobi is the capital of Kenya. Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia

The Clock Tower is one of the tallest structures in Africa. It stands in the center of Nairobi and its spire is 140 meters above the ground. According to a local sign, if you stand a little near the tower, you can recharge with the energy of the sun, stock up on strength and gain life wisdom. The tower is somewhat reminiscent of London's Big Ben.

Offices are located inside the building. In total, the tower has 38 floors, seven of which are occupied by the banking structure, and eleven are given over to parking. The tower is designed in such a way that it is practically not afraid of earthquakes.

All premises are carefully guarded and it is impossible to enter the building without documents.

Museum of Natural History

One of the many attractions of the Kenyan city of Nairobi is the Museum of Natural History, opened in 1910. It gained its popularity thanks to unique collections that fully reveal the richness of history and diversity. natural world countries.

The museum is a huge complex that includes a variety of exhibition halls. The most popular of them is the Dinosaur Park, which displays models of ancient reptiles, the height of the largest of them is 10 meters. Also special attention deserve the remains of plants and animals that died out 200 years ago, presented in 2 rooms. A special gallery is reserved for models of ancient mammals - creodonts and condylarths.

At present, the employees of the Museum of Natural History are actively engaged in research activities, exchanging data with foreign institutions. The museum has a scientific laboratory in which lectures are given to schoolchildren and students. This place is perfect for an exciting family vacation.

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Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park in Kenya is a wilderness area. It was created to protect wild animals from hunters and poachers, who in the first half of the 20th century increasingly began to arrive in Kenya in order to kill large animals for their collection. Among such hunters were former US President Roosevelt and the Prince of Wales.

Now visitors to this place can observe the course of life of wild animals in their natural habitat. Rare black rhinos live in the park; they were brought here from other places to save them from poachers. In addition to rhinos, lions, leopards, hyenas, ostriches, zebras, antelopes walk in these territories, and crocodiles live in the southern part.

On the territory of Nairobi there is an educational Park Wildlife Conservation Center where you can listen to lectures about wild nature and go on an excursion to the animal shelter, as well as go on a Safari walk.

The Jami Mosque is one of the most striking architectural landmarks of Nairobi. It is located in the business center of the city on Banda Street. This is the main mosque of Kenya, erected by Syed Abdullah Shah Hussain in 1902-1906. Since its construction, the building has been rebuilt several times, its territory has significantly increased, and new extensions have appeared.

The building of the Jami Mosque is made in a typical Arab-Muslim style, marble prevails among the materials. There are numerous inscriptions from the Koran on the walls, but the main attractions of the monastery are 3 silver domes and two single-bed minarets. The entrance to the building is decorated with a beautiful gilded arch. The complex includes a huge library and educational institution where everyone can learn Arabic.

On the right side of the inner courtyard of the Jami Mosque there is a row of pharmacies, which bring a significant income to the monastery for renting land. Currently, the Jami Mosque is one of the symbols of Nairobi; every day you can meet thousands of pilgrims and tourists here.

Nairobi railway station

The Nairobi railway station was built in 1899. It is located on the Uganda Railway, on which locomotives leave three times a week in the direction of one of the largest Kenyan cities - Mombasa.

Of particular note is the building of the Nairobi Railway Station, which is made in the style medieval castle. The roof is divided into seven pointed parts, each of which has three small windows, one of them is arched. The entrance to the building is also made in the form of three large arches, on both sides of which there are columns.

On the grounds of the Nairobi Railway Station, the Railway Museum was opened in 2005 to preserve and display the history of development railway transport in East Africa.

Currently, the station is not only a transport hub, but also an important architectural and cultural landmark.

Railway Museum

The Nairobi Railway Museum was opened in 1971 in honor of the African railway, built during the reign of Queen Victoria, who personally came to launch the first steam locomotive. Here, all the exhibits tell the exciting story of the construction of the road that was supposed to connect Kenya and Uganda.

Builders were hired in Uganda, and many of them remained in Kenya.

These railways still in working order and in use to this day.

Among the unique exhibits there are the first three steam locomotives, which occasionally ride tourists. Here you can see old passenger cars, a miniature copy of the railway, as well as many beautiful photographs.

