By Air

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport boasts of plethora of facilities to make arrivals (or departures, for that matter) as enjoyable, comfortable and convenient as possible.

By Car

Hiring a car can be an expensive proposition in Kenya, but it gives you the freedom to travel into the interiors of this wonderful country. The roads are in pretty good shape. The best way to avoid time-consuming applications for permits such as the ‘authorisation permit for a foreign private vehicle’ is to get a carnet de passage before you get to Kenya.

Nairobi National Park

A short drive out of Nairobi’s central business district is the Nairobi National Park. Wide open grass plains and backdrop of the city scrapers, scattered acacia bush play host to a wide variety of wildlife including the endangered black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and diverse birdlife with over 400 species recorded.

Giraffe Centre

The Giraffe Centre is located at Karen, approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the centre of Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in order to protect the endangered Rothschild giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi, that is found only in the grasslands of East Africa.

The Giraffe Centre was started by Jock Leslie-Melville, the Kenyan grandson of a Scottish Earl, when he and his wife Betty captured a baby giraffe to start a programme of breeding giraffe in captivity at their home in Langata - home of the present centre. Since then the programme has had huge success, resulting in the introduction of several breeding pairs of Rothschild Giraffe into Kenyan national parks.

Uhuru Gardens

Uhuru Gardens is a memorial public park located on Lang'ata Road, Nairobi, Kenya. It is the largest memorial park in Kenya. The inaugural ceremony for Kenya's first president, President Jomo Kenyatta was conducted at this park on 12 December 1963 when Kenya gained its independence. A 24-metre high monument commemorating Kenyas' struggle for independence is the centrepiece of attractions at Uhuru Gardens.

Nakumatt Downtown

Nakumatt is the biggest chain of department stores in whole of Kenya, everywhere you go this name is following you, inside city areas or along the roads. Nakumatt offers all what an family needs, like grocceries, cloths, technique etc, but it is slightly expensive than Tusker, Uchumi or small retail shops. Most of Kenyans, with average salaries, avoid NaKumatt because they cannot afford such a high prices.

Maasai Market

Busy, popular Maasai markets are held every Tuesday on the waste ground near Slip Rd in town. Souvenirs on offer include beaded jewellery, gourds, baskets and other Maasai crafts, but you'll have to bargain hard. The market is open from early morning to late afternoon. Other locations include Friday behind the Village Market shopping complex, downtown on Saturday, and on Sunday next to the Yaya Centre.

Spinners Web

This place works with workshops and self-help groups around the country. It’s a bit like a handicrafts version of Ikea, with goods displayed the way they might look in a Western living room. There are some appealing items, including carpets, wall-hangings, ceramics, wooden bowls, baskets and clothing.

Thorn Tree Café

The Stanley’s legendary cafe still serves as a popular meeting place for travellers of all persuasions, and caters to most tastes with a good mix of food. The original thorn-tree noticeboard in the courtyard gave rise to the general expression, and inspired Lonely Planet’s own online Thorn Tree Travel Forum. The menu ranges from grilled giant prawns to Kenyan-style chicken stew.

Tamarind Restaurant

Kenya’s most prestigious restaurant chain runs Nairobi’s best seafood restaurant, located in the monumental National Bank Building. The splendid menu offers all manner of exotic flavours, and the lavish dining room is laid out in a sumptuous modern Arabic-Moorish style. Starters range from Hibiscus-flamed seafood to an exquisite seafood platter.

Savanna The Coffee Lounge

This classy little chain has outposts across Nairobi, including one in the town centre, but we particularly like the tranquillity of this branch inside the grounds of the National Museum. Decor is safari chic without being overdone, service is friendly and unobtrusive, and dishes include pies, wraps, samosas, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, soups and salads.

Haandi Restaurant

Widely regarded as the best Indian restaurant in Kenya, Haandi rises above its nondescript shopping-mall location. The expansive menu includes wonderful Mughlai (North Indian) spreads, tandoori dishes and plenty of vegetarian curries. Most dishes are served with Haandi’s signature stacks of naan and piles of basmati rice. It has sister restaurants in Kampala and London, and even sells its own souvenir T-shirts.