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1. General Information About Nairobi
This
guide aims to provide some useful info for the visitor to Nairobi -
transport, attractions, accommodation, shopping, restaurants and more.
We have also included a map of Nairobi, highlighting places of interest
to most visitors: major hotels, museums, airports, railway stations,
places of worship, shopping centres and much more. We hope the guide
will help you get more out of your stay in the city.
Exploring Nairobi
Nairobi
is known as the 'city in the sun'. But its more enthusiastic fans
proudly call it the 'green city in the sun'. Amongst the cities in
Africa, Nairobi has curved a niche in terms of cultural diversity and
heritage. Even if you are on a short stay, there will be something for
you to do. You will not fail to notice the energy and vitality of this
city of 3 million souls. Here you will find movie theatres showing the
latest films, world-class restaurants, discotheques, casinos, art
galleries and access to email and fax facilities.
Airport
The
major airport is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which is
about 30 min away from the city centre. Within the airport is the Duty
Free complex, which has a variety of shops stocking the usual fare,
gift items and souvenirs. The shops accept US dollars, GB pounds and
Kenya Shilling. The airport has plenty of taxis that will connect you
to anywhere within the city.
JKIA is the hub of Kenya Airways
-'African airline of the year'. Kenya Airways has an extensive
national, regional and international network. The airline has a modern
fleet and its services meet global standards. Get more info at:
www.kenya-airways.com.
The Kenya Airport Authority is
responsible for the management and security of the country's airports.
KAA has an information desk at the arrivals terminal. Preview info on
KAA at: www.kenyaairports.co.ke.
The Wilson Airport, 11 km from
the city centre is a secondary airport servicing domestic and regional
destinations on scheduled or chartered basis. If you are flying on
safari, this is where you will most likely depart from.
Health Regulations
Travellers
from a number of countries require yellow fever vaccination
certificates. Persons checked are those originating or having transited
through these countries.
Visas
Passports valid for at least 3 months from date of entry are required of all visitors.
All visitors require a visa except for citizens of the republic of Ireland and some commonwealth countries.
There
are exceptions with varying conditions for commonwealth citizens of
Antigua, Bermuda, Guyana, India, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Ethiopia,
San Marino, Turkey, Eritrea, Uruguay and South Africa (for visitors
staying more than 30 days).
Airport visas are available although
this may result in delays upon arrival. It is advisable to obtain
visa's in advance from Kenyan Embassies and High Commissions as some
airlines may require it before allowing you on board. In the absence of
the Kenyan Embassy or High Commission, visas can be obtained from
British High Commissions. Be advised that visa requirements vary from
time to time. There is a fee payable for all visas.
Visa applications for nationals of the following countries can only approved by Kenyan authorities prior to arrival:
Afghanistan,
Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon,
Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Equador, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali,
Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda Senegal, Somalia,
Stateless persons, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan and Yemen.
For more
info and contacts for Kenyan Embassies and High Commissions, see the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.mfa.go.ke. For online visa
application visit: http://www.mfa.go.ke/visa.pdf
For information on customs procedure visit Kenya Revenue Authority: www.kra.go.ke
Getting Around
Nairobi
is Kenya's transport centre; from here you can connect to anywhere in
the country. The Nairobi city centre is small- only 1 sq km, and if you
are fit you can get around of foot. But taxis are widely available on
the streets and at major hotels. They are usually marked with a yellow
line. Taxis here are not metered and to avoid surprises, it is best to
negotiate charges beforehand. You can also request for one of the Dial
a Taxi services from your hotel. In this case, they will have a
standard fixed rate for your destination.
Public transport in
the city is provided by buses and shared taxis- locally referred to as
matatu. You purchase your ticket onboard. Rental cars are reliably
available - go online at www.africapoint.com/cars/kenya.htm Remember
that driving is on the left. Railway services are available and connect
the city to other cities - like Kisumu and Mombasa and towns in between.
Accommodation
Nairobi
has a very wide range of accommodation to suit the requirements of most
travellers. This ranges from 5-star luxury hotels to basic budget
hotels, hostels, apartments, guesthouses and homestays.
Sights and Sounds
Nairobi
boasts an array of places to visit and things to do. Be sure to visit
the National museum -right in the city, and get a glimpse of Kenya's
cultural and prehistoric wealth. While at it consider visiting the
Snake Park, which is within the same grounds. For more recent history,
the National Archives is the place to go. Get to visit the Railway
museum, which is very well rated by rail enthusiasts. For artefacts,
stop and shop at the City Market and the famous intermittent Maasai
Markets.
A little past the Wilson airport, is the headquarters
of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS); the principal custodians of
Kenya's wildlife heritage. The headquarters incorporate the Animal
Orphanage, the tranquil Safari Walk nature trail, and is also the entry
to the Nairobi National Park, Get all valuable information about
Kenya's over 50 national parks and game reserves before venturing out
on safari. Visit KWS online at: www.kws.org.
View Kenya's
wildlife right in the city at the Nairobi National Park- home to lions,
rhino, giraffe and various antelopes in their natural habitat. In
addition to the unique distinction of hosting a national park, Nairobi
carries more species of birds than any other capital city in the world.
