Nairobi

Nairobi

Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is one of Africa’s most dynamic cities. It is a fascinating mix of modern skyscrapers, leafy suburbs, entrepreneurship, colourful markets, lively street life and rich African culture.

• Buy a local SIM card
  Available at the airport or in shopping centres such as Waterfront or The Hub. We recommend Safaricom for the best coverage. If you prefer to pay like the locals, ask Safaricom to activate M-Pesa as well. This mobile money service allows you to pay for almost everything directly from your phone.

• Stock up on essentials
  Visit Waterfront or The Hub in Karen for supermarkets, pharmacies, outdoor gear and other travel essentials.

• Explore Nairobi with a local guide
  Let us know in advance if you’re interested. Peter, manager of the Roadtrip Kenya branch, can help arrange a guided city tour.

• Visit Nairobi National Park
  One of the few places in the world where you can spot giraffes, rhinos and even lions against a backdrop of city skyscrapers. The park is located just outside the city centre and makes an easy half or full-day trip.

• Visit the Karen Blixen Museum
  Learn more about colonial Kenya and the life of Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa.

• Visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
  Watch orphaned baby elephants during their daily feeding and learn about the organisation’s conservation work.

• Visit the Giraffe Centre
  Meet and feed endangered Rothschild’s giraffes from an elevated platform.

• Buy souvenirs at The Courtyard Kitchen/The Meeting Place
  A great place to pick up some souvenirs without the hassle of bargaining.

• Crafty Chameleon Brewhouse and Restaurant. A laid-back craft beer spot with a colourful, quirky atmosphere, serving locally brewed beers alongside tasty food. It’s a great place to unwind after a day of exploring, with a relaxed garden setting and a lively local feel. Our personal favourite was the zero-proof ‘Virgin Achari’, with its spicy, sweet and slightly unexpected flavour. Definitely give it a try!
• The Talisman. One of Nairobi’s long-standing favourites. Enjoy fusion cuisine, good cocktails and a relaxed atmosphere in a beautiful garden setting.

• Asmara. A popular garden restaurant on Ngong Road serving Eritrean and Ethiopian dishes. Great for sharing and trying something different.

• Cultiva Farm Kenya. A stylish farm-to-table restaurant with fresh ingredients, excellent brunches and a peaceful green setting.

• About Thyme. Hidden away in a leafy garden, this restaurant is known for its cosy atmosphere, good wine selection and varied menu.

• Hero Restaurant. A trendy Asian-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar with creative dishes and a lively atmosphere.

• Carnivore. Nairobi’s best-known barbecue restaurant is famous for its wide selection of grilled meats and energetic atmosphere.

• INTI – A Nikkei Experience. A stylish rooftop restaurant serving Peruvian-Japanese cuisine, accompanied by great cocktails and panoramic city views.

Approx. 5 hours | 203 km

When driving from Nairobi to Amboseli, you’ll first follow the A8/A109 highway towards Emali. This stretch can be busy with cars, buses and slow-moving trucks, while construction work may add to your travel time. Be particularly careful of other drivers making dangerous overtakes, and don’t be tempted to follow their example. Your Land Cruiser is limited to 80 km/hour, so take your time and enjoy the journey.

Once you reach Emali, leave the highway and continue towards Amboseli via the little village of Makutano. From here, the drive becomes much quieter.

Approx. 4 hours to Nderit gate | 150 km

It’s a lovely drive on a good paved road to Lake Nakuru National Park. The route takes you up and down the escarpment, with sweeping views over the Masai plains.

When your accommodation is inside the park, we recommend doing a game drive as soon as you’re inside and checking into your accommodation afterwards.

Approx.  2-3 hours | 95 km

It’s a lovely drive on a good paved road to Lake Nakuru National Park. The route takes you up and down the escarpment, with sweeping views over the Masai plains.

Approx. 5 hours | 197 km

First, you follow the A8 towards Navaisha. The route takes you up and down the escarpment, with sweeping views over the Masai plains. Turn left at Maai Mahiu and join the B3. Narok is the gateway town to Maji Moto and the best place to fuel up your car and stock up on supplies. After Narok, you must follow the C12 and branch left, where you’ll see the signpost to your camp in Maji Moto. Google Maps might lead you to the C11, but don’t take that road. It’s a very rough road, bad for the car, and will take much longer.

Approx. 7 hours | 231 km

First, you follow the A8 towards Navaisha. The route takes you up and down the escarpment, with sweeping views over the Masai plains. Turn left at Maai Mahiu and join the B3. Narok is the gateway town to the Masai Mara and the best place to fuel up your car and stock up on supplies. After Narok, you must follow the C12 leading to Sekenani gate. 

Note that it is also possible that your accommodation is located before you reach Sekenani gate. For your navigation, we would recommend navigating to Narok and afterwards to your accommodation if you won’t visit the Masai Mara directly.

Approx. 8 hours | 317 km

Follow the A2 to Sagana and Nanyuki. It is an easy road, but it can be quite busy (in particular, the first part from Nairobi). You will also pass Isiolo, which is the best place to fuel up your car and stock up on supplies before heading to Meru National Park.

From the main road in Isiolo, you will need to branch off to the left onto the Muriri-Miciimikuru Road. At the end of this road, you need to branch off to the left again onto Meru-Maua Road to Meru National Park.

Approx. 4,5 hours | 133 km

Follow the A2 to Sagana. It is an easy road, but it can be quite busy (in particular, the first part from Nairobi). 

Approx. 6,5 hours | 295 km

Follow the A2 to Sagana and Nanyuki. It is an easy road, but it can be quite busy (in particular, the first part from Nairobi). You will also pass Isiolo, which is the best place to fuel up your car and stock up on supplies before heading to Samburu.

As we recommend staying at Buffalo Springs, we only explain the road to this part of Samburu National Park. At the end of the route, you will head off the A2 and turn left to the Ngare Mara Gate or Chokaa Gate. Both gates are possible, but when you take the Ngare Mara Gate, you can have a (longer) game drive on the route to your accommodation already.