Tour Summary
These are short package suitable for those who are interested in shopping excursions, bussiness travellers and those who have limited time. The excursions mainly focus on Kenyan cultural, historical sights and landmarks.
The itineraries are carefully created with exploitation of every minute on your safari in mind. These short safaris takes a durations of between 2 hours and 12 hours depending on the package you choose.
Tour Starts From: Nairobi, Kenya
Tour Length: 1 Day
Nairobi City Tour
Kenya’s capital city has risen in a single century from a brackish uninhabited swampland to a thriving modern capital. When railway construction workers reached this area in 1899, they set up a basic camp and supply depot, simply called ‘Mile 327’.
The local Maasai called this highland swamp Ewaso Nai’beri – the place of cold water.
The camp became a rustic village, and then a shanty town, which by 1907 was the capital of all of British East Africa. It was soon an important centre for the colony and a mecca for adventurers, hunters and travellers from all over the world.
Modern Nairobi is still the safari capital of the Africa, but the modern world has quickly caught up with the city. A frontier town no more, Nairobi has become one of Africa’s largest, and most interesting cities. Nairobi is a city that never seems to sleep.
The entire town has a boundless energy, and is thriving place where all of human life can be found. This is a place of great contrasts where race, tribe and origin all become facets of a unique Nairobi character.
The city has not lost its sense of the past, with an excellent museum and the historical home of Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa open to visitors. This is not a modern capital separated from the great wilderness that surrounds it. Just outside the city is Nairobi National Park, 113 sq kms of plains, cliffs and forest.
The park is home to large herds of Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Giraffe and more. Rhino, Cheetah, and a large number of Lions are all found here, living wild within 20 minutes of the centre of town.
Further out of town, the spectacular 27 metre deep ‘Fourteen Falls’ waterfalls at Thika are perfect for a scenic day trip. Nearby Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, is centred around an imposing 2,146 metre mountain.
For the adventurous, take an hour’s drive from town and you will find white water rafting on the beautiful Tana River.
From the wildlife to the nightlife, Nairobi is a city unlike any other. With a fantastic music scene, excellent international restaurants and an endless and colourful array of shops and markets, there is plenty on offer for the visitor.
Getting Around
Nairobi is Kenya’s capital, and the arrival point for many visitors. The main airport is Jomo Kenyatta International, located 15kms out of the centre of town. JKIA handles both International and domestic carriers.
Wilson airport, located 11 kms outside of the city Centre, is the domestic hub for both scheduled and chartered domestic air traffic. There are countless Matatu stands throughout Nairobi, with continuous arrivals and departures throughout the day.
Nairobi is the centre of Kenya’s extensive bus network, with many bus companies operating to and from destinations throughout the country.
Walking around Nairobi is relatively straightforward, as the city centre is small and accessible. In some areas, there can be a security risk while walking, and it is best to seek local advice before setting out. Taxis are widely available, and convenient.
Taxis are often parked in the street around hotels and tourist areas of the city. Hotels and restaurants can order taxis if necessary. Nairobi Taxis are usually marked with a yellow line along each side.
Taxis are not metered, and a price should be agreed with the driver before departure. Ask for local advice or at your hotel for correct rates.
There are several companies operating Dial Taxi services with phone bookings, modern vehicles, competent drivers and reasonable rates. Several Taxi companies have airport booking offices.
Buses operate on set routes throughout the city. The large Kenya Buses run on routes throughout the city on regular schedules.
Buses can be boarded at any stop and tickets purchased on board. Matatus (Public Minibuses) also operate on city routes throughout the day, and are the most popular form of local public transport.. Nairobi city is also the first destination for travelers going to northern Tanzania.
These are must see when you visit Nairobi
- National Museum
This exhibit cultures of the different peoples of Kenya and its prominent personalities. It also has excellent display of fossils and a stunning recreation of a prehistoric rock site. There is also an extraordinary cast on the floor, which clearly records the footprints of Man’s direct ancestor (Homo Erectus) dating 4 million years ago. It also has more than 900 stuffed and mounted bird species.
- Snake Park
This is a living example of most of the snake species found in East Africa. Some of them are in glass cages others in open pits. There are also tortoise and crocodiles.
- National Archives
Seen here are photographs, exhibitions of handicrafts, paintings and journals of Kenya’s history.
- Railway Museum
Displays of old steam engines and rolling stock. It gives an idea of Kenya’s history since the colonial period. There is also a scale model of the venerable MV LUMBU, which plies between Mpulungu (Zambia) and Bujumbura (Burundi).Other sites are -Kenyatta International Conference Center, the parliament building, contemporary galleries, a Masai curio market, the colorful city market and many of Nairobi’s historical buildings.
- Nairobi National park and Bomas of Kenya
This is the most accessible of all Kenya’s game parks, being only a few kilometers from the city center. Here you will be able to see a variety of wild animals such as gazelle, oryx, lion, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, cheetah Leopard, and black rhino. A Bomas is a homestead and the Bomas of Kenya provides a recreation of Kenya’s traditional life and cultures of its people. The greatest excitement at the Bomas is the display of traditional dancing, music and songs performed in a splendid area.
- The Ostrich Park
This is a good place for family excursion where you can feed ostriches, see artisans at work making handicrafts and there’s also a good kid’s playground.
- Karen Blixen Museum/Giraffe Center
Nairobi Excursions cannot be complete without a visit to the home of the famous Karen Blixen of the ‘OUT OF AFRICA’ film and visitors are able to go through historical life of this fantastic woman. At the giraffe manor, you come face to face, admire and feed the majestic rare Rothschild Giraffe.
- Masai Market – Shopping
Shopping is a concept that is catching on very fast in Kenya. That’s because we have so much to offer in terms of our authentic Handicrafts and art. A must “see is our largest open air Maasai Market, every Tuesday. All the handicrafts on sale are from all the different tribes of Kenya displaying talents from all different tribes. e.g The Kamba will have the wood carvings, the masai and kikuyu a wonderful display of bead work. Bargaining is an art the Indigenous Kenyan learnt from the Asian traders and you will definitely have to sharpen your bargaining skills before you go shopping. Nairobi is also full of shops that also spot a lot of crafts and art work if you are an art lover you will definitely get some lovely art pieces. We in Discount tours and travel provide a dedicated person who knows all the lovely shopping places weather you are looking for retail or wholesale items. Shopping can be fitted into the day excursions or a day or two dedicated to shopping.
- David Sheldrick Elephant orphanage
Born from one family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is today the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world and one of the pioneering conservation organisations for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa.
Founded in 1977 by Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E, in honour of the memory of her late husband, famous naturalist and founding Warden of Tsavo East National Park, David Leslie William Sheldrick MBE, the DSWT claims a rich and deeply rooted family history in wildlife and conservation.
The DSWT has remained true to its principles and ideals, remaining a sustainable and flexible organisation. Guided by experienced and dedicated Trustees and assisted by an Advisory Committee of proactive naturalists with a lifetime of wildlife and environmental experience, the Trust takes effective action and achieves long-lasting results.
Mission statement
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust embraces all measures that compliment the conservation, preservation and protection of wildlife. These include anti-poaching, safe guarding the natural environment, enhancing community awareness, addressing animal welfare issues, providing veterinary assistance to animals in need, rescuing and hand rearing elephant and rhino orphans, along with other species that can ultimately enjoy a quality of life in wild terms when grown.
