Safety Tips in Nairobi Area

A stroll in the Karura forest around in the Northern part of the Nairobi is maybe not the first that comes to mind for a tourist, but given its size and recent effort to revive it as a recreational space it could be tempting for the adventurous. Better avoid it though. Muggings of people walking and jogging in the forest has risen since the beginning of 2009 - including in the middle of the day. Joggers with no valuables have been beaten up when the thugs realized there was nothing to take.

if you must travel by car, travel around nairobi during the day. Take a Cab or a Matatu if you must be out at night. I preferred matatu's for longer cross-town ventures because I sometimes felt vulnerable traveling alone at night. Lenana Rd, Raptha Rd, and areas outside of the Westlands area have had increased carjacking rates,as has the city overall from 2007 on.

Basically, If you don't need to drive, take a bus or a taxi.

If you have dinner at the Carnivore restaurant - which seems on the agenda of most Nairobi visitors - you might be introduced to Dawa, a cocktail also popular at the coast. Made of vodka, honey and lime juice it tastes rather sweet, the strength of it hits you afterwards, especially on a hot day. so I´d recommend to handle with care, unless you want to risk a rather painful hangover

Do pronounce the name of the country KEHN-yah (KEEN-yah, which is the old British colonial pronunciation, may offend residents).

Don't photograph the people or their homes and livestock without asking permission first (don't be offended if you're asked to pay for the privilege—it's customary in some areas).

Don't change money on the black market. The illegal money changers are often quick-change artists, and the police will arrest you if they even suspect you're changing money illicitly (to be safe, don't even hand money to a friend in public). Also, it's illegal to export Kenyan currency, which, in any case, is difficult to exchange upon departure. We recommend only changing small amounts of money at a time.

Buying phones from the street is a Scammer's delight in Nairobi. Many times you will find a Nokia phone at a great rate that looks and feels real. Take it home without testing it and suffer the consequences! That phone you just bought is a shell filled with lead or mud to make it feel like the real thing. To avoid being scammed, ONLY buy your phone at a retail outlet such as Celtel or Safaricom stores all around the downtown.

If in doubt, ask the clerk to turn the phone on and dial a number for you.

We were warned about pickpockets and robbers, and told to go nowhere downtown Nairobi without our guides. I had some errands to run, and managed without problems. But at the main post office we experienced the following: One of the guys in our group was helping me wrapping up the things I was going to send, while my son sat on the floor beside us. My helper put his rumptask on the floor as well. All of a sudden my son saw the rumptask moving, he yelled out, and there was this nice looking lady trying to "fish" it from behind a pole with her ubrella!

We had the unfortunate experience of having to visit a Nairobi hospital. My 18 month old son had a seizure while we were visiting. Thank goodness we were staying with relatives and they drove us to the main hospital, Nairobi Hospital. My sister in law recommended going to the main hospital because they would have more experience and be more knowledgeable than the smaller hospitals. Be advised to take cash as they don't accept insurance cards. I'm from the States and found the nurses as well as the Dr's work at a slow pace which is frustrating. They are also a bit behind the times as far as equipment and procedures. Don't be afraid to be assertive and ask a lot of questions. My son came out of everything ok. If you request your chart or copy of testing done they will be accommodating. If you have the time or the option take mosquito repellent. I hadn't seen so many mosquitoes in Africa as I did in the hospital. However they do have nets. Also if you are not born in Kenya be prepared to pay an exorbitant admission fee. We filled out the admission forms and said he was born in Kenya or else we would have had to pay $1000 U.S dollars. Plus they do not ask for birth certificates or identification.

Pay attention at all times when you are in Nairobi as it is a place with much crime and not nearly enough police.
Use particualr caution after dark. We found taxis very reliable and though more expensive in particular, the old English Style cabs should provide a higher level of security and comfort.