When and where to go in Nairobi. My trip to Nairobi, Kenya


My trip to Nairobi, Kenya.

Once in a while, I have to go for a seminar or a conference. This year conference was in Kenya; timing was good- October. El Ninjo (the rainy season )did not start yet, but animals started to migrate.

Kenya is a world capital of safari . A lot of tourists are going there to see “the real Africa”. Of course it was interesting to go there, not to mention that after I started to blog more and met with some bloggers on travel chats on Internet, I got to know the most experienced, “seasoned” travellers were in Kenya several times.

So, I am going to Kenya.

I went to travel clinic and had vaccination against yellow fever and tablets for prophylaxis from malaria well in advance before my trip.

Applied for a single entry visa; it was possible to do it electronically; made my life much easier.

Currently all medical services are on high alert because of several cases of people who had Ebola fever in South Africa and Guinea, so custom services check for sick people quite thoroughly, and health precautions are quite important.

We arrived in Nairobi in the morning . I went to the local bank to draw money in Kenyan shillings. Hired a taxi and arrived to Boma Inn Hotel. Boma and Boma Inn hotel are 2 hotels, which were funded by Red Cross, and proceeds go to that organization.

Nairobi is a big city with the population of 3 million people and growing rapidly. It has two airports- Jomo Kenyatta International airport and Wilsom Aerodrom, which is serving mostly local flights.

National currency- Kenyan shilling, the course was in early October 103K/shl= $1. There were no problems with exchanging currency. Forex bereaus are everywhere. Banks (Barkley, Standard Bank, Kenyan Commercial Bank) are able to exchange currency at best rate for tourists. Credit cards are also accepted, with 5% extra fee. Internet is fairly good quality. Internet Cafés are everywhere, Wi-Fi in hotels. The best Internet provider is Safaricom.

To finish with Internet... Kenyans have great respect to Internet. Each and every hotel, lodge or Guest house offers Wi-Fi .In Kenyan International airport I saw a station to recharge cell phones, laptops, tablets. Not so many airports are able to provide service like that.

Traffic in Nairobi only good when there is no traffic jam. To travel during weekdays early mornings and afternoons is a nightmare. You will stay in traffic for hours. Streets are very narrow, cars on streets are packed like sardines in a tin. How Kenyans are driving in conditions like that and without accidents? We did not see accidents in a city.

By the way,it is very normal to try to reduce the fee for taxi services, or souvenirs on the market. The asking price is usually much higher than the real price. So, try to negotiate.

What to do and what to see in Nairobi?

Plenty cafés and restaurants .The best and very famous is restaurant “Carnivore”, where they are able to offer you crocodile and game meat.

The best is to book in advance, because this restaurant is very popular.

Night life is in Westlands with its clubs and restaurants. The most popular is “Treehouse” Club.

Don’t forget local markets, especially if you want to buy souvenirs.

There are several animal centres in Nairobi: Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre and Mamba Village. In Elephant orphanage tourists are able to see elephant calves and rhinos, in Giraffe Centre to see and even to receive a kiss from giraffe. This park is known as Kissing Giraffe Park. In Mamba Village you will be able to see crocodiles and ostriches.

(To be continued)

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