Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is a world class city and has some of the best facilities to be found in Africa. The name comes from the language of the Maasai people, which translates as “the place of fresh waters”. The city has two nicknames: ‘Green City in the Sun’ and ‘Safari Capital of the World’, the latter due to the many tourists who use Nairobi as a hub for an East African safari each year.
A bit of Nairobi history
Nairobi began as a train stop conveniently located between Mombasa and Kampala, in Uganda. But the high altitude made the region cool and there was plenty of river water nearby, so Nairobi quickly began to expand and develop. A few years after its founding, the city replaced Mombasa as the capital of the British protectorate. The town grew rapidly as British tourists arrived to explore the big game hunting experience. After Kenya became an independent nation in 1963, Nairobi remained the capital city.
Places of interest in the city
The first and foremost destination in Nairobi is the Nairobi National Park. Just 8 km (5 miles) from the city center, it is the biggest tourist attraction in the city. It certainly makes Nairobi unique. No other city can boast a park full of wild animals just outside its borders. Take an afternoon to drive through the park or take a walking tour to see rhinos, giraffes, and even lions. The park is only fenced on the Nairobi side so wild animals can come and go freely.
Other places to see are the Nairobi National Museum, Uhuru Park, the Karen Blixen Museum (located in the house of the famous author of “Out of Africa”), the Kenyan Parliament Buildings, the Solar Ice Rink and the of art Wattatu. There are restaurants that offer foods from many different cultures, not just African. There are popular places for Indian, Japanese, French, Chinese or Italian cuisines.
Life in Nairobi today
Nairobi is a cosmopolitan place, where you will meet all kinds of people. It has a lively cultural scene. By African standards, the city also has excellent facilities. There are shopping malls, movie theaters, a busy shopping district, parks, universities, and much more. Medical care in Nairobi is among the best in Africa. As in any large metropolitan area, there are wealthy neighborhoods (Karen and Tagata) as well as the slums of Kibera and Mathare.
The size of Nairobi
The city is around 260 square miles in size. The most recent census figures put the population of Nairobi at just under 3 million people, and substantial growth puts population estimates at around 15 million by the year 2020. It is definitely a city poised to occupy its place on the world stage. Nairobi’s population is a mix of many indigenous tribes living together with Asians and Europeans.
Today, Nairobi is the main commercial and cultural center of East Africa. After some decline in the early 1990s, it has enjoyed good economic growth. However, there is still a huge gap between rich and poor. More than half of the inhabitants live in slums. Population estimates differ between about 2 and 4 million people.
Visiting Nairobi is a must if you come to this country and it is a destination for the whole year. Compared to the surrounding countryside, it is cool and the climate is pleasant, even during the rainy seasons.