KENYA EXPERIENCE
Plan your trip
Book a Trip
Nairobi County, Kenya

Karibu

Karibu means welcome.

Nairobi County

Most international visitors land here before going on safari.

Capital
Nairobi
People
4.4M
Area
696 km²
Altitude
1,795 m
Plan a tripSee the roads

Nairobi began in 1899 as a depot on the Uganda Railway and became the colonial capital in 1907. Its name comes from a Maasai phrase meaning "cool waters". At 1,795 m, the "Green City in the Sun" is the only capital in the world with a national park inside its borders.

Why it matters

Most international visitors land here before going on safari. Nairobi hosts the global headquarters of UN Environment and UN-Habitat and leads East Africa in business, diplomacy and creative work.

The economy

Nairobi produces about 27.5% of Kenya's GDP. It hosts the Nairobi Securities Exchange, regional offices of many multinationals and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the hub of Kenya Airways.

Must-see in Nairobi

  • Nairobi National Park

    Kenya's first national park (1946), where black rhinos graze against the city skyline.

  • Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

    Orphaned elephant calves feed and mud-bathe in a one-hour morning viewing; book ahead.

  • Giraffe Centre

    Hand-feed endangered Rothschild giraffes from a raised platform.

  • Karen Blixen Museum

    The farmhouse below the Ngong Hills that inspired Out of Africa.

  • Nairobi National Museum

    Culture, nature and Rift Valley exhibits on Museum Hill, with a snake park next door.

  • Kazuri Beads

    A ceramic bead workshop started in 1975 to employ single mothers.

  • Bomas of Kenya

    Traditional homesteads and daily dances from many Kenyan communities.

  • Karura Forest

    About 1,000 hectares of urban forest with 50+ km of trails, a waterfall and Mau Mau caves, saved by Wangari Maathai's campaign.

  • KICC rooftop

    City views from the helipad of Nairobi's most famous building.

  • Nairobi Railway Museum

    Old locomotives and Uganda Railway relics.

  • Maasai Market

    A craft market that moves to a different site each day; haggling expected.

Parks and wildlife in Nairobi

Peoples of Nairobi

Communities with a historic home in Nairobi. Today people from every part of Kenya live and work here.

Music, food and culture

Nairobi gave Kenya genge rap in the 1990s and Sheng-language gengetone from about 2016. Both spread through matatus, minibuses that double as moving nightclubs with bold art and loud sound systems. Afro-pop is booming, and nyama choma (roast meat) is the city's signature meal.

Best time to go

Year-round. December to March is warmest and sunniest, and June to October is dry and cool. Expect rain in April–May and November.

On the map

Open the full map

Nairobi and its neighbours. Tap a county or a place to read about it.

Karura ForestNairobi National MuseumBomas of KenyaKaren Blixen MuseumNairobi National Park

Hover a county or a dot. Click to open it. Locations are approximate.

Your questions

When is the best time to visit Nairobi?

Year-round. December to March is warmest and sunniest, and June to October is dry and cool. Expect rain in April–May and November.

What is Nairobi County known for?

Most international visitors land here before going on safari. Nairobi hosts the global headquarters of UN Environment and UN-Habitat and leads East Africa in business, diplomacy and creative work.

Where is Nairobi and what is its capital?

Nairobi began in 1899 as a depot on the Uganda Railway and became the colonial capital in 1907. Its name comes from a Maasai phrase meaning "cool waters". At 1,795 m, the "Green City in the Sun" is the only capital in the world with a national park inside its borders. The county capital is Nairobi, and the 2019 census counted 4,397,073 people across about 696 square kilometres.

Nearby

All 47 counties
A giraffe and acacia tree silhouetted against a Kenyan sunset

Put Nairobi on your map.

A Kenya specialist replies within two business days with dates, lodges and flights from the USA.

Book a trip