Hotels in Nairobi

Nairobi: East Africa's High-Altitude Capital

Nairobi sits at 1,795 metres above sea level on Kenya's central plateau, making it one of the highest capital cities in Africa. Founded in 1899 as a railway depot on the Uganda Railway, it grew into a metropolis of over 4.5 million people. The city borders Nairobi National Park — the only wildlife reserve adjoining a capital city — where lions roam within 7 km of the central business district on Kenyatta Avenue.

Business travellers arrive for regional headquarters of the UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat, both based in the Gigiri district north of the centre. Leisure visitors base themselves in Westlands or Karen, a leafy suburb 20 km south-west named after author Karen Blixen, whose 1914 farmhouse is now the Karen Blixen Museum. The Maasai Market rotates through city venues each week, selling beadwork and carvings. The restaurant strip along Ngong Road draws locals and visitors alike.

Practical Tips

• Climate: Nairobi's altitude keeps daytime highs around 22–26 °C year-round; pack a layer for evenings.
• Getting around: Matatu minibuses cover most routes; metered taxis and ride-hailing apps (Bolt, Uber) run 24 hours.
• Airport: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Jkia) lies 15 km south-east of the city centre — allow 45–60 minutes by road during peak hours.
• Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES); ATMs are widely available in Westlands and the CBD.