Two Days in Nairobi: City Culture and Safari Adventure

Acacia tree in Nairobi National Park

Attending the Global Schools Forum brought me to Nairobi, Kenya, where I had the chance to connect with inspiring education leaders from across the world. The conference itself was a highlight, but Nairobi quickly revealed it had much more to offer. This is a vibrant, fast-growing city filled with warmth, the kind of place where every interaction with locals in this community feels both welcoming, kind, and highly professional. With outstanding dining options, fascinating cultural and historic sites, and Nairobi National Park just minutes from downtown (where you can spot giraffes and zebras against a city skyline), it’s an ideal destination to extend a work trip. Even a single extra day here offers a memorable glimpse into Kenya’s remarkable blend of energy, nature, and hospitality.

Places to stay

Our conference hotels were the Ole Sereni and its somewhat fancier sister hotel the Emara Ole Sereni, both right across from Nairobi National Park, with sweeping park views and magnificent sunsets to view from either hotels’ rooftop pool.

The Emara Ole Sereni, the nicer sister property to the Ole Sereni, has a bit more luxury and larger more polished spaces.

If not in Nairobi for a conference, I would have considered one of two Marriott options - either the JW Marriott (a 15 minute walk from the National Museum) or the Sankara Autograph Collection (in the Westlands neighborhood and close to great restaurants like beit é selam - reviewed below).

Where to eat

The most exciting place to eat and tour is the Cultiva Kenya - a farm (and farm to table restaurant) with exquisite food, much of which is fresh from the adjacent grounds - you can take a self-guided tour to see for yourself how the food you ate was grown.

The Utamaduni shops, a stop on our safari tour, had a bonus of a shop for souvenirs after a refreshing lunch in a lovely outdoor patio setting of the Courtyard Kitchen restaurant.

Thai Chi, recommended by a Nairobi local, has great Thai food and a tranquil outdoor setting, with heaters to warm the chill if you are having an evening meal.

Also recommended by friends who live in Nairobi, beit é selam offers elegant dining with fusion food and a widely varied menu - something to offer for everyone from lamb burger to fresh fish.

For a quick meal right after visiting the National Museum of Kenya, stop at the Museum Heritage Restaurant, with outdoor seating just outside the museum.

Things to do

Start off with the NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour to get your bearings and see Nairobi city. During this tour you’ll learn from former street children who transformed their lives with the Nai Nami project. The tour includes a visit to the Kenyatta International Conference Center with views of the city from the top of the tower.

Visit the Nairobi Museum of Kenya, rich with the history of Kenya, its culture, and the animals that inhabit the country.

Tour the Kobe Tough bead making center, learn about how women have been empowered with the skill of bead making, and purchase incredible products in the attached shop.

With only a couple of days you may not have time to go to the well known and highly rated Masai Mara safari area (about a four hour drive away), but you can still get out to the park through the Nairobi National Park Tour that includes not only the park, but several other unique stops.

This safari package includes a visit to the Elephant Orphanage, part of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

The Giraffe Center is another stop on the full day safari tour - an educational experience where you are able to feed giraffes and learn about the important conservation work of the center.

Next time…

The Maasai Mara tops our list for the next visit to Kenya. While Nairobi National Park offered a surprisingly rich glimpse of wildlife, complete with giraffes, lions, and rhinos just minutes from the city, I’m eager to experience a more immersive, remote safari next time. Kenya’s landscapes are vast and full of contrast, and the Mara promises a deeper connection to the country’s wild beauty that I can’t wait to explore.