There’s so much to Kenya but I narrowed it down to 5 things. I’ll have to write a whole other blog on fabric shopping in the city.
No trip to Kenya is complete without a safari. While heading to Maasai Mara is the most popular options, Nairobi National Park offers an exciting introduction to safaris, especially for little ones. Giraffes? Yep. Lions? Sure. Elephants? Check. Zebras? Got it. The park is just a short drive outside if the central business district. Kids will love it! Visit the site for info on pricing.
The Nairobi National Museum gives you quite a bit of information about the fascinating history of Kenya. It was here that we learned about the history of slavery in Kenya and decided we’d visit the small coastal town of Shimoni to learn more. The museum is spacious, tempting kids to run the halls! Nairobi National Museum is open every day of the year and the Nairobi Snake Park is adjacent to the museum. If you’ve got the nerves, check it out.
This place is un-for-gett-able! Kazuri provides and sustains employment opportunities for Kenya women. Every bead, plate, cup, or windchime is made by hand. There’s a kiln onsite with mud from Mount Kenya. No visit to Nairobi is complete without a visit here. My most memorable experience was talking with the women about how we carry our children. They carried their child on their backs and I carried mine in the front, complete with a Moby wrap. We had an amazing conversation about carrying kids around. You must visit, oh, and buy lots of stuff!
You get to pet and feed giraffes. Need I say more!!!??? The Giraffe Center is formerly called the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife and it is a non-profit that provides conservation information to Kenyan children and visitors. Rates vary by age and residency. Put the Giraffe Center on your list.
The orphan project by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a successful elephant rescue and rehabilitation program. The elephant nursery, where you can interact with the elephants, is located in Nairobi National Park. Before you go, check into signing up to be a foster parent to an elephant. The current price to get started is $50.
Kenya is an incredible country to visit. It has grasslands, savannahs, mountains, beaches and beautiful people. We visited Kenya in 2015 and loved it so much! We flew Etihad (a marvelous experience) and stayed in both Nairobi and Mombasa. We stayed 9 days but could have stayed a whole lot longer. And, of course, we took the children! I highly recommend the Bidwood Hotel in the Nairobi Westlands. It’s convenient, safe, modern and the suites have kitchens. The staff are great and the food is excellent. For the adults, there is an impressive full service spa to help you wind down from a long day. If you need a driver or tour services, call Eva Achando. You can reach her on Facebook. Ask for the driver named Franco.