Nairobi Off The Beaten Path

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Many of the Nomadic tribes share common ground in use of songs and chants, particularly among "Maa" speaking groups. Best known Maasai ceremonial song is the "Engilakinoto", usually sung after a victorious lion hunt. It is song performed by deep male voices only and no instruments at all. It is very characteristic and attractive, while singing warriors ocassionally display their strength and prowess by leaping vertically into the air.
Borana people live in the most northern parts of Kenya and across the border in Ethiopia. They are the most isolated and forgotten of all tribes in Kenya. Borana traditional music is simple but very attractive. The sound comes from indigenous drums, perkussion and voices only but the dance is very lively, playful and extremelly energetic.

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Kenyan music originates from several sources, mostly from Central Africa which is homeland of Bantu people (most Kenyan tribes have Bantu origins). Besides African influences Kenyan music combining elements of Arabic rhytms too, especially in the coastal parts of the country.
"Nyatiti" is instrument similar to European medieval lyre, and in commonly played throughout western parts of Kenya. It has very gently and relaxing sound, usually played solo or sometimes accompained by light percussion or "oporo" (a curved horn). The music it producing is call "benga". Nyatiti is five to eight stringed instrument, Luo people usually use eight stringed nyatiti.
The player of nyatiti always sits on "orindi", it is three-legged stool and playaer always carring it with while performing.

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Bomas offers presentations of traditional tribal dances on a daily basis but the program changes every day, as I was told. There are 42 different tribes in Kenya and each of them has own tradition. The musicians perfom their music on a simple (home-made) instruments, using mostly drums, sort of simple vibraphones and fifes, but this guys have rhytm in their blood and lots of talents. Do not miss concert when visiting Bomas.

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In 2010 I made a bussiness trip to Tusker Brewery in Nairobi. Tusker is the most famous bear in Kenya. The brewery is owned by Diageo and we (GEA Refrigeration Netherlands) upgraded the refrigeration plant.

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Paradise Lost Resort is situated around 10km far from the city of Nairobi and is the largest picnic site in whole of Kenya. If renting car you can easily reach it by taking the direction of east (Thika road) and getting to Kiambu road.
There are number of facilities such as, nature trails, horse or camel ridings, fishing, boating, bird watching etc. The most interesting, at least for me, was cave explorings. This caves used to be home for Mau Mau rebels during their resistance to British rule.
The local travel agent should charge 100 $ for a day trip but if you smart it could cost far cheaper then that. Renting car is the cheapest way, especially if not single visitor. Even taxi could cost less then travel agents, if one is good in burgains.

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The most often question I could hear from the adults was, "how come you dared to stroll around all alone?" They told me mzungus never visiting inside Kibera feeling unsafe there. To be honest, I felt more safe inside Kibera then in some specific parts of Nairobi, such as Tea Room is.
Kibera has the most beautiful kids I ever saw in whole of Kenya, they are so cute and very friendly. Every kid have wish me greetings by inevitable "jambo" and "how are you" but in some twisted kind of pronouncing. Then I realized its the only english they are able to say. Most of the kids from Kibera dont go to school because their parents cannot afford to pay school fee. Life isn't fair here and most of this kids will never get any oportunity for improving their living conditions.

It is located in the National Museum of Nairobi grounds, and it is a live exhibition.

You will see many different plants and snakes, see the aquarium with many different fish, birds, lizards and turtles.

You should spare at least one hour to cover this place here.

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The tourist village of the Bomas in Kenya is quite popular.
I visited it while in Nairobi a few days before leaving the country.

To be honest I was not thrilled but it was a change for us. I expected it much better and the light coming from the windows around the huge round room prevents taking good photos.
Many schools come here and the day we were the room was full of schoolchildren.

Here they try to preserve and promote the cultural values of various tribal groups of Kenya, and you can walk through the beautiful gardens where there are displayed traditional villages of several Kenyan tribes.