1. Nairobi
I INTRODUCTION
Nairobi, city in south central Kenya, the capital of the
country, located just south of the equator. The city’s
name is derived from a Masai word meaning “place of
cool waters.” One of the largest and fastest growing
cities in Africa, Nairobi is Kenya’s principal economic and
cultural center.
II DESCRIPTION
The city of Nairobi covers an area of about 680 sq km
(about 260 sq mi) at an average altitude of 1,675 m (5,495
ft) above sea level. The city center—and the area around it
to the east and south—is a relatively flat plain, while the
area to the west and north is hilly. Nairobi has many varied
neighborhoods and suburbs, some bearing European
names and others African names. The important
commercial and administrative areas are located in the
city center, which is ringed by residential areas. The main
industrial area is located to the south, beyond which is
Nairobi National Park, a wildlife preserve and major tourist
attraction. A large market is located near the city center,
and smaller open-air markets fill many of the city’s open

2. spaces. Surrounding the large, central City Square are
Nairobi’s city hall; Kenya’s parliament building; the
Kenyatta Conference Center; the law courts; and the
mausoleum of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s founding father.
Nairobi’s residential areas still reflect the city’s colonial
past, when residence was determined largely by race and
income. Racial barriers disappeared after Kenya became
independent from Britain in 1963, but the city’s residential
pattern continues to be determined by income. In general,
Nairobi’s wealthier residents live in neighborhoods to the
west of the city center, while the least wealthy residents
live in the east. In addition, temporary shantytowns have
grown up adjacent to some of the residential areas, most
notably in the Mathari Valley, east and north of the city
center. Like many cities in developing countries,
approximately 80 percent of Nairobi’s residential land
houses less than 20 percent of its population.
Nairobi’s altitude produces relatively cool temperatures
despite the city’s proximity to the equator. The average
annual temperature is 17ºC (63ºF). Nairobi’s average
annual rainfall is 790 mm (31 in), with most of the rain
falling in two rainy seasons, March to May and October to
December.
III POPULATION AND

3. CULTURE
Nairobi has experienced a huge, relatively steady increase
in population since Kenya became independent in 1963, as
Africans have migrated to the city from Kenya’s rural
areas. The population nearly doubled between the 1962
and 1969 censuses, growing from 266,794 to 509,206
residents. Nairobi’s population at the 1989 census was
1,324,570, and in 1999 the city had an estimated
population of 1,810,000.
From the time of its origin, Nairobi has been home to a
diverse, multiracial population. Africans have long made up
the majority, but Asians (primarily Indians and Pakistanis)
and Europeans also account for a small portion of the
city’s residents. There are far fewer Asians and
Europeans than there were in 1962, when they constituted
40 percent of the population of Nairobi. The change is
largely explained by the departure of many Asians and
Europeans, and the large influx of Africans, after Kenya
gained independence. About one-third of the city’s
African population are members of the Kikuyu ethnic
group, followed by smaller percentages of Luo, Luhya, and
Kamba peoples. The Masai, who inhabited the region
before the city existed, now constitute less than 1 percent
of the residents. The majority of Nairobi’s people are

4. Christians. There are also significant numbers of Muslims
and smaller communities of Hindus and Sikhs.
Nairobi is Kenya’s cultural center. The Kenya National
Theatre stages plays, concerts, and dance programs in
the city. The Kenya National Archives houses historical
photographs and documents, as well as Kenyan art and
artifacts. The National Museum is known for its displays on
prehistoric African humans and also contains an extensive
ornithological collection and a contemporary art gallery.
Other cultural institutions in Nairobi include the McMillan
Memorial Library, the Sorsbie Art Gallery, and several
private art galleries. The University of Nairobi (1956), the
Kenya Polytechnic (1961), the Kenya Conservatoire of
Music (1944), and Kenyatta University (1972) are the
leading educational institutions in the city and its outskirts.
ECONOM
IV Y
Nairobi is East Africa’s most important commercial,
manufacturing, financial, and tourist center. Since
independence, Nairobi has practiced import substitution—
that is, the production of goods that formerly had to be
imported. Important industries include food processing;
motor vehicle assembly; and the production of beer,
cigarettes, auto parts, paper, textiles, and clothing. The

5. railways also employ a significant percentage of Nairobi
residents. National and multinational banking and
insurance companies have headquarters in Nairobi. The
city also receives significant revenues from tourism.
Nairobi is a regional hub for air, road, and rail travel. The
city is linked to the Kenyan coast, the Lake Victoria and
Mount Kenya regions, and neighboring Uganda by rail and
all-weather roads. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,
located southeast of Nairobi, is the nation’s largest
airport, while Wilson Airport to the south serves charter
and private flights within the region. Population growth
severely taxed Nairobi’s public transportation system in
the 1990s, and the proliferation of small private taxis,
known as matatus, has caused traffic congestion, especially
in the city center. Many of the city’s streets and highways
are regularly in poor condition and subject to floods in
times of heavy rainfall.

