Nairobi is East Africa's biggest and busiest city, and the gateway to nearly every Kenya safari. It is also unusual among capitals: a national park lies on its southern edge, giraffes feed at a sanctuary in the suburbs, and orphaned baby elephants are raised at a nursery beside the forest.
A day or two in the city is a worthwhile start or finish to a journey. Visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the Giraffe Centre and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, enjoy a good restaurant in Karen or Westlands, and take a short drive into Nairobi National Park to see rhino and lion with the skyline behind them.
The Giraffe Centre lets you feed Rothschild’s giraffe from a raised platform, and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery shows orphaned elephants and rhinos at their daily mud bath and feeding. Nairobi National Park, just beyond the suburbs, has black rhino, lion, giraffe and more than 400 bird species.
Look out for
Activities here
Nairobi is mild all year thanks to its altitude, with daytime temperatures around 21°C to 26°C and cool nights, sometimes as low as 11°C. The long rains fall in April and May and a shorter season in November.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25 | 12 | 60 |
| Feb | 26 | 13 | 50 |
| Mar | 25 | 14 | 90 |
| Apr | 23 | 15 | 200 |
| May | 22 | 14 | 170 |
| Jun | 21 | 12 | 30 |
| Jul | 20 | 11 | 15 |
| Aug | 21 | 11 | 20 |
| Sep | 24 | 12 | 25 |
| Oct | 24 | 14 | 60 |
| Nov | 22 | 15 | 150 |
| Dec | 23 | 14 | 80 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
June to September and December to February are the driest and sunniest months, with clear skies and comfortable days for sightseeing.
Heavy showers fall mostly in the afternoons and evenings in April, May and November, which can slow the traffic. Mornings are often bright.
Nairobi can be enjoyed at any time of year. The dry months are the most comfortable, and the best advice for visitors is to avoid the evening rush hour, which can add hours to a transfer.
Best time to visit Jan to Feb
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport lies about 18 kilometres from the city centre, and Wilson Airport, for domestic and charter flights to the parks, is about 6 kilometres from the centre. Traffic is heavy at peak times, so we schedule transfers outside the rush hours.
Almost every visitor needs a Kenya electronic travel authorisation (eTA), applied for online before you fly. It costs roughly US$30 plus service fees, is normally approved within a few working days, and requires a passport valid for at least six months. We will remind you to apply well before departure.
Nairobi has excellent private hospitals and clinics. The city is high enough to be free from malaria, but please take advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis for the rest of your trip.
Wildlife Reserve & SanctuaryMasai Mara National ReserveBig cats and the Great Migration
National ParkAmboseli National ParkElephants beneath Kilimanjaro
National ParkLake Nakuru National ParkRhino, flamingo and tree-climbing lionsNational ParkHell’s Gate National ParkCycling among giraffe and gorges
Lake & IslandsLake NaivashaBoat safaris and Crescent Island walks
National ParkTsavo West National ParkLava flows, springs and red elephantsSafaris from
US$179 per person
Plan your time in Nairobi
Every safari we run is private and built around you. Tell us your dates and what you hope to see, and we will shape the route, the lodges and the permits.
Made to measure
Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.
Start planningCookies
Essential cookies keep this site working. With your permission we also remember the safaris and places you have viewed. You can change your mind any time from Cookie settings in the footer.
