Major Cities
NAIROBI is the capital city of Kenya. Nairobi has the highest population in East Africa, with an estimated population of between 3 and 4 million. Since its foundation as a railway camp in 1899, Nairobi has grown to become the largest city in Kenya, and one of the largest cities in Africa.
Where to Eat in Nairobi – Try the Following Restaurant & Bars
City of Nairobi offers a number of good restaurants, like: Tamarind, National Bank of Kenya (Harambee Ave, Tel: 338959, flies mouth watering seafood up from the coast daily. Carnivore Langata Road, near the National Park Gate, Tel: 602764, lives up to its name with vast quantities of barbecued meat, including game, with vegetarian options for the squeamish, and plenty of entertainment.
Others, Trattoria Restaurant - Tel: 0240205, Haandi – Great Indian food – Tel: 448294 and Minar restaurant. Other restaurants include, African Heritage, on Banda Street, African tradition food, tel: 337-507, Generation Grill in city centre, Tel: 241-197, specializing on African tradition food, The Cellar on Argwings Khodek Road and for meat lovers, Nyama Choma Place, located at Milimani Road, Tel: 272-0933.
For a quick bite, visit the famous Thorn Tree Café, Stanley Hotel, Kimathi Street, or Trattoria at the corner of Wabera and Kaunda Streets, Tel: 240205, which does excellent pizzas and icecream.
Shopping in Nairobi
Bishara Street, gift and African clothing, City Market for arts, craft and gift items, Ngong Road Uchumi Super Market for groceries, Sarit Centre, West lands, Village Market – High end mall and Kariokor Market – Good bargains for arts and African food stalls.
For traditional fabrics and clothes, visit Biashara Street. Kariokor Market, corner of Racecourse Road and General Waruingi Street, is a huge sprawling open-air market with everything on sale from vegetables and fish to traditional fabrics and souvenirs.
Alternatively try the Embakasi Village Crafts Market, Mombasa Road, or the colourful Masai Markets (Tuesday and Friday at the corner of Moi Avenue and Monrovia Street; Thursday at National Theatre on Harry Thuku Road; and Friday at the village market, Limuru Road).
There are other shopping places, located out of the city, like the vast African Heritage, Libra House (Mombasa Road, Tel: 530054, Spinner’s Web, Viking House (Waiyaki Way, Tel: 4441485) (rugs, weaving and wool); and the Utamaduni Crafts Centre Bogoni East Rd, between the Ostrich Park and Giraffe Sanctuary, Langata, Tel: 890464).
Nightlife
Carnivore live music – Tel: 0602764
The Pavement – Tel: 04441711/04442357
Cafes
Java Coffee House: Best coffee in Nairobi, Ngong Road, Adam's Arcade
Excursions
Although it is just 8km (5 miles) from Nairobi city centre, Nairobi National Park still seems a savage and lonely place during the week (carloads of city-dwellers invade at the weekend). It was Kenya's first national park and today still looks much as it did in the early photographs - wild, undulating pasture dotted with every kind of East African plain-dwelling animal except elephants. At the gates to the park is the Animal Orphanage where young, sick and wounded animals are cared for.
Also near here, the Langata Giraffe Centre offers the enchanting opportunity of hand-feeding the resident Rothschild giraffes. North of Nairobi, the road climbs steadily through the suburb of Thika, and rich agricultural lands, offering excellent views of the Great Rift Valley. The eastern wall of the Rift is made up by the Aberdare Mountains, while further east still looms the vast bulk of Mount Kenya. Between the two are several attractive small towns such as Nyeri, where Lord Baden-Powell, Nyahururu, home of the Thomson's Falls, Muranga'a, whose cathedral tells the story of the Mau Mau rebellions in a series of colourful murals, Naro Moru and Nanyuki, the last two both acting as starting points for those wishing to climb the mountain.
Road
Visitors to Nairobi can self drive using an international drivers license. Hire cars are widely available. Before hiring a car, all legalities should be thoroughly checked and appropriate contracts and waivers signed. Most car hire companies charge a set per kilometer or unlimited rate.