6. Downtown Nairobi
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, was founded in the late
1890s and has since become one of the fastest growing
cities in Africa. The Kenyatta Conference Center, left,
dominates the city’s skyline.
Liaison Agency/Peter Jordan

8. Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano in central Kenya. At
5,199 m (17,057 ft) tall, it is the second tallest mountain in
Africa.

9. The ‘Green City in the Sun’ is an attractive city with wide tree-
lined streets and spacious parkland suburbs. Its pleasant nature
together with judicious investment in facilities such as the
Kenyatta Conference Center has made Nairobi an important
center for international business and conference activities.
However, despite the capital’s appearance, urban crime is on the
increase and visitors are advised to take precautions such as
avoiding certain areas, or walking anywhere at night (travelers
are advised against walking alone through Uhuru Park at any
time). There is a full range of shopping opportunities, from

10. purpose-built American-style malls to African markets, and a
variety of restaurants and nightclubs. There are open-air
swimming pools at the Boulevard, Jacaranda and Serena hotels –
non-residents may pay to swim.
Other places of interest in or near Nairobi include the Bomas of
Kenya, a short distance outside the city center, where displays of
traditional dancing are put on for visitors; the Kenya National
Museum with its particularly good ethnographic and
archaeological exhibits (this is where many of the earliest
human remains, discovered by the Leakeys at Olduvai, Koobi
Fora and other well-known prehistoric sites, are displayed); and
the Snake Park, opposite the museum, which houses snakes
indigenous to East Africa and a few from other parts of the
world. Adjacent to Snake Park is a collection of traditional mud
and thatch huts and granaries containing tools characteristic of
different tribes. In the suburb of Karen, the Karen Blixen
Museum occupies the farmhouse made famous by the author’s
book, Out of Africa.
Excursions
Although it is just 8km (5 miles) from Nairobi city center,

11. 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 Center 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; Nyahururu, home of the Thomson’s Falls;
Muranga’a, whose cathedral tells the story of the Mau Mau
rebellions in a series of colorful murals; Nanyuki and Naro
Moru, both acting as starting points for those wishing to climb
the mountain.

12. Game Preserve in Kenya
A giraffe towers over zebras on the savanna of a Kenyan
game preserve. Home to many endangered species of
wildlife, the African republic of Kenya shelters its wild
animals in game preserves and national parks. Kenya
outlawed hunting in 1977, but poachers continue to hunt
many of these commercially valuable animals. Tourists can
observe and photograph the animals in safaris through the
parks and preserves.
Thatch House, Kenya
Inhabitants of a village in southern Kenya put the finishing
touches on a new circular thatch dwelling. To build these

13. houses, thatch must be attached in layers to a frame
made of wood. The floor inside is mde of dried mud.
Traditional Dress in Kenya
These members of a Nilotic tribe in Samburu, Kenya, are
wearing traditional clothing. The men wear solid bright red
fabrics; the women have vivid designs on their clothing
and collars made of roped beads. Jewelry plays an
important role in traditional African dress.
Tea Farm, Kenya

14. These Kenyan farmers tend fields of tea, one of the
country’s main cash crops. Tea and other crops grow
well in the fertile soil on the highlands of southwestern
Kenya. Most Kenyan farms average only 1.0 hectare (2.5
acres) in area, but some agricultural estates cover 2,000
hectares (5,000 acres) and specialize in cash crops such
as tea and coffee.
Rift Valley
Rift valleys are long, deep valleys bounded by parallel
faults. They form where Earth’s crust is being pulled

15. apart. Rift valleys can appear on land or beneath bodies of
water.
Great Rift Valley in Africa
The Great Rift Valley is a geologic depression that extends
from Syria in southwestern Asia to Mozambique in
southeastern Africa. It takes the form of a series of valleys
and bodies of water that are bounded by parallel fault
lines. The Great Rift Valley is widening slowly but surely, in

