This is a list of the best places to visit in Nairobi on a budget. Nairobi is literally a fun-packed hub and the world’s wildlife capital with a national park right within the city. It offers a lot of opportunities for fun-filled activities, whether you are looking for some of the finest entertainment joints, stylish restaurants and hotels, beautiful picnic and campsites, hikes or team building adventures.
Here are the best places to visit in Nairobi on a budget.
1. Nairobi National Park
The Nairobi National Park is located just a short drive out of the CBD, approximately 8 kilometres. Key attractions at the park include an animal orphanage, campsites, walking trails, ivory burning site monument and a rhino sanctuary. It offers amazing opportunities for safari walks, game drives and picnics.
2. Uhuru Park
Uhuru Park is located right in the heart of the city. The park offers a range of activities such as boat rides, horse riding, merry go round, quad biking, face painting and photography sessions. This is actually the cheapest place in Nairobi where you can visit with your family or friends and have a good time.
3. Oloolua Nature Trail
Oloolua Nature Trail is an oasis of tranquillity situated in Karen. It features beautiful sceneries of indigenous trees and beautiful chirping birds, a magical cave and a spectacular waterfall. It is a perfect and budget-friendly location for hikers, campers and joggers.
4. Karura Forest
It is a picturesque forest and one of the largest urban gazetted forests in the world. It features scenic waterfalls, amazing picnic sites, beautiful caves and spectacular indigenous trees. It is a perfect destination for couples, friends and families to enjoy forest walks and drives, cycling, bird watching, picnicking and running.
The Nairobi Arboretum is a budget-friendly location situated about 3 kilometres from the city centre. It is ideal for picnics, birdwatching, marked walking trails, concerts and team-building activities. It is home to sykes and vervet monkeys, over 300 indigenous trees and different bird species.
6. Uhuru Gardens
It is a recreational park located along Lang’ata Road. It is also a memorial park that features two monuments commemorating Kenya’s independence. The beautiful gardens offer a serene environment perfect for nature lovers and those who need a quiet place to unwind and feel the day’s cool breeze.
7. Karen Blixen Museum
Karen Blixen Museum is located about 3 kilometres from the city centre. It is open to the public every day from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. The museum offers guided tours continuously. The museum’s grounds may be rented for wedding receptions, corporate functions and any other events.
8. Nairobi Mamba Village
This is a nature paradise located in Karen. It features a leisure park, an ostrich park, secluded picnic sites, botanical gardens, walking and bird-watching trails. It is also home to over 70 Nile crocodiles in a natural paradise spread over 30 acres. It is a wonderful destination for ideal family outings, picnics and team building activities.
The Giraffe Centre is situated in a quiet environment in Karen. It is home to the rare species of the Rothschild giraffes. It is a serene place where you can simply visit to enjoy nature walks and feed the beautiful giraffes. They charge about Kshs 250 for resident adults and Kshs 50 for children.
The museum is located at Museum Hill, a 10-minute drive from the city centre. It offers a one-stop for visitors to sample Kenya’s rich heritage for leisure and educational purposes. It houses celebrated collections of Kenya’s history, nature, culture and contemporary art. The museum is open every day from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
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