The museum is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.

Langatta Giraffe Center

The ideological inspiration for the creation of the Center was the African Fund for the Protection of Wild Animals. The first inhabitant of the park was a baby giraffe, who was caught by the Melvilles near their home in 1979. They run the center to this day. Here you will be told in detail about each type of giraffe and the difference between them, and you will also be allowed to feed your pets from your hands. Mainly bred in the center

Rothschild and Masai giraffes, of which there are very few left in nature.

The territory of the reserve, where the Center is located, occupies more than 90 acres of land. Here are laid hiking trails, including along the Gogo River. During the promenade, you can see different African animals: warthogs, hyenas, monkeys, leopards, as well as enjoy the unique view of the waterfall and tropical landscapes.

After taking photos as a keepsake, check out the local souvenir shop where you can buy a book, postcard or handicrafts made by local artisans.

Are you curious to know how well you know the sights of Nairobi? .

Karen Blixen Museum

The house-museum of the famous Danish writer Baroness Karen Blixen, who forever gave her heart to Africa, is shrouded in the unique life story of her mistress. At the age of thirty, she and her husband leave for Kenya to develop a coffee plantation. They have been running their business for several years, until it turns out that Karen is infected with a serious illness. In 1925, the couple divorced, and Karen remained in Africa. She begins an affair with a local hunter.

After the death of her lover in a car accident, Karen returns to Europe and plunges into writing.

From her pen comes the book "Out of Africa", which became a world bestseller and formed the basis of the film of the same name with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.

After the death of Karen Blixen in 1931, her house was preserved as a memorial monument. Subsequently, the Danish government gave Kenya both the house and the land around it. The villa was restored, and in 1986 it was opened for tourists and all those who love the work of this amazing woman.

The most popular attractions in Nairobi with descriptions and photos for every taste. choose best places for visiting famous places Nairobi on our site.

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More attractions in Nairobi

Nairobi is the capital of Kenya. The city is located very close to the equator, 130 km south of the equator on the banks of the Nairobi River of the same name. Close to the city is the most high peak Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro, whose height is about 6 kilometers, it is higher than Elbrus.

Nairobi is considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world, the level of street crime is very high.

Map

Attractions

Now you can walk around Nairobi, but it is better to make all walks around the city only during the day - at night and late in the evening it is dangerous to walk the streets in the city, street crime is very high here and the probability of being robbed is also very high.

City Square This is the central square of Nairobi. It houses the Kenyan Parliament, City Hall, Court and Municipality. It also has another interesting attraction - the Clock Tower, which is like two drops of water similar to the famous London "Big Ben".

Kenyan parliament building - open to tourists. It is completely surrounded by African vegetation, which is why tourists love visiting this place so much.

Mausoleum of Jomo Kenyatta This is the place where the first president of Kenya is buried. This place is very revered by all Kenyans, and tourists visit it very willingly. The only rule to remember when visiting the mausoleum is that photography inside and near the mausoleum is prohibited.

Entertainment center The Village Market - very popular among Nairobi and visitors to the city. There are 35 branded clothing stores from around the world, a restaurant, a yoga room.

Sarit Center Shopping Center - there are shops, and slot machines, and attractions for children.

Serpentarium is an interesting and visited place in Nairobi. Here are collected all the snakes that are found in Africa.

Museums

There are three famous museums in Nairobi.

National Museum of Kenya – main museum countries. The basis of its exposition is the collection of flora and fauna of Kenya, as well as the hall on the history of Kenya.

Railway Museum - tells about the history of the emergence of Nairobi station. Here are exhibited British steam locomotives, interesting documents and historical photographs that are dedicated to the construction of the Uganda railway.

Karen Blixen Museum – located 12 km from the city center. Dedicated to the Danish writer Karen Blixen, who lived in Nairobi from 1917 to 1931. Blixen herself had an agricultural farm.

Story

The city was founded in 1899 as a railway station by the British, who made Kenya their colony. The city became part of the so-called British East Africa.

