Nairobi Travel Guide 2026: When to Go, Stay & Get Around

Nairobi is where almost every Kenya trip starts, and most people see only the road from the airport to their safari van. Give it a couple of days and you get wildlife, elephants and giraffes up close, and the country’s best museums, all within a short drive. The decisions are the month, the base and how to book the visits that sell out. Prices and rules below were checked on 9 October 2026.

When is the best time to visit Nairobi?

Nairobi stands at around 1,700 metres, so it never gets hot: the year is shaped by rain, not heat. The long rains fall from March to May and the short rains in November. The figures are Kenya Meteorological Department normals on the WMO World Weather Information Service.

December to February is the northern winter, and Nairobi is at its sunniest then, with highs around 24 to 26°C. July mornings drop to about 10°C, so bring a fleece for early game drives. For the wider country and the Maasai Mara migration, see our best time to visit Kenya guide.

Where should you stay in Nairobi?

Nairobi is spread out and traffic is heavy, so pick your base by what you plan to do.

First time? Choose Westlands for convenience, or a lodge in Karen or Lang’ata if your days revolve around the park and the animal visits.

How do you get to Nairobi and around it?

Most international flights land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, south-east of the city.

Onward by train. Kenya Railways’ Madaraka Express runs from Nairobi Terminus to Mombasa Terminus. The Inter-County train leaves at 08:00 and reaches Mombasa at 14:10 after stops including Voi; the Express leaves at 15:00 and stops only at Voi, arriving at 20:08; a night train leaves at 22:00. Tickets go on sale 60 days ahead on metickets.krc.co.ke or by Safaricom USSD, children aged 4 to 11 pay half, and Kenya Railways says it does not accept credit or debit cards. Arrive 60 minutes before departure for the security check.

What should you not miss in Nairobi?

Nairobi National Park and the elephant orphanage. Kenya Wildlife Service’s urban park sits on the city’s southern edge; pay the fee through eCitizen before you reach the gate. Inside it, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Nairobi Nursery opens every day except 25 December, from 11am to noon, when the orphaned elephants come in for their mud bath and milk feed. Email the Trust’s Nairobi office up to three months ahead and allow two business days for a reply: it accepts no same-day or third-party bookings. The cash donation is on top of the park fee, which KWS has required of every orphanage visitor since September 2023, at the Mbagathi Gate on Magadi Road. Arrive by 10:30am, as the visit is not extended for latecomers.

The Giraffe Centre. Run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife on Nyumbi Road in Lang’ata, about 15 km from the city centre, it lets you feed giraffes from a raised platform. It opens daily from 9am to 5pm, including public holidays. Its last published price list charged non-resident adults KSh 1,500 and children KSh 750, payable by card or M-Pesa only; the centre’s own website was offline when we checked, so confirm on arrival.

Museums. National Museums of Kenya revised its fees on 7 May 2026: the Nairobi National Museum costs 18 US dollars for visitors from outside Africa, or 25 US dollars combined with the Snake Park, and the Karen Blixen Museum, the Danish author’s farmhouse about 10 km from the centre, costs 17 US dollars. Both open from 8:30am to 5:30pm every day, and payment goes through eCitizen, not cash.

Day trips from Nairobi

• Hell’s Gate National Park: cliffs and gorges in the Rift Valley near Lake Naivasha, where KWS sells a cycling permit, so you can ride through. Entry is 50 US dollars for non-resident adults, plus 10 US dollars a day for cycling.
• Mount Longonot: a crater-rim hike in the same KWS scenic-park category, at 50 US dollars.
• Amboseli: too far for a comfortable day trip, but a classic two-night safari from Nairobi, with elephants and Kilimanjaro views; KWS charges 90 US dollars a day.

What goes wrong in Nairobi?

• Arriving at the orphanage without a booking. The Sheldrick Nursery turns away anyone without a confirmed email booking, and it does not take same-day bookings.
• Paying the park fee twice, or not at all. The elephant orphanage donation and the KWS park fee are separate; you need both.
• Walking at night. The UK Foreign Office warns of mugging and bag-snatching, particularly in the Central Business District and at bus and train stations. Take a taxi after dark and keep phones out of sight.
• Underestimating traffic. Allow plenty of time to reach the airport or the station, and avoid driving at night outside the city, which the Foreign Office also advises against.

How many days do you need in Nairobi?

Two to three days. Spend one morning on a game drive in Nairobi National Park and the 11am elephant visit, the afternoon at the Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum, then add a museum day or Hell’s Gate. Many safaris then fly from Wilson Airport or drive on to the Maasai Mara or Amboseli; the Kenya guide shows which month suits which park.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to visit Nairobi?

June to October and January to February are the dry seasons. Kenya Meteorological Department figures give Nairobi just 17.5 mm of rain in July and 56.5 mm in February, against 219.4 mm in April and 154.2 mm in November, the two rainy peaks. At around 1,700 metres, the city is mild all year, with highs of about 21 to 26°C.

Where should I stay in Nairobi?

Westlands is the most practical base for a first visit, with the widest choice of hotels and restaurants. Karen and Lang’ata, on the city’s south-western edge, are quieter and closer to the Giraffe Centre, the Sheldrick elephant orphanage and the Nairobi National Park gates. Avoid basing yourself in the Central Business District, which the UK Foreign Office lists among the higher-crime areas.

How much does Nairobi National Park cost?

Kenya Wildlife Service charges a non-resident adult 80 US dollars a day for Nairobi National Park since 1 October 2025, and 40 US dollars for a child or student. The Nairobi package, which adds the Nairobi Animal Orphanage and the Nairobi Safari Walk, costs 105 US dollars. A daily ticket is valid for up to 24 hours, and fees are paid through the eCitizen platform.

How do I visit the Sheldrick elephant orphanage?

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust opens its Nairobi Nursery to visitors every day except 25 December, from 11am to noon, by advance booking only. Book by email up to three months ahead; same-day bookings and third-party bookings are not accepted. The minimum donation is 20 US dollars per adult and 5 US dollars per child under 12, in cash, and you also pay the Nairobi National Park fee at the gate.

How do I get from Nairobi to Mombasa?

Kenya Railways’ Madaraka Express links Nairobi Terminus and Mombasa Terminus every day. The Inter-County train leaves both ends at 08:00, the Express at 15:00 with one stop at Voi, and a night train at 22:00. Tickets go on sale 60 days ahead on metickets.krc.co.ke, and Kenya Railways does not accept credit or debit cards.

How many days do you need in Nairobi?

Two to three days is enough before or after a safari: one morning in Nairobi National Park, the Sheldrick elephant orphanage at 11am, the Giraffe Centre and the Karen Blixen Museum nearby, plus a day for the Nairobi National Museum or a trip to Hell’s Gate in the Rift Valley.

Start planning your Nairobi trip

If a safari package already includes your Nairobi nights and transfers, you can skip this part. If you are booking separately, fix your flight first, then email the elephant orphanage for your date.

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Planning the wider trip? See our best time to visit Kenya guide, where to go in August for migration season, and the best travel cameras for wildlife.