After a long flight, you have arrived in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. A vast city with smells, colors, and much madness. Everywhere you look, graffitied buses (matatu) will be running, cool afrobeat will be playing from the loudspeakers, and boda-bodas (motorcycles) will be going right-left. Are you staying in Nairobi for a few days and wondering where to go? Let us help you out!

1) Giraffe Center

Are you a true fan of giraffes and have always wanted to get close to these creatures? Karen is home to the Giraffe Center, where you can feed the giraffes, let them lick your face with their big rough tongues, and learn more about this species. Tourists pay 1500 KES (equivalent to about 12 euros). With this money, they can get a “giraffe food” bag and feed it to the giraffes from their hands. You are guaranteed to get a delicious French kiss between your teeth. The money will also be donated to projects that ensure the preservation of this animal species and its living environment.

2) Maasai Market

Want to buy the best souvenirs? Move on to the Maasai market. You can purchase beautiful Maasai carpets, beautiful baskets, impressive paintings, and much more. Don’t forget to bargain, as you can often take home souvenirs for less than half the price. So, start practicing now!

3) Kitenge shopping in the CBD

As you venture through the city, you will see people dressed in beautiful colors on street corners. There is a flurry of cheerful colors: Red, yellow, blue, and green everywhere you look. Are you also completely in love with the beautiful African fabrics everyone is wearing on the streets? Don’t forget to take a cultural trip to the CBD. It is the busiest place in the city, with matatu, boda boda, and people dodging in and out of the chaotic crowds.

The district has the most beautiful little stores with hundreds of fabrics in all colors and prints; for about 1200-1500 KES, you can get a large piece of fabric in the most beautiful African prints. When walking in the CBD, be careful with your belongings! Keep your wallets and cell phones tucked away, and be sure to carry a bag with you. This is not the first time that cell phones have been snatched or bags opened. So, be careful, but most of all, have fun.

4) Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Karen also has a Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Here, young elephants are cared for, bred, and then released back into the wild. This elephant orphanage can only be visited once a day; at exactly 11:00 a.m., the elephants are taken outside to be fed. While rolling around together in the mud, the keepers tell you the life stories of the animals. A wonderful experience for young and old alike! So, you can easily combine it with the Giraffe Center in one day.

5) Nyama Choma at Harry’s Tavern

Want a taste of authentic Kenya? You can have it at Harry’s Tavern! You can eat freshly barbecued nyama choma (roasted goat). It is a true feast among Nairobians. Sit on a plastic seat and enjoy the buzz around you. No cutlery is required. Just have another piece of ugali into your mouth with both hands as you bite into the fresh meat grilled off the bone. Besides, we bet you won’t find such a price anywhere else!

6) Nairobi to Mombasa Railway

Thinking of taking a trip to the beautiful Kenyan coast? Nairobi and Mombasa are connected by rail. The tracks were built by the Chinese and can be seen everywhere. Security is tight, and trains always depart on time. The track passes through Tsavo National Park, where you can see elephants, zebras, and giraffes from your window. Something different from cows and sheep! It is a beautiful ride that you definitely should not miss. In about 5-6 hours, you will arrive in Mombasa, and your beach vacation will begin!

Have you ever been to any of these places? Share your experience with us in the comments below!