Check details on the park at
http://www.africapoint.com/national-parks/kenya/nairobi.htm
Down
the road from KWS, is Bomas of Kenya -a cultural centre where you can
enjoy the dance and music of various Kenyan peoples. In the same
vicinity, you can visit the Giraffe Centre, which is credited with
helping rescue the Rothschild giraffe from extinction. Then head to the
Karen Blixen museum, former home to the Danish author of "Out of
Africa".
If you can spare the time for a day trip, Lake Nakuru
National Park comes highly recommended. Lake Nakuru's claim to fame is
anchored on its flamingo's and the over 400 species of birds found
here. This soda lake on the floor of the rift valley is host to
millions of flamingos and an important refuge for endangered species-
particularly the Rothschild Giraffe and the black and white rhino.
Eating Out
Nairobi
has top restaurants offering a diversity of cuisines, in keeping with
its cosmopolitan character. The varieties you can taste here include
Ethiopian, Lebanese, Thai, Japanese, Continental, African, Indian,
Italian, French, Chinese- you name it. The thrifty are well served by a
variety of American type fast food outlets and small restaurants
serving local foods that are scattered all over the city.
Communication
You
will find phone, fax and Internet facilities in the city's cyber cafés
and hotels. International direct dialling to many countries is
available; some of the major hotelshave broadband Internet services.
Telkom Kenya is the sole fixed line operator and has got the most cost
effective international calling VoIP rates. Hotels offer phone and fax
services to guests.
Nairobi's dialling code is 020; Kenya's 254.
Public payphones are on hand, coins or phone cards are needed to make
calls; the latter is available in fixed denominations. Privately run
telephone bureaus also offer phone/ fax services at reasonable charges.
Cellular
services are offered by two providers -Celtel and Safaricom. Celtel has
many distribution outlets from the airport and throughout the city
where you can buy a GSM card for your mobile phone that will allow you
to make international calls to any country. Celtel operates cellular
services in thirteen African countries and provides roaming for 120
countries worldwide. In addition, they offer a choice of different
tariffs that are tailored to suit the needs of all users. For more info
on Celtel go to: www.celtel.com
To check a listed Nairobi telephone number, go to: www.yellowpageskenya.com.
Banking and Money
Banks
in Kenya operate from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm on weekdays and 9.00 to 11.00
am on the first and last Saturday of each month. Major currencies such
as US dollars and Euro and travellers cheques can be converted at major
hotels, banks and forex Bureaus. You will get best exchange rates for
cash or travellers cheques if you are dealing in US dollars, Euro or
Pound Sterling.
For this, your best deal will be at
forexbureaus. Avoid changing money in the streets however favourable
the exchange rate may appear. Some banks and forex bureaus at the
airport are open for open 24 hours. Visa
and MasterCard have wide acceptance: American Express, Diners and other
cards have more limited acceptance. Your Visa card can access your bank
or credit card account through any Standard Chartered Bank dispenser,
24 hours a day.
Shopping
A
day out shopping is a good way to interact with the Kenyan people.
Within the citycentre, you will find shops offering unique local
artefacts, jewellery and paintings. Around the city, at alternate
venues on alternate days, the legendary Maasai Markets offer a good
bargain on cultural artefacts. Kariakor market, just outside town, is a
good place for shop for authentic kiondos- sisal basketwork.
Nairobi
hosts some international standard shopping malls- popular with the more
affluent. The largest are Village Market -at Gigiri near the UN
offices, Sarit Centre at Westlands and Yaya Centre in the Hurlingham
area. At these malls you will find a variety of elegant boutiques,
restaurants, coffee shops, cinemas and cyber cafés.
Health and Emergency Services
Nairobi
is well served with excellent hospitals, health facilities and
chemists. The leading hospitals are the Nairobi hospital, The Aga-Khan,
Mater Misericordia and M.P Shah hospitals. HIV-AIDS is prevalent in the
city; prudent measures are called for.
The emergency number for fire, police or ambulance services is 999.
Foreign Embassies
Kenya
is a regional diplomatic centre and over 70 foreign countries have
tepresentation. Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for info on their
locations and contacts in Nairobi: www.mfa.go.ke. The offices of the
Foreign Ministry are located on Harambee Avenue in the city centre and
are open five days a week. The protocol office is always ready to
assist travellers.
Security Information
Security
anywhere should be taken seriously and likewise in Nairobi. Important
documents and valuables should be kept safely. Some parts of the city
are not considered safe for walking, especially at night -get local
advise. If you take the common sense precautions you would take in any
big city, you will be OK. The security situation in Nairobi has greatly
improved as a result of recent efforts by the authorities.
There
are police stations all around the city and police officers on constant
patrol. There is a special Tourist Police unit, on a 24-hour call on 20
2724501 or 2727844 within Nairobi.
Weather
The
weather in Nairobi pleasant year round, with temperatures averaging 21
degrees C. The rains come around April- May and November-December.
Light clothing is generally recommended, except in the evenings when
you may need a sweater or jacket.
Average Min/Max temperatures in Degrees Centigrades for the month of January for Nairobi are 14/26.
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