Located
on the south of Nairobi, the airport was in the ancient years a free land where
wild animals roomed freely. That is no doubt the reason why up to date, there
are occasional wildlife encounters around these area. Not enough, few
kilometers from the airport is the world’s only urban national park which
offers untold wildlife experience within less than half an hour drive from the
city centre.
Welcome
to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, once known as a green city under the sun. Its
perfect geographical location has turned it into a world’s cosmopolitan with
great opportunities and international interactions. Interestingly, with all the
diverse opportunities that Nairobi has to offer, it is unfortunate to note that
many lay terribly undiscovered.
For
many, Nairobi is either somewhere to arrive and quickly transfer to another
destination or for a place for a brief – often reluctant – overnight stop
before going home or heading for game parks. In fact, most visitors arriving at
Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport afterward transfer immediately to
nearby Wilson Airport for their short flight to the bush, or pick up their
safari van for the overland trip to their lodge or camp. And they do exactly
the same in reverse on their way home.
Not
only does Nairobi have great hidden treasures, there are also great attractions
within reasonable distances that can be explored within a day or two for a
reluctant vacationer. Already mentioned
above, the world’s only wildlife capital – Nairobi national park. Covering
117 sq km, it is also East Africa’s oldest game park. It is its influence that
makes it common to see giraffe or herds of antelope on your drive into the
city.
The
park is host to number of innovative conservations efforts: Nairobi Safari Walk
is Kenya's new conservation based recreation facility. The combination of
skilled and creative landscape design, unique wildlife species and detailed
interpretation, renders the facility supreme in tourism and conservation
education. With a combination of three simulated, forests, wetlands and
Savannahs, you can have an opportunity to learn about their valuable resource
and how they can contribute to its conservation.
Adjacent
is the Nairobi animal orphanage the oldest animal orphanage in Kenya. Set at
the entrance of Nairobi National Park with lush vegetation contrasting against
the red dust and clay soil, this educational and training facility is often
home to more than 20 different animals and bird species. It is a refuge and
rehabilitation centre for wild animals found abandoned or injured throughout
Kenya.
David
Shedrick wildlife trust is located
on the southern part of the park. It is a small flexible
and environmentally significance charity that helps save the lives of orphaned
Elephants and Rhinos who are ultimately released back into the wild. You have
an opportunity to see the orphaned and rescued elephants and rhinos everyday
from 1100hrs to 1200noon and participate in feeding program.
Further down is giraffe centre.
Managed by African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, the center’s effort is to
conserve the endangered Rothschild giraffe. Take part in feeding the thrilling
and beautiful giraffes, learn more about them, take a nature walk in the nearby
nature trail and stretch your arm in donating to this noble conservation
effort.
Also along this area is where you
find privately managed Mamba village – a fantastic experience with reptiles of
all kinds such as snakes, monitor lizards and large African crocodiles. A few meters is ‘Bomas of Kenya’ where every
evening from 1500hrs, you have an opportunity to experience diverse cultural
feats and breathtaking acrobatic performances. You can also tour the cultural
villages to feel the real taste of African culture.
As
for Nairobi itself, this is a city of wonderful restaurants serving fine,
locally grown food in convivial surroundings at the affordable prices.
For
shopaholics, there can be no finer experience than a visit to the village
market. This not only contains an excellent assortment of small shops and lager
stores but is also the place to be seen at weekends. You can enjoy large cup of
Kenya coffee and a light meal in the plaza. Village market is the probably the
best place to buy locally made handicrafts and curios. On Saturdays at the city
High Court Parking and on Sunday at Yaya Centre, there are handicrafts markets
too.
Nairobi
is worth more than just a quick pass by.
Peter K.
Philip
Adventure Kenya camping safaris,
Natural
Track Safaris
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