Taxi
Taxis are very convenient and are widely available in Nairobi. Nairobi taxis are usually marked with a yellow line along each side. Nairobi taxis are not metered, and a price should be agreed with the driver before departure.
Bus
Within Nairobi the large Kenyan buses and Metro Company mini buses operate on set routes and schedules throughout the city and suburban streets. Buses can be boarded at any stop and tickets purchased on board. Buses are an inexpensive way to travel although they are known for overcrowding and speeding.
Matatu
The most popular form of public transport is the Matatu which is a minibus, ideal for locals only. Matatus operate on set routes, and collect as many passengers as possible both from the outset and along the way. Passengers board and alight whenever and wherever they choose.
MOMBASA is the second largest city in Kenya. It has a major port and an international airport. The city is the centre of the coastal tourism industry. The town is also the headquarters of Mombasa District which, like most other districts in Kenya, is named after its chief town. The city has a population of around 900,000 and is located on Mombasa Island, which is separated from the mainland by two creeks; Tudor Creek and Kilindini Harbour. The island is connected to the mainland to the north by Nyali Bridge, to the south by the Likoni Ferry and to the west by Makupa Causeway alongside which runs the Uganda Railway. The port serves both Kenya and countries of the interior linking them to the Indian Ocean.
The town is mainly occupied by the Miji Kenda/Swahili people. Over the centuries there have been many immigrants, particularly from the countries of the Middle East and Indian sub-continent who came mainly as traders and skilled craftsmen and even after four or five generations, their descendants continue to contribute highly to the economy of present day Mombasa and Kenya as a whole.
Recent immigrants are peoples from the interior of Kenya brought to the area by employment opportunities in the tourist industry. Traditional dress for the Swahili women is a brightly coloured, printed cotton sheet called a kanga, which may have inspirational slogans printed on it, and type of black headdress and veil called a "bui bui". Men wear a type of sarong, which is coloured in bright bands, called a "kikoy".
There are several places to visit in Mombasa, including Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese, and the Old Town, which is by now in bad need of repair but still shows plenty of examples of the old Islamic architecture. Biashara Street in Mombasa which in Swahili means “Trade Street” is also an old part of the city where the Indian and Arab merchants set up shop and one can now find kangas and kikoys being sold in these small authentic shops.
Getting around- Mombasa has City buses, Matatus and Taxis to get around town. Mombasa old town and the area around Fort Jesus are easily explored on foot.
KISUMU is the third largest city in Kenya. It is located on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria which is the largest body of water in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world. Kisumu’s climate is hot all year (83°F). There are rainy seasons between March and June and in November. It is a railway terminal and lake port. It has a full range of educational, industrial, agricultural, medical and social facilities. Kisumu is multi-ethnic with the Luo tribe predominating. Although Luo and Swahili are the local languages. Local industries in Kisumu include the Kenya Match Company and the Coke Bottling Factory.
The Kisumu Museum has a variety of interesting animal exhibits, including a stuffed lion pouncing on an equally stuffed Wildebeest. There are ethnographic exhibits and a display of musical instruments. The museum also exhibits displays on wildlife as well as native Luo culture. Impala Park is a game sanctuary and animal orphanage and home to the rare sitatunga antelope. Another interesting place that is worse visiting is the Kisumu Municipal market. Kisumu is probably the best place to buy Kisii soapstone carvings. Boat rides on Lake Victoria are fun and widely available, and you can either find one yourself (at a negotiable price) or you can go through one of the hotels.
