Excursions
From Nairobi
Nairobi City Tour
The
Nairobi Museum has numerous exhibits of the late Dr. L.S.B. Leakeys
great finds, a collection of original artifacts from Kenyan tribes and
a superb collection of mounted birds. Adjacent to the Museum is the Snake
Park and the Aviary.
The
Railway Museum is a must for visitors interested in the countrys
history as well as National Assembly (Parliament), Branch at the Jamia
mosque and also view the Macmillan Memorial library. You could also visit
the viewpoint at the Uhuru Park. To conclude the tour, you branch at the
Municipal City Market where you can purchase a couple of beautiful souvenirs.
Nairobi Shopping
Colpro on Kimathi Street has one of the best selections of safari clothing
and has a wide choice of bush jackets, hats, etc. Eltons
on Standard Street has a fine collection of cut and uncut East African
gemstones, including Tanzanite.
African
Heritage on Kenyatta Avenue and Airport Road has an outstanding selection
of original African arts, mask, Jewelry and gift items. Rowland wards
cut glass featuring Africas wildlife makes a unique gift of memento.
Other good shopping are the shops in the Hilton Hotel arcade, the cottage
crafts in the Phoenix Arcade selling Kenyans Handicrafts and organized
by the National Christian Council of Kenya, and Maendeleo ya Wanawake
shop, opposite the 680 hotel, selling work made by local women in their
homes.
Street
vendors display a rainbow color mix of some of Kenya's fruit, vegetables
and flowers. Curios and Souvenirs are also to be found in and around the
market, where bargaining is the order of the day. There are a number of
art galleries including Gallery Watatu on the Standard Street, and the
East African Wildlife Society Art Gallery. In the Hilton Hotel, within
the Central Business District of Nairobi, is the Kumbu Kumbu Gallery which
specializes in Africa art.
Bomas Of Kenya
Typically,
this is a cultural tour that exposes you to Kenyas 16 major tribes
i.e. Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba etc. `Bomas is linguistically used to refer
to villages and is hence a Kiswahili word. It has numerous homesteads
reflecting Kenyas cocktail of cultures. These have been recreated
for visitors to see traditional village life. The climax of it all is
in the afternoon when there are displays of traditional dancing and acrobatic
shows performed in a splendid arena. The tour departs at 2pm till 5pm.
Maasai Footsteps (4 Hours)
For
those whose interest is to is to explore the Maasai culture without driving
many Kilometers out of Nairobi, Maasai footsteps is only 40 minutes drive
from the city. Visit the pastoralists in their natural environment leading
to life influenced by the world of mechanization. Maasai people share
a common environment with wildlife and nature. Their traditional belief
in conservation prohibits the indiscriminate killing of wildlife, thus
a protection of the natural ecosystem
Leaving
Nairobi, you travel into Ngong hills passing through Ngong Township. Arrival
at a viewpoint overlooking the Great Rift Valley where our guide gives
you a brief introduction insight into the Maasai culture. Descend into
the picturesque and scenic countryside. At a prepared site, you are met
and taken to the home. There is a unique Maasai wedding ceremony; fire
making, traditional dancing, and other Maasai customs are enacted for
you. A
leisurely walk takes you to a local Maasai Enkang for an inspection, enabling
you to interact with the residents. Return to your hotel before sunset.
Karen Blixen + Giraffe Center (Manor)
Karen
Blixen was the author of the famous movie `Out of Africa. After
she died, the Government bought her house where she had lived for many
years and turned it into a museum. Most travelers from Scandinavian countries
find it imperative to pay a visit to this place. Karen herself was a DANISH.
After obtaining some literature on her autobiography, you can then have
a walk in the farm compound to view some of the farming activities she
used to do.
You
later proceed to the Giraffe Manor to see and feed these rare species
(Rothschild). Opened in 1984 after the death of Jock and his wife
Betty who founded A FEW which are duly credited with saving the endangered
Rothschild giraffe from extinction. To activate this they captured a baby
This tour departs anytime from 0830 hrs. And is scheduled for 3-4 hours.
Carnivore Experience
Nairobi
has many restaurants offering a variety of Cuisine. We recommend a dinner
or lunch at the Carnivore restaurant. Which is famous for its succulent
steaks and barbecued dishes as an excellent compliment to a holiday in
Kenya, especially as a welcome or farewell dinner. In the style of a Brazilian
churrasceria, 6 kms from the city center, the carnivore restaurant is
a popular spot for meat lovers. Joints of lamb, beef, pork and venison
are roasted on an open spit and curved from spears at your table.
Nairobi National Park
The
Nairobi National Park only 9 kms from the City Center is Nairobis
pride, for no other bustling capital can boast of a paradise of Wildlife
almost at its doorstep.
Lake Nakuru Park
Lake
Nakuru National Park lies on the volcano-strewn Rift Valley, one of a
chain of 8 lakes, which stretch the length of Kenya from Tanzania to Ethiopia.
The 160 Kms drive from Nairobi passes through highland farms of Kikuyu
people before descending an escarpment into the dramatic land, which focuses
of the Rift. Lunch is taken at the park and is followed by an extensive
tour in the park. On the return journey to Nairobi a stop is made in Lake
Naivasha where tea is taken amongst the fever trees and where bird watchers
will delight in the fantastic array of bird life.
Amboseli Express
Amboseli
National Park lies within the shadows of the mighty Kilimanjaro, Africas
highest mountain. Only nature in her majesty could create such a backdrop
to the wildlife pageant found at Amboseli. Game is seen on much of the
route to the park, which crosses ochre plains, where Maasai tend their
cattle in an age-old tradition. Lunch is taken at a lodge in the park
and afterwards another game drive when lion, elephant and the splendid
cheetah are all likely to be seen hunting. Return
to Nairobi in the early evening.
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