5 Places to visit Nairobi on a weekend alone

Behold the magnificence of skyscrapers and towering structures, Nairobi has a charming but intimidating façade. Many people describe it as a place of a thousand tales.

You cannot have enough of the beautiful city under the sun. There is too much to tell, see and feel literally speaking. Nairobi is one of those cities in Africa where you cannot have enough fun and adventure in just a day. It is a city where your weekend gets better with the right places to visit.

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As such See Africa, Today has a list of magical places to visit Nairobi on a weekend alone.

Karura Forest

Karura Forest embodies Nairobi’s description as the ‘The Green City In The Sun’.

Situated within the vicinity of the city, 10 minutes drive from the city centre, it brings forth a mesmerizing aura of fresh air. Karura Forest is the place you want to keep going back to due to its adorable nature and a friendly environment supporting outdoor activities.

This forest at the heart of the city angled itself as an outdoor workout hub, a trend that many now feel part of. Runners and joggers love this place which now has 15, 10 and 5 km trails where you can jog or take a nature walk. This makes it one of the best places to visit Nairobi on a weekend alone.

You can also do bike riding, bird watching, horse riding and tennis. The entry fee for adults is $1 for adults while the kid’s entry fee is $0.50.

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The main entrance to Karura Forest is on Limuru Road just after the Belgian Embassy. However, you can also use either the KFS main gate which is off Kiambu road and opposite CID Headquarters.

Alternatively, use the Old Kiambu Gate which is on Old Kiambu road. There are two wet seasons: April-June (long rains) and October-December (short rains). In between, days are sunny and dry except for July and August which is usually cool and cloudy.

Giraffe Centre

It is an exciting place to spend your weekend. It is located in Lang’ata, approximately 20 kilometres from the centre of Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in order to protect the endangered giraffe, only found in the grasslands of East Africa.

The giraffes wander freely through the lush gardens, and pay an occasional visit to the house itself. They often shove their heads through the French Windows to ‘inspect’ the breakfast table. Isn’t this an excellent reason for you to tour places to visit Nairobi on a weekend alone?

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The entry charge for adults is $2.5 while kids are charged $0.50. The centre is open from 9 AM to 5 PM, seven days a week.

Village Market

The Village Market is a large shopping, recreation and entertainment complex in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. It accommodates over 150 stores outlets in addition to recreation and entertainment facilities.

Located in Gigiri, it is an urban hub for recreation and entertainment. The Village Market hosts many activities annually including weekly art exhibitions. Ladies Day and Car Boot sale are among the activities and events held at the complex.

Bowling is among the most popular game here for just $5. Remember there are several tours and travel companies within the mall in case you want to travel outside Nairobi.

Nairobi National Park

Seven kilometres from the city centre, you finally get to Nairobi National Park. The park has a vast open grassland with plains.

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And at the back of it all are the city’s skyscrapers. Then there are the scattered acacia bushes which are phenomenally known for playing home to animals in the jungle.

Taking pride as ”the World’s only Wildlife Capital”, Nairobi National Park offers a dose of life in the wild in one of the most unexpected places.

The park plays host to some of the big five members; lions, buffalos, leopards, and the black rhino. Giraffes, hyenas and Zebras dot every corner of this expansive park at the heart of Kenya’s capital.

With its diversity, the park does not leave behind bird enthusiasts. There are more than 400 bird species in this expansive park. Both migratory and endemic birds can be seen in the park.

Karen Blixen Museum

The Karen Blixen Museum is awash with Kenya’s history given its important role during the pre-colonial era. It is a colonial house reminiscent of Baroness Karen Blixen who stayed with her husband before Kenya attained independence.

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The museum was put up in 1912 before the Blixen’s purchased it in 1917. It is here that they lived while farming coffee on their 4,500-acre farm. Years later, the couple would go separate ways and Karen ended up with the house until she returned to her mother country in Denmark in 1931.

After Kenya attained independence, the Karen Blixen Museum was bought by the Danish Government for Kenya as a gift for finally attaining independence. To date, it stands beautifully and has a rich history of Karen and her family.