Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya; an East African country. ‘’Nairobi” is a unique name derived from Maasai word meaning “place of cool waters”. Blessed with a lot of interesting and amazing attractions, the city an ideal destination for every tourist. It is located around 480km from the port city of Mombasa and is served by a variety of infrastructures, such as highways and the standard gauge railway which passes through beautiful scenery.
Tourist attractions here include; Maasai market, Nairobi National Park, Elephant Orphanage, Bomas of Kenya and other interesting places that make Nairobi a top destination. The cool climate in the city also makes it an ideal place for visitors who need to relax alone or with their loved ones. If you don't know where to start, here's our stopover itinerary on how to spend your 3 days in Nairobi, Kenya.
3 Days In Nairobi, Kenya
Day 1 in Nairobi: See the best sights in the city
Nairobi has famous tourist destinations that are unique as well as symbolic of the city. On the other hand, there are little known destinations that not every visitor to Nairobi has ever gotten a chance to visit.
1. Nairobi National Park
Nairobi national park is located approximately 7 km from Nairobi’s central business district. Indeed it is the only national park in the world found within a capital city.
It is home to a variety of wildlife species such as; Antelopes, cheetah, Lion, Leopards, and Giraffes. It is one of the most open parks in Kenya and every tourist can access it with ease.
Nairobi national park is also known for the breeding of the endangered species of black rhino in Kenya.
2. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage
This is one of the best places to visit while on tour to Nairobi.
Founded in 1977, the Nairobi elephant orphanage is renowned as the world’s most successful rehabilitation and elephant rescue center.
DSWT is home to elephant calves that have been rescued from the wild mainly due to human-wildlife conflicts or poaching. The calves are taken care of till they reach the age of 3 years. After this, they are then released back into the wild.
3. Nairobi National Museum
It is one of the most famous museums in Kenya where every visitor can get the opportunity to sample Kenya’s rich heritage and history firsthand.
Here you get to learn in detail the Kenyan history and culture as well as see many other historically important artifacts.
On its walls, there are paintings and collections of a variety of drawing crafted by renowned Kenyan and international artists.
Within its grounds, you will also find the famous snake park and Botanical gardens which not only houses all snakes varieties found in Kenya but also serves as a refuge for rescued reptiles.
Day 2 in Narobi: See the city
For your second day in Nairobi, try out these must-try activities in the city.
1. Ngong Racecourse
Ngong Racecourse is located along Ngong road near Lenana School. Currently, it is the only place where thoroughbred horse racing is done in Kenya. It is an interesting and amazing place for touring since it is always fully packed making it a great place to make new friends. Generally, there is a lot of fun in horse racing, therefore, making it one of the best neighborhoods in Nairobi city.
2. Karura Forest
The Karura Forest is an urban forest located around 5km from Nairobi CBD. It has a huge variety of birds which makes it best for birds watching activities. Within its grounds, there are also the Karura caves which were used as hiding places by Kenyan freedom fighters. At Karura forest you can also undertake a forest walk, butterfly watching, and cycling activities.
3. Langata Link
Here African designs dominate the place making it an ideal place for anyone with a taste for African designer clothes. There is a wide variety of items which include; handbags, shoes, jewelry, clothes and many other apparel items to choose from.
Day 3 in Narobi: Explore the off-the-beaten trail
Below are attractions in Nairobi that are not as popular as the ones mentioned above but are just as interesting.
1. Toi Market
It is an open-air market located outside Nairobi city center. Here you can get a wide variety of stylish homemade treasures such as shoes, handbags and other leather-made products on display. You can also get Kenyan groceries and other variety of goods at the Toi market.
2. Giraffe Center
Visiting the Giraffe center is an experience of a lifetime. Here you not only get to watch and interact with Giraffes but also feed them. It is a cool place established to care for the endangered Rothschild Giraffe species only found in the Kenyan savanna. You are also allowed to take photographs with Giraffes which is amazing and memorable.
Other tips for your 3 days in Nairobi
Generally, when it comes to choosing where to get food and drinks, there are various factors to consider. These may include cleanliness, quality, cost, and personal preference.
Carnivore Restaurant is Nairobi’s top restaurant to visit if you are a fun of mouthwatering domestic or exotic meats and cocktails.
Opened in 1980 it is the ultimate meat-lovers go-to place in the city. They serve a variety of meat items on their menu such as; chicken, pork, crocodile, slow-roasted turkey, roasted rabbit as well as Ostrich.
Apart from meat dishes, there are also vegetarian dishes and salads. Various cocktails are available with their highlight being the Dawa which is a mix of Vodka, lime, honey, and sugar.
Itineraries for more than 3 days in Nairobi
Are you thinking of a planned itinerary on your next visit to Nairobi city? Here are some of the destinations that we think will give you some of the best experiences ever in this city under the sun.
5 days in Nairobi
If you are looking for longer itinerary for Nairobi, this article from How Far From Home got you covered. This blogging couple provided list of interesting things to do in and out of Nairobi.
How Far From Home
