Nairobi
East Africa’s main business hub and the starting point for most Kenyan safaris, with a national park on the edge of the city.
Overview
Nairobi is Kenya’s capital and the region’s main business, diplomatic and conference centre. It suits business travellers, conference delegates, families visiting relatives and anyone starting or finishing a safari.
Most travellers fly into Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO), and most safari flights leave from Wilson Airport, so a night or two here is part of many Kenya trips. Between meetings or flights you can fit in a game drive in Nairobi National Park, the Giraffe Centre or the elephant orphanage.
What the trip looks like
Built around your dates. There is no fixed itinerary. These are the lengths of stay most of our travellers choose, and we plan the detail with you.
Between flights or meetings
A morning game drive in Nairobi National Park, or the Giraffe Centre and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant nursery, with transfers timed around your schedule.
Arrival or departure stay
A night before or after a safari or beach trip, in a hotel chosen for its distance to NBO or Wilson Airport.
Business or conference trip
Airport transfers, a hotel close to your office or venue, and ground transport between meetings.
City break
The park, the Giraffe Centre, the Karen Blixen Museum, markets and restaurants, at an easy pace.
Experiences
Nairobi National Park
Lion, rhino, giraffe and buffalo with the city skyline behind them. A half-day game drive fits before a flight or a meeting.
Giraffe Centre
A breeding and education centre for the Rothschild’s giraffe in Lang’ata, with a raised platform for feeding them.
Elephant nursery
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s nursery for orphaned elephants opens to visitors for a set hour each day. Advance booking is needed.
Karen Blixen Museum
The farmhouse of the author of Out of Africa, in the suburb that now carries her name.
Conferences and events
The Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), UN offices at Gigiri and hotel venues across Westlands and Upper Hill.
Safari connections
Road safaris leave from your hotel; scheduled safari flights leave from Wilson Airport for the Mara, Amboseli and beyond.
Where you'll stay
In Nairobi the area matters as much as the grade. We match the hotel to your meetings, your flights and traffic at the times you travel.
Practical and well located
Well-run three-star hotels near the city centre, Westlands or the airport, suited to short stays.
Established business hotels
Four-star hotels in Westlands, Upper Hill and Kilimani, with meeting rooms and reliable transfers.
Upscale and boutique
Larger international hotels and smaller boutique properties in Westlands, Gigiri and Karen.
Top-tier city stays
Five-star hotels and garden properties in Karen, close to the park, the Giraffe Centre and Wilson Airport.
When to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Best period
- Good / shoulder
- Quieter or wetter
The driest, coolest months. Busy for safari connections, so book hotels near Wilson early.
Warm and generally dry. A good time for the park and outdoor visits.
Heavier rain, especially April and May. Traffic is slower in the rain; city hotels stay open.
Large conferences and mid-December to early January push up hotel rates. Otherwise city rates are steady through the year.
What we arrange
What we arrange
- Airport meet-and-greet at NBO or Wilson
- Hotels matched to your meetings or flights
- Private transfers and ground transport
- Nairobi National Park and day visits, booked in advance
- Domestic and safari flights
- Entry guidance for visiting guests
- Travel insurance
- Conference and group travel
What varies by trip
- Hotel area and grade
- Transfer times with traffic
- Park entry fees, which depend on residency
- Visiting slots at the elephant nursery
- Conference-week hotel rates
- Whether you add a safari or the coast
Your written quotation lists exactly what is included for your dates.
Gallery
Where you'll be
Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) lies south-east of the city centre; Wilson Airport and Nairobi National Park are to the south.
Pricing
What changes the price
- Travel dates
- Hotel area and grade
- Number of nights
- Airport and ground transfers
- Day activities
- Resident or non-resident park fees
- Conference weeks
Final pricing depends on dates, traveller numbers, accommodation and availability.
Interested in Nairobi?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. A consultant will come back to you with options and a firm quotation.
- Only name and email are required
- No obligation; a travel advisor replies, not an automated sequence
- Flights, hotels, transfers and visa guidance handled together
Prefer to talk it through? Talk to a travel advisor on +254 727 443840 or email travel@travellifectm.com.
Nairobi: good to know
How many days do I need in Nairobi?
One or two nights covers the park, the Giraffe Centre and the elephant nursery. Add one night before or after a safari if your flights are early or late.
How long is the drive from the airport?
It depends heavily on the time of day. The Nairobi Expressway links NBO with the city centre and Westlands and usually saves time; we plan pick-ups around your flight and traffic.
Can I see wildlife in Nairobi?
Yes. Nairobi National Park is on the city’s southern edge, and a half-day game drive is often possible between meetings or flights.
When is the best time to visit?
Nairobi works all year. June to October and January to February are the driest months; April and May are the wettest.
Can I combine Nairobi with a safari or the beach?
Yes. Most travellers spend a night here before or after the Maasai Mara, Amboseli or Diani. We book the connecting flights or road transfers.
Can Travel Life Africa arrange conference travel?
Yes. We handle flights, hotel blocks, airport transfers and ground transport for delegates and teams.
Other places to explore.
Photos via Unsplash (Unsplash Licence). Images show the type of place and experience and are not from a specific Travel Life Africa trip or property.