Two years later, two misfortunes struck Nairobi at once - an epidemic of bubonic plague and a huge fire. As a result of the epidemic, most of the population died out, and as a result of a fire, the city burned down completely, and it had to be rebuilt.

In 1905, the city turns into a major center of trade in East Africa.

In 1963, Kenya becomes an independent state, and Nairobi becomes its capital.

monuments

Nairobi has several famous monuments:

- Memorial to Jomo Kenyatta, the first President of Kenya;

- a monument to the English Queen Victoria;

- a monument to Tom Mbow, a Kenyan politician.

Religious buildings

Nairobi has both mosques and Catholic churches. The most famous of them:

- Church of St. Mark;

- Sagrada Familia Cathedral;

- Jami Mosque.

parks

There are many parks in the capital of Kenya.

Uhuru Culture and Leisure Park - main amusement park Kenyans and residents of the capital. There are a great many attractions for every taste, there is a lake for swimming, many flowers, walking paths and benches for relaxing.

Nairobi National Park - located on the outskirts of the city. This is a protected area, noisy events are prohibited here, but you can walk in the park.

Stations

Since Nairobi came into existence with the construction railway station, then the station in the city is located in modern time. By train from the capital of Kenya, you can get to the capital of Uganda - Kampala, and to the city of Mombasa.

Markets

Nairobi has a large Masai souvenir market. Here you can buy any interesting African souvenir as a keepsake.

Climate

Nairobi is located quite high in the mountains at an altitude of 1601 meters above sea level, therefore, despite the proximity to the equator, the climate of Nairobi is temperate. There are no seasons here, summer is all year round, but it is not hot, the temperature rarely rises above 25 degrees Celsius.

Therefore, Nairobi is considered one of the most comfortable cities in the world in terms of climate - there are no cold weather here, and sweltering heat too.

You can’t swim in the Nairobi River, since its water temperature is low due to the fact that it flows in the mountains. But people swim in the city lake all year round.

Nairobi, being the modern capital of Kenya, is also one of the fastest growing cities in East Africa. The population is estimated at 4 million people, but it is rather problematic to derive an exact figure, since the territory of the suburbs is densely populated. This city today is the largest transport and logistics hub in Kenya, as well as throughout Africa. Nairobi is famous for its fantastic safaris as well as its charming old town center with lots of authentic shops and fun attractions.

Climate

The climate in Nairobi is temperate climatic conditions with almost uniform weather throughout the year. The coolest season in the capital lasts two months - from July to August. The average daily temperature at this time is +16...+18 C. The hottest period is from January to the end of March, when the temperature fluctuates around +34 C. Lower temperatures are observed. The most unfortunate season for travel is considered the period from the beginning of autumn to the beginning of winter, since this is where the rainy season begins. Since the country is located quite close to the equator, the differences between the seasons are extremely small.

How to get there

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is located 20 km from the business center of Nairobi. This is largest airport in the central and eastern region of Africa. It is the main transfer station and serves direct flights from airlines from Asia and Europe, for example,.

By bus, you can get to Nairobi through three companies: Kenya Bus Service and private operators, working more recently Double M and Citi Hoppa. Intercity regular bus service organized by other small companies.

You can get to Nairobi by rail using the line passing through the city, which connects Kampala and Mombasa, but not. Basically, it is used for freight rail transportation, but passenger night trains also run on it. Most workers travel from the suburbs to the center of Nairobi by train.

Attractions

The main local attraction is the National Park. It is located 7 km from the center of Nairobi, but at the same time it admires the richness of the animal and plant worlds. The contrast between pristine nature and the noisy atmosphere of the metropolis is striking. Antelopes, zebras, giraffes, lions, buffaloes and leopards live in the savannah. And in the black rhinoceros nursery, you can admire a unique animal in its natural habitat.

Of interest to travelers is the farm of the writer Karen Blixen. Today it is located here memorial museum and an ostrich farm.

It is impossible to visit Nairobi and not enjoy the views of the Great Rift Valley - one of the most impressive places on the planet, which owes its appearance to the tectonic movement of the earth's plates a million years ago. There are about 30 semi-active and active volcanoes, and four million flamingos living on the lakes of the Rift Valley.