16. the process causing many volcanic eruptions and
earthquakes in the area.
Climate in Kenya
The climate in Kenya is predominantly tropical although the
geography of Kenya is varied. Kenya remains warm all through
the year. Droughts are common in Kenya periodically mainly
due tot the delays in the start of the rainy seasons. Climate in
Kenya has proved to have a profound effect on settlement
patterns as evident from the concentration of settlement in the
wettest areas of Kenya.
Kenya is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very
dry in the north and northeast parts of the country. The average
annual temperature for the coastal town of Mombasa (altitude 17

17. metres) is 30.30 Celsius maximum and 22.40 Celsius minimum,
the capital city, Nairobi (altitude 1,661 metres) 25.20 Celsius
maximum and 13.60 Celsius minimum, Eldoret (altitude 3,085)
23.60 Celsius maximum and 9.50 Celsius minimum, Lodwar
(altitude) 506 metres) and the drier north plain lands. 34.80
Celsius maximum and 23.70 Celsius minimum. Kenya gets
abundant sunshine all the year round. However, nights and early
mornings are slightly cold.
Most parts of Kenya get seasonal rainfall. The coast, eastern
plateaus, and lake basin experience two rainy seasons: the "long
rains" extends roughly from March to June, and the "short rains"
lasts from approximately October to December. The highlands
of western Kenya have a single rainy season, lasting from March
to September. Between June and September, the annual
migration of wildlife between Serengeti National Park in
Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya takes place
This spectacular moving scene of the migration of almost two
million wildbeasts and other species have always been the

18. delight of tourists and filmmakers.
Flight Expenses
Ludhiana (LUH) to Nairobi, Kenya (NBO)

19. Rs.51265
Rs.52950

20. Note: Prices are per person for roundtrip travel; they are e-
ticket prices and include all flight taxes and fees. If your
itinerary requires paper tickets there will be an additional
charge. These results cover a metro area with several
airports. Review your choices carefully.
There are two main ways to fly into Kenya, the most popular
option is to fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in
Nairobi and the other entry point is Moi International Airport in
Mombasa.

21. Airports in Nairobi and Mombasa:
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi currently
handles an estimated 3.4 million passengers each year, making it
Africa’s third busiest airport after Johannesburg and Cairo. In
recent years, over $75 million has been spent on giving it a
complete makeover; with a state of the art security system now
in place, a new car park, duty free shops, and updated check in
and baggage handling systems.
Direct flight from Europe also goes to the other main
International Airport which is in Mombasa (Moi International
Airport) which has also had impressive renovations done in
recent years.
Domestic Flights and charter flights within Kenya:
As well as the main International Airport, there is another
smaller airport called Wilson Airport, which deals with domestic
and charter flights. Most safari destinations (e.g. Masai Mara,
Amboselli, Tsavo, Samburu etc) and coastal destinations (Lamu,
Malindi and Diani) have their own airstrip so flying in a small
plane to your safari destination is quite a common thing to do. If

22. you’re flying between Nairobi and the coast, (or vice versa)
make sure you know which airport you’re flying from.
Flying between Mombasa and Nairobi:
The main airlines flying between Nairobi and Mombasa are
Airkenya (Wilson Airport) Kenya Air and fly540.com (Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport) also find out about your luggage
allowance before leaving, as some of the smaller planes only
allow 10-15kg per person.
Getting to your hotel from the airport:
There are money exchange desks inside the departure building.
You walk right past them as you disembark. There are Taxis
right outside the exit doors of the departure terminal and they
will be marked with a broad yellow stripe down the side. They
come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so pick the one that is best
for your needs and then try haggling for a good price (the first
price they give is guaranteed to be more than you will need to
pay). Don’t get into an unmarked vehicle as they’re not
registered vehicles and may not be safe.

23. Kenya getting around - Taxis and car hi...
You’re comprehensive Guide to Everything Kenya
Public transport
Public transport is not usually by
tourists to get around, with the
exception of the Nairobi-Mombasa
train which takes 12 hours and is a
nice way to travel (although the train is rather run down these
days).
Matatus are the local minibuses, which offer cheap public
transport, and there are also local buses. These are often
uncomfortable and cramped and are not recommended for
mainstream tourist travel.
Guided Tours
Many people like to book onto a tour if going on a safari, and
these range from very low budget to top of the range luxury

