| Nairobi travel tips posted by real travelers and Nairobi locals. Nairobi Map |
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 Matatu by croisbeautyLeave a Comment
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Please note that you will be expected to pay cash if you need to see a doctor in Nairobi. You should make sure that you have adequate medical insurance as there is no such thing as free emergency care.
I never had any problems with the quality of medical care in Nairobi. The best hospitals there are the Nairobi Hospital (on Argwings Kodhek Rd; tel. 2722160, 2714400) and Aga Khan Hospital (3rd Parklands Avenue; tel. 740000, 742531) and they both have an emergency reception.
There is no central ambulance number (although there are some private providers)and most people either take a taxi or rely on passers-by to get to hospital in case of emergency. If you plan to do a lot of travelling in remote areas it would not be a bad idea to become a member of AAR or AMREF Flying Doctors Service who provide emergency evacuation services. Leave a Comment
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Comparing it with last 2006 year, Nairobi has changed. There are couple of new buildings in a city centre, more and better cars around especially 4x4 types, but most dramatic change happened regarding smoking. Nairobi city council decided to make it non smoking area. Those who smoke, and Im one of them, have to be very careful because there are only three smoking zones inside the town and couple of bars and restaurants where smoking is allowed.
If cought in action, one can be fined 2000 ksh and put in a city jail! Leave a Comment
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If driving around the countryside surrounding Nairobi,beware!The roads are littered with pot-holes that play havoc with the car's suspension.They are filled in periodically with red dirt,but this gets dispersed almost as soon as it's chucked in the holes!
We were fortunate in having a driver who knew the location of all the worst holes and manoevered around them!
The economy of Kenya does not allow for Tarmac-ing of roads,other than the main ones. Leave a Comment
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Security around Nairobi is such that you will be aware of armed security guards on roadways.They are usually in groups of 3/4,positioned at frequent points along the roads outside Nairobi.If travelling through certain residential areas you will pass through check-points,both in and out..These are armed also!
The Mateka road(spelling?),where most of the foreign embassies are located is particularly guarded,(for obvious reasons).
Our driver insisted we always kept the car windows closed,particularly when pulling up at traffic lights.Frequent robberies occur when cars are stationary.
Don't let this mar your trip-just be security aware.
We were 2 women and a 7 year old child travelling together and nothing untoward happened to spoil our wonderful trip. Leave a Comment
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I was strongly adviced to avoid the downtown area of Nairobi, especially its part called Tea Room. My local friends told me it is not safe area, even for them, no matter if day or night time. Since I hate restrictions, of any kind, have decided to take a risk and go there.
Tea Room starts right behind the National Archive building, from the square where the biggest bus stop for outskirt areas is situated. I went down there, deep into the Tea Room, but was very careful observing guys around me who were all but friendly. I wasn't scared but very attentive and ready for eventually inconviniences I could meet. My experience learned me to watch that guys straight into their eyes showing no fear. They could see that I know very well who they are and that makes them confused and in a way insecure. I could hear certain comments after me but that was all. Leave a Comment
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Hire a guide through your safari company for an extra day to tour around Nairobi. Easier to arrange, more reliable and cheaper than a taxi if there are several in your group sharing expenses.
Within Nairobi, you can easily become lost and find yourself in a very unfavorable part of town needing to ask for directions.
In certain sections of Nairobi, 70% or the populace has no running water, electric nor enough money to afford even the basics. Shanty towns are common place and roadside stalls are a bit unnerving in their sales practice.
Always have a knowledgeable local with you when traveling touring Nairobi Leave a Comment
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 Nairobi, downtown by Robert_Hun
Second time I was in Nairobi with my friend in November 2004. We had a bad luck at daytime (!) in downtown: my friend just made a picture of the street (conference center and court house in the background - see attached) when a well-dressed 50 year-old man came to us and showed an ID ("head of security") which, as we realized not much later, was obviously a fake, and said: "Did you know it is illegal to take pictures of public buildings because of threat of terrorism, bla-bla?" (UNO SC meeting was held that day in Nairobi, so it sounded quite credible), "You don't know anything about this country", "You can get a heavy fine or imprisonment for this." As he was very suspicious to me, I tried to unmask him with some questions like "Is Kenya not a free country?" and "Do terrorists look like us?" but as he became very angry, my friend asked me not to heckle the guy, I stopped and tried to be "cooperative". Finally he invited us to a small bar, sat down, then his "colleague" appeared being even more agitated. They came to the point: "To avoid bigger trouble, let's settle it now. How much money do you have with you?" Unfortunately my friend confessed to have 50 USD, I said all my money was in the hotel (although I had cca. 8,000 KES, i.e. 100 USD in my pocket), so finally they disappeared with the 50 bucks.
Lesson: never trust anybody other than official (uniformed) personnel or insist on going to the nearest police station or to your hotel. Leave a Comment
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We stopped overnight in Nairobi on our way to and from Kilimanjaro. Nairobi is an assault on the senses and not a very welcoming place. I'm not sure why someone would make Nairobi the center of a trip, if not, it's best to get out of town as soon as you can. Some of the things I remember: The Kenyan woman on the plane who said she couldn't own a car in Nairobi because it was a good way to get carjacked and/or killed. The missionary who, when I stooped to tie a loose shoelace in the airport, grabbed me up by the arm and said, "That is not a safe thing to do, keep moving." When returning from Kili on a bus, I tried to get off one block before our hotel. It seemed like a nice neighborhood and I didn't want the bus driver to have to stop twice in such a short distance. "Please stay on the bus sir, you don't walk around here with luggage." I stayed. After checking into our compound-like hotel, the clerk telling me, "You must not leave the hotel unless it's in a taxi we call for you." This is not to scare people away from Africa, on the contrary there are wonderful things and places to see in Kenya and Tanzania. Nairobi, however, is not one of them. Leave a Comment
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From what I have been told, Nairobi has now passed J'burg in statistics of crime. Supposedly at least. I spent well over a week in Nairobi and walked the streets every day all over the downtown area and a little bit on the outskirts as well. I can say that I did not have any serious incidents, but I will say that everyday at least one person approached me to try to con me or worse. It got to the point where I knew when people were about to try and follow me and start something up. When someone asks for something stupid, like help pushing their car, get out of there. If they try and distract you by throwing a cart in front of you or cornering you or whatever it may be all of the sudden, beware. You are about to get ripped off, robbed, or worse. My general rule is that anyone who is overly friendly from the start and is too talkative is no good and you need to be careful of them. Generally people who are trying too hard to start a conversation probably have bad intentions. Just don't be naive, don't flash valuables or money, and keep a good distance between you and someone who is trying to talk to you. And if they start following you all over, get rid of them. They are up to no good for sure. Leave a Comment
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