Kenya is one of the more prosperous countries in Africa, and in the capital of Nairobi business is growing at high speed. Nairobi is the most prominent city of East Africa and the hub of the entire region. For African standards, it has a very good infrastructure.

Since 1994, the Kenyan

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The suburbs to the south of Nairobi, while still technically within the city limits, bear little resemblance to the urban sprawl of the capital.

Inhabited mainly by white settlers and expats, these leafy environs conceal extensive ranks of houses and villas designed to recall provincial England, all discreetly set in their own colonial grounds. The genteel atmosphere and a relative wealth of attractions make Karen, Langata and Ngong appealing destinations for a quick and easy escape from city life.

Karen & Langata

Information

Langata Link (Langata South Rd.) Aimed mainly at residents, the travel desk here has plenty of information about hotels and restaurants in Langata and Karen as well as further a field.

Bomas of Kenya

The Bomas of Kenya; (Langata Rd; non-resident adult/child Kshs 600/300, resident Kshs 100/25 performances 2.30pm, mon-fri, 3.30pm sat & Sun) is a cultural centre at Langata, near the main gate to Nairobi National Park. The talented resident artistes perform traditional dances and songs taken from the country

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Kenya is one of the more prosperous countries in Africa, and in the capital of Nairobi business is growing at high speed. Nairobi is the most prominent city of East Africa and the hub of the entire region. For African standards, it has a very good infrastructure.

Since 1994, the country’s economy has been growing each year, with the exception of 2000. Economic growth figures grew to 5.7% in 2005 and 6.1% in 2006. The skyline of Nairobi is filling up with skyscrapers and office buildings. Currently, Nairobi Business Park is being built, a flagship complex with office space for companies. When finished, it should offer 30,000 square metres of office space.

However, inflation is relatively high with 10.3% in 2005 and even 14.6% in 2006, and the huge gap between the poor masses and the rich upper class remains. Half of the population lives on less than S1 a day, while a small group of Kenyans is extremely rich, often through corruption and favouritism. Corruption still plagues the country.

Nairobi Tourist Industry The biggest Nairobi business in terms of foreign income, is unquestionably tourism. It brings in around U$1 billion a year. With a safari park outside the city, and dozens more within a few days drive, Nairobi is the place to go for a safari holiday. With a major international airport, Nairobi has become the tourist gateway for all of Kenya. The main railway goes through the city, and the national network of roads also.

Exporting Tea and Coffee Kenya is the largest exporter of tea in the world. Tea is grown on more than 110,000 hectares of land. It’s also the 17th largest exporter of coffee. Much of the coffee is grown on farms around Nairobi. Kenyan coffee is bought and sold at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange every Tuesday of the week. The weekly tea auction takes place in the port city of Mombasa.

Multi-National Corporations Doing Nairobi Business Several major world-wide companies have regional headquarters as well as manufacturing plants in or near Nairobi. Names you will see include Goodyear, Siemens, Coca-Cola, Citibank, General Electric, Toyota and even internet giant Google. As corporations expand beyond the North American market, they are finding that a presence in East Africa can open up whole new opportunities. Nairobi has the modern facilities that major businesses are looking for. Nairobi is home to several international organisations. One of the four huge international headquarters of the United Nations is located in Nairobi.

Large African companies have a strong presence in the Nairobi business area as well. Kenya Airways operates out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) also has its headquarters in Nairobi.

Suited for Business Travel With more and more business taking place in Nairobi, there are plenty of facilities to accommodate a business trip. Major hotels like the Nairobi Serena or Hilton Nairobi have extra services for business travellers, such as meeting rooms, internet and fax services and even a secretarial staff. You’ll find that many high-class hotels are located in the business district.

The Kenyatta International Conference Centre, located in the heart of the business district, has all the facilities needed for major business meetings, exhibitions and conferences. The amphitheatre can hold up to 800 people, and the huge main chamber can sit up to 5,000 attendees. The sound systems are state-of-the-art, including wireless simultaneous interpretation services that can translate into 7 languages, for international events.

The business district is also home to the City Hall and Parliament buildings. Uhuru and Central parks add a natural green element to the area. Some parts of the city are growing so fast with regards to business facilities, that offices are starting to move out of the business district to other parts of the city. There is a great deal of commercial growth going on.

The Nairobi Stock Exchange The local stock exchange was established in the 1920 when Kenya was still under British rule. In 1954, the London Stock Exchange recognized the NSE as an overseas stock exchange and today it is the 4th largest exchange in Africa. There are nearly 50 companies listed on the exchange, as well as Government of Kenya treasury bonds.

Nearly every possible industry or business sector can be found represented in Nairobi. Business in technology, agriculture, finance, retail, manufacturing, travel and many more are t in this busy African capital.

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What’s the weather in Nairobi like? If you’re planning a holiday trip to Nairobi, it’s likely that you’re prepared for the hot climate. You may be surprised to find out that the weather in Nairobi is actually quite pleasant during most times of the year. Kenyans call it “Green City in the Sun”.

Though Nairobi is right in the middle of a very beutiful and warm country, it has one special feature that helps moderate its climate: altitude. Nairobi is approximately 5,500 feet (1,600 meters) above sea level, which keeps it much cooler than the surrounding countryside. Its this one factor that keeps the weather in Nairobi at such reasonable levels.

