David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
At the main gates of Nairobi National Park, this orphan-elephant rescue and
rehabilitation program is a must-see for animal lovers. Daphne Sheldrick
founded the project in 1977 in memory of her late husband David, a former
warden at Tsavo East National Park. The center cares for young abandoned
elephants and rhinos and works to release the animals back into the wild.
You can commune with these lovable creatures as they frolic in the mud and
drink from giant baby bottles. Best of all, your entrance fee helps support
the project's conservation efforts.
Nairobi National Museum
The National Museum in Nairobi is an educational way to spend a few hours on a city stopover.
The museum displays diverse cultural and natural history exhibits including more than 900
stuffed birds and mammals, fossils from Lake Turkana, ethnic displays from various Kenyan
tribal groups, and exhibits of local art. In the Geology Gallery, you can explore an
impressive collection of rocks and minerals and learn about tectonic plates and the
life cycle of a volcano. The Hominid Vault contains a collection of prehistoric bones
and fossils, including the preserved fossil of an elephant. At the museum, visitors
can purchase combination tickets, which include entrance to the adjacent Snake Park
with live specimens of Kenya's most common reptiles.
Kenyatta International Conference Centre
Named for the Republic's First President, Jomo Kenyatta, the distinctive
cylindrical Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC) is an internationally
acclaimed venue for conferences, meetings, and exhibitions.
Though not the tallest building in Kenya, it dominates the skyline
with a 28-story tower overlooking a large amphitheater.
Its pale terracotta façade recalls the color of traditional
African huts, and the central plenary hall resembles the ancient Roman Senate.
You can zoom up to the rooftop viewing platform and admire panoramic
views over Nairobi, or enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants.
Kenya National Archives
Housed in the old Bank of India building, the National Archives spotlights
Kenyan tribal culture as well as the country's art, history, and politics.
The main floor gallery displays historical documents and a collection of photographs.
Paintings and artifacts from the collection of Joseph Murumbi, one of Africa's most
famous collectors, dominate the exhibits. The second floor houses more art,
a display of postage stamps, and the National Archives reading room,
which is used for personal and professional projects.
Giraffe Centre
At the Giraffe Centre, on the edge of Nairobi National Park,
visitors can come face to face with endangered Rothschild's giraffes.
This non-profit center lies on the grounds of the plush guesthouse, Giraffe
Manor, and its main mission is to provide conservation education for children.
The visitor center displays information about these graceful creatures, and a
raised platform allows you to feed them at eye level with specially prepared pellets.