Among other must-see Nairobi are: the Railway Museum, the Clock Tower in the city center, the Parliament House, where the mausoleum of the first President of Kenya is located, many mosques, the Indian quarter with amazing temples, the Sikh temple, the National Museum and the Serpentine Park.

Prices in Nairobi

The city has many places to accommodate tourists, designed for a variety of preferences and financial possibilities. Among the hotels high class in the city such establishments as Sankara Nairobi 5 * are in demand, with comfortable rooms from 6500 rubles. per day and the Hilton Nairobi 5 * hotel, which offers cozy luxurious rooms with high service, the price for which starts from 3900 rubles. per day.

Among comfort class hotels, Meltonia Luxury Suites 4 * stands out, which has rooms with the necessary comfort conditions and accompanying services, for which you will need to pay from 4900 rubles. per day. The Sarova Panafric 4 * hotel is also popular with rooms costing from 4000 rubles.

Among middle-class hotels, Kivi Milimani Hotel 3 * and Nairobi Airport Hotel 3 * are known with cozy rooms, the cost of which starts from 2800 rubles. per day.

For budget holiday suitable hotel Bluehut Hotel 2 *, which offers rooms, the price of which starts from 1700 rubles.

shopping

Nairobi is famous for its jewelry. It is profitable to buy precious stones here, especially blue diamond, tanzanite, malachite, blue agate. Also of interest is real Kenyan batik.

The main number of shops and shops where you can buy national souvenirs are located in the center or in rich areas of the city. The most popular souvenirs are products from valuable and rare species of rare wood, wicker gizmos, jewelry, ethnic figurines. Also clothes made from Kiki or Kengi - colorful fabrics made by local residents.

Cuisine and restaurants

The capital has a huge number of cafes and restaurants serving the best national Kenyan cuisine. The main feature of such establishments is the lack of cutlery, as locals often eat with their hands. This is not practiced in all restaurants, but in many.

Most of the dishes in the national cuisine are prepared from seafood and meat with unusual fruit sauces. You should definitely visit the famous Kenyan grill restaurant called Carnivore, which offers grilled meat of rare exotic animals such as zebra, antelope, crocodile, ostrich.

In addition to being the Kenyan capital, Nairobi is also one of the highest cities in the world. This is not about high-rise buildings, but about the fact that the city is located at an altitude of more than 1600 meters above sea level. Nairobi contains all the best that is in this country, with the exception of its countless natural beauties.

It concentrates the most important institutions, both administrative and educational, commercial, as well as enterprises, hotels, restaurants, etc. The central place in Nairobi is occupied by representative offices of large companies, including world famous ones.

In general, the city can be described as modern, rapidly developing and has nothing to do with what is considered to be Africa with its crises, poverty and other "charms". Kenya is generally one of the most prosperous countries in Africa, and this is felt especially strongly in Nairobi.

Traveling to this city is perfect not only for single tourists, but also for a romantic and family vacation. It will be no less good for the elderly here. Only lovers get bored here extreme tourism, because, as already mentioned, Kenya is a calm and safe country by African standards.

It lives in Nairobi, a city of a little more than 3 million people, so the city can rightfully be considered a metropolis. It was founded in 1899, although people settled in this fertile place before.

Origin of the city's name

The city found the roots of its name in the water, and specifically in the name of the river flowing through it. That, in turn, has very cold water by local standards, for which it was called "Nairobi" - " cold water". In addition, the capital of Kenya has other, metaphorical names:

Green city under the sun;

Safari Capital of the World.

He deserved such nicknames quite reasonably, since in terms of landscaping Nairobi really deserves the highest praise, and the second is due to the proximity of the city to the National Natural Park.

natural position

As already mentioned, the city is located on a hill, next to the Great rift valley. As a result, the seismic activity in the city is quite high, although it does not come to serious earthquakes. Meanwhile, the said valley is one of the most unusual places on Earth, where you can see not only giant hordes of flamingos, but also alkaline lakes and a fair amount of volcanoes. In the city itself, a tourist can walk along the banks of the Nairobi River and its tributaries.

