A Solo Traveler’s Guide to Nairobi

Nairobi is peaceful, and solo travellers are unlikely to experience any issues, regardless of gender – you’ll even feel safe dining alone. A great way to enjoy Nairobi is with a taxi driver on a negotiated day rate, who’ll doubtless end up doubling as your local guide – ask your hotel for contacts.

As one of Africa’s top destinations, Nairobi is full of exhilarating attractions. It’s worth spending several days exploring before or after heading out on safari.

Discover Nairobi’s rich history at the National Museum and Railway Museum – the fully restored locomotives are a fave for fashion and music video shoots. Afterwards, stroll the lush Botanical Gardens, between the National Museum and Nairobi River. Get a 360-degree perspective of the city from the top of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), then do some haggling for arty bargains at the colourful Maasai Markets.

Enjoy the city’s wild side with a half-day safari at Nairobi National Park, and check out its population of black rhinos. Or visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage, where feeding time will have you smitten. Can’t afford to stay at Giraffe Manor? The same Rothschild giraffes vie for your attention next door at the Giraffe Centre, for a tenth of the cost. If you’re a fan of Karen Blixen’s novel Out of Africa, her home-turned-museum is a must-see; the volunteer guides bring everything to life.

Day trips include a visit to Lake Naivasha, which is home to hundreds of hippos. The lake is adjacent to Hell’s Gate National Park – rock-climb the towering gorges or just soak in the hot springs. There’s something for everyone in and around Nairobi, and plenty of incredible moments to enjoy.

Diverse accommodation options include boutique properties and high-class hotels, hostels, plush lodges, campsites, tented camps and locally run B&Bs.

Nairobi’s foodie scene suits all tastes and budgets, from small carts serving Swahili barbecued meat to Italian pizza joints and vegan restaurants. Most are around the city centre, Westlands, and the affluent suburbs of Karen, Loresho and Gigiri – perfect if you’re doing Nairobi solo.

Everyone raves about INTI on top of One Africa Place. Its Nikkei cuisine (combining Peruvian and Japanese influences) is as gorgeous as the 360-degree views.

Talisman is a social hub of small rooms decorated with Kenyan crafts and glassworks. The candlelit courtyard sparkles, and pan-Asian, European and African foods tantalise your taste buds.

Carnivore does Nairobi’s best nyama choma: chunks of crocodile and ostrich cooked over open fires on Maasai swords and washed down with their famous dawa cocktails, big on ginger, lemon and alcohol.

Take in eye-catching Westland views at the Brew Bistro Rooftop Bar. Or try Hemingway’s Bar in Karen and enjoy the tinkling piano music, A-grade cocktails, fine wines, rare whiskies and cognacs. Savour unique Levantine foods in atmospheric surroundings at Villa Rosa Kempinski’s solo-traveller-friendly Tambourin rooftop lounge. The private cabanas, meze platters and sweeping views are breathtaking.

Get a local Safaricom SIM when you arrive. It’s cheap and has the best coverage, for easy city navigation and calling Ubers. Use indoor ATMs: if one eats your card, it’s easier to retrieve that way.

Avoid buses in favour of yellow-striped licensed taxis: they are the most comfortable mode of transport. Find them at hotel entrances, or ask your hotel to call you one. Uber and Bolt are also popular – Uber offers an affordable ride-sharing option.

Most Kenyans are Muslim, so dress conservatively. Shaking hands and small talk in English or Swahili is common. Learn the basics: habari (hello); niko sawa (I’m fine); kwaheri (goodbye); and asante (thank you). Always ask permission before taking a photo of somebody. And expect to pay them – keep small denominations of local cash with you.

Fancy journeying with like-minded travellers? Join Culture Trip’s seven-day Ultimate Kenyan Safari Experience as part of a small group, and discover even more of the country’s amazing landscapes and activities.