Nairobi Hotels

Full of life and action, Kenya's highland capital, Nairobi, is the starting point for most Kenya safaris.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Year-round

Overview

Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, is as loud and chaotic as any other modern African city. Most travellers don’t tend to stay too long in Nairobi. But a night or two may often be needed, before or after a safari. (Plus it helps with the jet lag so that you are refreshed and ready for your safari.) Thankfully there are several good Nairobi Hotels to choose from. Both in the city centre and in the more countrified suburbs like Karen and the Ngong Hills.

Nairobi National Park

One of the happiest initiatives has been the establishment of a great little tented safari camp in the nearby Nairobi National Park. The park has always been worth spending a half day of game-viewing. But now you can spend the first or last night of your safari to Kenya in a game reserve, whatever your airline schedule dictates.

Excursions from Nairobi

There are a number of half day excursions in Nairobi such as the Sheldrick Centre,  Kazuri Beads Tour, City walking tours, even Giraffe Manor.

Nairobi Heritage Art Gallery

Note on Giraffe Manor

This is probably some of the most successful marketing by any African lodge. Consequently, you are NOT going to be able to stay there unless you are booking far in advance eg over a year out. And it is a tourist machine of note. You have been warned.

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Features

Why you may love it

  • Full of life and action, Nairobi is the starting point for most Kenya safaris
  • Visit the Giraffe Centre, where you can hand-feed these elegant African icons
  • Have an “up close and personal” encounter at the Daphne Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage
  • Tea and coffee plantations lie within an hour’s drive
  • Nairobi is fast developing a reputation for good restaurants
  • Shop for souvenirs in one of the craft markets, or look for upscale leather goods in the boutiques
  • Visit Karen Blixen’s house, best known for her novel Out of Africa (now the Karen Blixen Museum)

When to visit Nairobi Hotels

Mid-Dec to March

Summer in Nairobi

Nairobi lies on the inland plateau at 1600m (5250ft). So, even though you are close to the equator, the altitude makes the days pleasant and warm and the nights cooler. The summer is the warmest with 25-26C days and cool nights with only occasional afternoon showers.
AVG RAINFALL 72mm
MAX TEMP 26 ℃ / 79 ℉
MIN TEMP 12 ℃ / 54 ℉

April to May

Autumn in Nairobi

The long rains here take the form of hard afternoon showers so there is still plenty of sunshine. April is the wettest month.
AVG RAINFALL 198 mm
MAX TEMP 24 ℃ / 75 ℉
MIN TEMP 14 ℃ / 57 ℉

June to October

Winter in Nairobi

This is the coolest and driest time of the year with pleasant daytime temperatures but cold nights. Though it is dry, it is often cloudy so there is less sunshine overall.
AVG RAINFALL 28 mm
MAX TEMP 21 ℃ / 70 ℉
MIN TEMP 10 ℃ / 50 ℉

November to mid-Dec

Spring in Nairobi

November and early December are again relatively wet but as with April, the rain comes as afternoon or night showers so there’s plenty of sunshine as well.
AVG RAINFALL 103 mm
MAX TEMP 23 ℃ / 73 ℉
MIN TEMP 13 ℃ / 55 ℉

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Mari Jacobs

Africa Travel Specialist

Hi I'm Mari, I'm here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience
Did you know
  • NameFrom the phrase Enkare Nairobi - cool water
  • HistoryFounded in 1899 as a rail depot on the Uganda Railway

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