If you head west from the city, you can reach the Ngong Hills, which are the highest point in the region adjacent to the city. A more impressive peak can be seen to the north of the capital - Mount Kenya. In the same direction is the magnificent forest of Karura.

Moving to the southeast, you can see the majestic Kilimanjaro with your own eyes. Both it and Mount Kenya can be seen almost always when the air is clear enough.

Weather conditions in Nairobi

Although most tourists associate one mention of Africa with unimaginable heat, in fact, the air temperature here almost never rises above +30 ° C. Since the climate here is temperate, even in the cold season, it can be really quite cool. In any case, in July, which is the "crown" of the Kenyan winter, the thermometer can drop to +8 °C.

Daily fluctuations in temperature are still quite significant, in any case, in the evenings, even in summer, the temperature can drop to about ten degrees Celsius, so warm clothes will not be superfluous. The most comfortable time of the year in Nairobi is the period from December to March, when the average temperature is kept at around +23 ... +25 ° С. Therefore, it is most reasonable to time a trip to Nairobi during these months.

Upon completion of the above velvet season, in Nairobi, the rainy period begins, which, starting in April, ends only in June. True, there is no talk of tropical showers - the rains are usually light. However, after the end of the rainy season, the wet season begins, when dampness dominates the atmosphere. It lasts from July to September. After it begins the second rainy season, which lasts the last two autumn months.

What is worth seeing in Nairobi?

If we ignore the stunning Kenyan landscapes, we have to admit that everything else is concentrated in Nairobi. The central place in the city is main square country - City Square. It is surrounded by the following buildings:

Parliament;

City Council;

Cathedral of the Holy Family;

Kenyatta Convention Center;

City Court.

By the way, the parliament building is also interesting because the mausoleum of the first president of the country, Jomo Kenyata, is located right on its territory.

What you don't expect to see in Nairobi is the temple of Shiva, Vishnu or another Indian god. Meanwhile, Hindu temples are nothing special here as the city has an entire Indian quarter. Nairobi is generally a rather multinational city and not only indigenous people live in it (also belonging to more than one nationality, although visitors tend to think that all black inhabitants are representatives of some kind of homogeneous community).

Here you can meet Indians, and Chinese, and Egyptians, and Pakistanis. The result is religious diversity. In Nairobi, there are not only Muslim mosques, but also a Coptic Orthodox Church and even a Sikh temple.

The most important object to visit is the National Museum, deservedly proud of its anthropological collection, through which one can trace almost the entire evolution of the human race. The museum contains a complete skeleton of Homo erectus, which was the first of our ancestors to acquire a fully erect appearance, for which it was called upright. In addition, in the museum you can see a lot of exhibits related to nature, history, culture and life of the country.

Nairobi would not be the Kenyan capital if it were completely isolated from nature. Within its boundaries is the Nairobi National Park, where you can see giraffes, lions and even black rhinos (white ones, unfortunately, ceased to exist as a species a few years ago).

After admiring the natural beauties, it makes sense to return to the city and visit:

National Theater of Kenya;

Art Center "Mizizi";

Karen Blixen Museum;

clock tower;

snake park;

Giraffe Center "Langata";

Nairobi Museum;

Railway Museum;

Nairobi Gallery;

National Archives;

Museum contemporary art"Ramoma".

Those who are not indifferent to local traditions should also visit Bomas of Kenya, a farm that hosts various exhibitions and concerts. By the way, in the aforementioned Snake Park, a tourist can join the culinary traditions of Kenya, which are worth talking about in more detail.

Cooking in Nairobi

In addition to the fact that in the capital you can find many institutions national cuisine, here the tourist can enjoy the culinary traditions of other countries. At the same time, Nairobi has its own style of cooking, which extends to almost all dishes, regardless of which cuisine they belong to. Among such traits can be attributed an abundance of spices and spices in general.

The main ingredient of most dishes is meat and not only beef and pork, but also the meat of exotic animals. Another common ingredient is seafood. The local corn porridge, which is turned into a real work of art, is very tasty. Turtle meat stew also deserves high praise.

