Kenya was voted as Africa’s leading tourist destination in 2020 by World Travel Awards (WTA), with a number of sites and locations in Nairobi contributing to the ranking.
Below are some of the most affordable areas to visit in Nairobi;
John Michuki National Park
Kenyatta opened the rehabilitated Michuki Park that was initially known as the Mazingira Park on Friday, August 14, 2020. The name was changed to honour the late former Minister of Environment John Michuki.
It is located on Kijabe Street near the Globe Cinema Roundabout in Nairobi. The Nairobi Metropolitan Services was tasked with beautifying the park after the Nairobi County shared responsibilities with the National Government.
One can have a view of nature, the Nairobi River and also enjoy picnic sites. Entry into the park is free of charge.
Nairobi National Museum
It is located at Museum Hill, less than 10 minutes drive from the Nairobi CBD. The museum was built in 1929 and houses celebrated collections of Kenya’s History, Nature, Culture and Contemporary Art.
The artwork and material used in the fabrication of outdoor sculptures, the landscaping and the botanic gardens, link to the four pillars of Kenya’s national heritage, that is nature, culture, history and contemporary art.
Inside the museum, one can enjoy the art gallery, temporary exhibitions, nature trail and botanical gardens. For adults, the museum charges Ksh 200 for citizens, Ksh 600 for residents and Ksh 1,200 for non-residents. For under 16 years, it charges Ksh 100 for citizens, Ksh 400 for residents and Ksh 600 for non-residents.
Giraffe Centre
The Giraffe Centre is the brainchild of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W. Kenya), a Kenyan non-profit organisation. It is located in Lang’ata, Nairobi.
The centre offers nature and wildlife education to Kenyan students and the youth. Local and foreign tourists can also interact with the Rothschild’s Giraffe. The centre has an area where visitors can feed a giraffe from pellets offered by attendants. It also has an information centre, a nature sanctuary, a tea house and a gift shop.
For adults, the centre charges Ksh 400 for citizens and residents and Ksh 1,500 for non-residents. For children (3 – 12 years), it charges Ksh 200 for citizens and residents and Ksh 750 for Non Residents.
Oloolua Nature Trail
Oloolua Nature Trail in Kenya is located in Karen, Nairobi in the indigenous tropical dry Oloolua forest in Kenya.
The main attraction centres include a 37 metres natural cave, a beautiful waterfall draining into Mbagathi River, bamboo rest point, papyrus swamp and educational centres where visitors learn about geology, botany and aquatic species.
Adult citizens, residents and non-residents are charged Ksh 200, Ksh 400 and Ksh 600 respectively. Children citizen, residents and non-residents are charged Ksh 100, Ksh 200 and Ksh 300 respectively.
Nairobi Arboretum
The Nairobi Arboretum is located along State House Road in Kilimani, Nairobi and is home to various tree species and wild animals.
It also has picnic sites, marked walking trails and tourists can enjoy watching birds, picnics and other social activities.
Kenya Forest Services (KFS) charges Ksh 65 for citizens, residents, and non-resident adults, Ksh 27 for all children.
Karura Forest
The evergreen urban forest is located on the outskirts of Nairobi, nestled between Kiambu Road and Limuru Road. Tourists can visit the forest to enjoy nature and the serenity just a few kilometres from Nairobi CBD.
Visitors can also participate in different activities such as hiking, jogging and riding bicycles. Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Wangari Maathai is famous for camping at Karura to protest and publicise her campaigns for saving trees through the Green Belt Movement.
The forest has a 15-metre waterfall, archaeological sites (recently excavated, artefacts that are being analyzed), and an old chimney incinerator – used by the Central Bank for decommissioning notes printed in the 1990′s.
Other features include an abandoned stone quarry pond called Lily Lake, caves used by the Mau-Mau freedom fighters, patches of bamboo forest, marshlands that attract bird life including winter migrants from Europe and Asia, and secondary and primary indigenous trees.
Kenyan adults pay Ksh 100 for citizens, Ksh 100 for residents while non-residents are charged Ksh 600. For children, citizens pay Ksh 50, residents Ksh 100 and non-residents Ksh 300.
Ngong Hills
It is located in Ngong, Kajiado County and is managed by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
The seven hills also host wind generation power sites, tourism attraction sites at vantage points, high altitude sports training and hiking areas.
Tourists can enjoy hiking, picnics, camping and other team bonding activities. KFS charges Ksh 200 for citizens, Ksh 400 for residents and Ksh 600 for non-residents.
Paradise Lost
Located in Kiambu County, Paradise Lost was discovered in 1996 by a group of coffee farmers. Its main tourist attractions are the caves, wildlife and nature.
Tourists can explore the stone age caves, stunning waterfall, picnics, fishing activities, boat riding, visiting a coffee farm, horse riding, camel riding, nature trails and bird watching.
For adults, the management charges Ksh 400 for citizens and residents and Ksh 1,000 for non-residents. Children are charged Ksh 300 for citizens and residents and Ksh 1,000 for non-residents.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