Nakuru is the provincial headquarter of the Rift Valley province. Its population is around 300,000 and currently the fourth largest city of Kenya. It lies about 2100m above the sea level. Nakuru is an agricultural province and home to Lake Nakuru. Other sites of interest around Nakuru include Menengai Crater, a dormant volcano. The views of the crater and the surrounding country side, are spectacular. It is the largest surviving crater in the world, the Menengai Crater is, it plunges 483m down from the rim and the summit is accessible by foot or vehicle 8 kms from the main road. The wood covered crater ground is a nature reserve
Lamu Island
Lamu is Kenya's oldest living town and boasts a rich and colorful history. The appearance and character of the town have changed little over the centuries. The architecture of the houses and buildings dates back to the 18th century. There are few motor vehicles on the island and local people use boats and donkeys for transport. The sites that you will want to include, the village of Shela, Lamu Fort, the Swahili House Museum, and the Donkey Sanctuary are all easily reached on foot. Spend your days relaxing on the beautiful and deserted beaches, try out a variety of water sports, enjoy the balmy tropical setting, explore nearby islands and the shipyards of Matandoni, shop in Lamu Town and enjoy sumptuous seafood meals for unbeatable prices!
Lamu archipelago with its magnificent old houses and narrow alleys, delicate wood craftsmanship of yester years, numerous mosques and a thriving Swahili culture take one back 600 years through time. It is the Venice of Kenya linked to the mainland and the other 3 smaller islands of Kiwayu, Manda and Kiunga by waterways. The great author Hemmingways made his home in Lamu and most of his writings were inspired by this fascinating island. Donkeys are used as a key mode of transport since there is no motorized transportation. The beaches of Lamu are among the best in East Africa. Lamu has not yet been over-developed, like other islands. It still has the feel of a small town instead of a tourist resort.
Getting to Lamu
Lamu is best accessed by air. There are scheduled flights daily from Nairobi, Mombasa, Diani Beach and Malindi. The island is serviced by an airstrip on neighbouring Manda Island. The strip can also be used by private charters. A dhow ferries arriving passengers to either Lamu town or Shela. Many yachts also come to Lamu, often sheltering in the channel near Shela.
Getting around Lamu
There are no vehicles on Lamu. The winding streets of the towns are best explored on foot. Shela village and the beaches are also accessible by foot. Alternatively dhows regularly carry paying passengers back and forth from Lamu town to Shela. To access the surrounding islands of Manda, Pate or Siyu, either take an organized Dhow Safari or for the adventurous traveller, just hitch a ride on a passing dhow and explore. It is also possible to hire donkeys to ride around the island.
While in Lamu, its important to be considerate of the local’s beliefs. When sunbathing or in your hotel, it’s not so important, but when you’re in town, remember to dress conservatively, with tops that keep the shoulders covered, and skirts or pants that reach at least to the knees. Also, be aware that most people in Lamu and elsewhere on the coast do not want their picture taken. Always be considerate and ask permission first.
Lamu excursions
Fishing trips may be taken by dhow, and day trips to the 14th- and 15th-century ruins on the nearby islands of Pate and Manda can be arranged with local boat owners. The best time to visit the island is outside the main tourist season (April-November).
Malindi
Malindi is a resort town located 125km (80 miles) north of Mombasa. Watamu Marine National Parks are nearby. Here the coral reef is close enough to the white sand beach to walk out at low tide and you can snorkel, dive or watch fish through a glass-bottomed boat. There are also several operators running deep sea fishing charters. A small white cross on the bay marks the arrival in 1499 of Vasco da Gama, the first European ever to visit the Kenyan coast. Close to Watamu, the Gedi National Park protects the well-preserved ruins of a Swahili city, founded in the 13th century and destroyed by Somali raiders in the 17th. The Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, south of Watamu, and the little village of Mambrui, north of Malindi, are also worth a visit.
Places to stay
• Kijani House Hotel, Lamu P.O. Box 266, Lamu, Kenya
• Peponi Hotel Box 24, Lamu - Kenya
Movies about Kenya
• Culture - Live in Africa
• Tapestry Series - Portrait of Africa
• National Geographic - Africa
• Africa's Elephant Kingdom
• Nowhere in Africa
• I Dreamed of Africa
• Africa - The Serengeti
• Out of Africa
• Ghost and the Darkness
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