As for establishments, there are a lot of them in the capital, and they belong to a variety of price categories. Wherein low price does not mean low quality. The most popular budget place, both among tourists and among local residents is the Carnivore Restaurant, which specializes in exotic dishes ranging from fried buffalo to baked insects in sauce.

One more popular place- restaurants and cafes "Java House": there is no special exotic there, but the dishes are very tasty and inexpensive. By the way, most of these establishments are concentrated in the center of Nairobi. Those who have managed to get acquainted with local traditions should go to establishments that specialize in foreign cuisine, among which the following are especially popular:

Ethiopian;

Portuguese;

Arabic;

Indian;

English cuisine.

A tourist must try the local coffee and tea without fail. The latter, it must be said, is in no way inferior to the real Ceylon, and in terms of fortress, it is probably the world leader. They know how to cook both tea and coffee here, so it’s simply a sin to miss visiting coffee shops and tea houses.

Shopping in Nairobi

In this regard, the tourist has a fairly wide choice, since there are numerous markets of various sizes, and large shopping and entertainment centers. The latter are good because you can not only buy good-quality goods, but also relax, have fun, taste local dishes, watch movies and more.

Of particular note is the so-called "Village Bazaar", which roams from one place to another. It represents a lot of tents where they sell everything conceivable and unthinkable, from local African exotics to quite high-quality European products.

Markets generally play an important role in the life of the capital. A significant part of the population still prefers to buy everything they need there, believing that the ratio of price and quality in the bazaars is higher than in stores. The largest metropolitan market is the Masai. Here you can see an incredible number of different souvenirs made in ethnic style.

The most sought after are Kenyan batik, various carvings and decorations made of wood, clay and leather, which are made by the locals as great craftsmen. You can replenish your collection of souvenirs by going to the Westlands area, where there is a small bazaar specializing in exactly that kind of product.

Those who are not indifferent to jewelry should make a choice in favor of specialized outlets, where you can find such rarities as blue agates and diamonds of the same color, malachite, tanzanite and more. At the same time, prices are usually very attractive. As for products, it is best to buy them in supermarkets.

How to have fun in Nairobi?

Nairobi is one of those African cities where almost everything possible has been done for tourists and their leisure. In addition to the fact that most bars and restaurants do not play a player, but live musicians, in Nairobi you can enjoy visiting the following places:

cinema and just theaters;

nightclubs of various directions;

• hippodrome.

It is worth planning a vacation in the capital from Friday, which is called a happy day here. It is on this day that the peak of fun is observed among the locals, who, like our compatriots, are big fans of celebrating and not too big fans of work.

On this day, a lot of concerts, shows and theme parties are held throughout the city. Nightlife lovers should head to the Westlands area, where you can find an institution according to your needs, even if they are very spicy.

lovers active rest can visit local football fields, fortunately Kenyans are obsessed with this sport no less than the British or Italians. In the vicinity of the city there are half a dozen golf courses, created good conditions for volleyball and rugby. In general, Nairobi enjoys a reputation as the most sporting city in the entire East African region.

But the main entertainment for which people come to this country is, of course, a safari. The unique location of the city allows you to equally enjoy both urban recreation and contemplation of natural beauties. By the way, contrary to popular belief, safari does not mean killing animals, because in translation from Swahili into Russian, it means travel, not hunting.

Moreover, for those who would like to enjoy the latter to the fullest, there is even an opportunity to live for some time right on the territory. national park, surrounded by wild animals that are so accustomed to tourists that they no longer even try to hide from them.

In conclusion, the following should be said:

The best way to get around the city is by private minibuses, which are called "matatu" here.

Mobile communications are ubiquitous in Nairobi, and you can access the Internet from almost anywhere.

Despite a fairly high level of security, Nairobi has many areas recognized as slums, in which the crime rate is much higher. It is better to refrain from visiting them, especially since there is nothing to see there.

rules traffic exist here only formally.

You can take pictures of local residents only with their permission and for a fee.

On a safari, in no case should you feed animals. Tight clothing and high boots or boots are also required.