24. travel. Almost all tours will offer a custom designed safari
vehicle, which will be at your disposal, and it will come with a
knowledgeable driver/guide. Your guide will have an excellent
local knowledge and a fabulous understanding of where to find
various animals; whether it be a camouflaged leopard lying low
in the top of a yellow fever tree or a pride of lions nestled in the
long yellow grass in the heat of the day. Most people feel that
their guides greatly enhance their safari experience and are
happy to give a tip at the end of their tour.
Shuttle buses
At the large hotels, transport is usually provided to meet guests
at the airport. In Mombasa, courtesy buses are very often
available to take guests to nearby places of interest.
Tuk-tuks are found at many of the coastal resorts and are
cheaper way to get around than taxis.
Taxi firms:
Kenatco Transport Company
Nairobi: Tel: (+254) 020 230771/316611
mobile: 0721-830061/0734-699991

25. Mombasa: Tel (+254) 041 2313402/2227503
Email: info@kenatco.co.ke, mombasa@kanatco.co.ke
Jatco Taxi’s Ltd
Nairobi: Tel: (+254) 020 4446096/4448162
mobile: 0722-648383/ 0722-725131/0733-701494
Email & website: jatco@jatcotaxis.com, www.jatcotaxis.com
Jimcab
Nairobi Tel: (+254) 020-7122565 /7120344/ 7121205
mobile: 0722-711001/ 0722-714246/ 0733-735499.
Fax No: (+254)-20-7122565
Email & website : info@jimcab.co.ke, www.jimcab.co.ke
Car hire
Hiring a car in Kenya is useful for some tourists especially if
you will be staying at a rented house/cottage perhaps in
Mombasa or Naivasha.
If you plan to hire a car to go on a safari, careful planning is
required and you will have to be confident about driving on poor
roads. A 4-wheel drive is essential and anything less than
1300cc will have a hard time coping with the rough roads in the

26. game parks. Landrovers, Toyota, Suzuki and Pajero’s are
commonly used and are easy to find parts for on the road if
anything breaks and needs replacing! To hire a car, you
generally need to be over 23 and hold a full driving license (but
not necessarily an international driving license). Check out the
insurance carefully as some companies offer a collision damage
waiver which can lead to very expensive damage expenses even
for the smallest accident. Make sure you thoroughly look over
the vehicle before departing and ensure that you have a tool kit,
jack and spare tyre. Also ask if there’s a special key/tool for
undoing any security locks on the spare tyre.
Driving is on the left. SatNav does work in Kenya and is
expanding its database so is becoming a useful tool for getting
around in Nairobi and even in many of the game parks.
Driving on some of the rough roads in Kenya, and being “off
road” can be great fun if you have a reliable vehicle!
Car hire companies:
Budget: carrental@budget-kenya.com
Hertz Rentrajay@sharsafaris.com,

27. a car: www.hertz.co.ke
info@avis.co.ke, www.avis.com,
Avis:
avis.Kenya@gmail.com
Hotel Holiday Inn Nairobi - Nairobi
(Self-classified there is no official body operating a star
rating scheme for accommodation in this city and therefore this
hotel has been classified by the property itself.)
CNR Parklands Road - Nairobi
Tel:0044 203 027 7155
Book by phone0044 203 027 7155
• Check-in: 24 Sep 2010
• Check out: 26 Sep 2010
• Persons: 2
• Rooms: 1
MODIFY
AVAILABILITY & RATES (Tax included)
About Hotel Nairobi, Holiday Inn

28. Exterior The Holiday Inn
Nairobi Hotel is located in the residential suburb of Parklands
near the city centre and just 12 miles from Jomo Kenyatta
International airport.
Just a short distance away, guests can visit the national museum,
Muthaiga Golf Club and the United Nations.
The hotel offers quality facilities and services including fitness
centre, outdoor pool, and beauty salon, and entertainment,
business centre, meeting rooms, restaurants and bars ensuring a
pleasant stay in this Nairobi hotel.
Book now
Location of Hotel Nairobi, Nairobi

29. map - how to reach
Rooms at Nairobi (Holiday Inn)
Double room The Holiday
Inn Nairobi Hotel offers comfortable rooms equipped with all
the necessary to ensure a pleasant stay in Nairobi, Kenya.
In-room amenities include satellite TV, tea and coffee making
facilities, high-speed and wireless Internet access, desk, and

30. direct dial telephone, safe and ironing facilities.
The hotel also has connecting rooms and one disabled-accessible
room.
• Coffee and tea maker
• Desk
• Facilities for disabled people
• Hairdryer in each room
• High speed Internet access
• In-room ironing facilities
• Safe
• Satellite TV
• Wireless Internet access
Hotel Facilities
• Beauty salon
• Laundry service
• Banqueting service
• Business Center

31. • Meeting Room
• Fitness Center
• Outdoor swimming pool
• Private parking
• Entertainment
• Bar
• Restaurants