Current weather in Nairobi, Kenya

The Rainy Seasons There are 2 distinct rainy seasons in Nairobi, usually during March to May, as well as later in November and December. You won’t be inundated with rain during those times, but you’ll find the skies more overcast and frequent rainy periods. This can have an impact on the types of activities you plan on doing while in Kenya. Don’t assume that the rainy periods are also the coolest. They’re not.

Temperature in Nairobi The seasonal changes in temperature are noticeable through the year, but are not as drastic as what you would see through most of North America, for example. The warmest months are from January to April, and it also tends to warm up again in October. The hottest time is around February and April when the temperatures will reach around 78 F (26 C) during the day, and drop to around 55 F (13 C) at night. The coolest times to visit Nairobi would be July and August, with highs around 70 F (21 C) and lows closer to 50 F (10 C).

Best Time to Visit Though the weather in Nairobi is a big factor to consider when planning your trip, you may want to time your vacation for other events as well.

I suggest coming during the months of August-September, not only because it is the coolest times of the year, but because it’s the season for the annual wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara area. Since I’m sure you’re planning to take at least one safari tour while visiting Kenya, why not do it when the most dramatic wildlife event of the year takes place? Millions of wildebeest and zebras move through the region during these months to follow the rain patterns.

However, the dry periods of July-August and December-January are also the most touristy months in Kenya. If you are one of those people who like to avoid that, you could think of travelling outside those periods.

All Year Round Overall speaking, the Nairobi weather is fairly consistent through the year and you won’t find huge temperature swings or any violent weather. It’s mainly pleasantly warm, sunny and clear. This makes Nairobi an all the year round destination.

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Here’s an overview of the available flights to Nairobi from many places in the world. Nairobi is the hub of East Africa, and has the 4th biggest airport of the African continent. Dozens of international airlines fly to Nairobi.

Flying to Nairobi from North America All flights from the USA and Canada go via one of the European hubs: mainly Amsterdam, London, Brussels or Zurich. This also means it’s sometimes cheaper to book seperate flights: one ticket to Europe, and from there a ticket to Kenya.

From the USA, Northwest Airlines is affiliated to Kenya Airways and KLM and it offers good connections to Kenya via London or Amsterdam. Other possibilities are British Airways or Virgin Atlantic (sometimes combined with Kenya Airways). Return ticket from the US east coast are available starting from US$1100-$1300 in the low season, and from the west coast from US$1250-$1500 and up. Flights from Canada are roughly 10% more expensive.

It’s also possible to get a connecting flight in the Middle East.

Flights to Nairobi from Europe European airlines with flights to Kenya include KLM (from Amsterdam), Swiss International Airlines (from Zurich) and Brussel Airlines (from Brussels). Return rates start, depending on the season, from 600 to 800 Euro.

Flights to Nairobi from Australia & New Zealand There are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Kenya. You’ll have to change planes in southern Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean or Asia. Flying via Europe is possible, but it takes much longer and is usually more expensive.

The most direct option is flying via Mauritius with Air Mauritius. But flying via Johannesburg with South African Airlines or via the Persian Gulf with Emirates is usually cheaper. Return fares start from A$ 2250 from Sydney, Melbourne or Perth and A$ 2750 from Auckland.

Flying to Nairobi from Asia Kenya Airways flies to Hong Kong, Guangzhou (China), Bangkok (Thailand), Dubai (UAE), Mumbai (India) a few times a week.

Flights to Nairobi from Africa Nairobi is one of the major hubs in Africa, and Kenya Airways and other companies maintain connections with some 30 major cities in Africa. Especially the air connections between East and West Africa are good, with north Africa almost absent and South-Africa limited to Johannesburg.

Flights to Nairobi from the rest of Kenya Among the Kenyan air companies offering (usually, daily) flights between Mombasa and Nairobi, are Kenya Airways, Air Kenya, Safarilink, Jetlink Express and Mombasa Air Safaris. Of these, Kenya Airways is the most reliable and offers usually the best quality. Furthermore, it’s possible to fly from Nairobi (and often Mombasa) to the most popular wildlife resorts and other tourist hotspots in Kenya, with the companies mentioned or with a chartered flight through your tour operator. Destinations include Lamu, Malindi, Eldoret, Masai Mara National Reserve, Mount Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania), Amboseli National Park and Samburu National Park.

Airports in Nairobi Most international flights come in through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It’s the 4th largest airport in all of Africa and handles international as well as domestic flights. By African standards, it’s a well-equipped airport. It has two international terminals, one terminal for domestic flights, a huge number of tax-free shops and of course cafetarias and bars. Taxis are plenty.

The other Nairobi airport is Wilson Airport. It’s used only for flights within Kenya and to neighbouring countries like Tanzania. Here’s a list of all Kenya airports.

Kenya’s international airline is Kenya Airways. It has an excellent reputation for quality, and a good safety record.

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In this brief Nairobi travel guide, you’ll find some basic information about travel to Nairobi.

Staying in Nairobi There are many hotels to choose from in Nairobi, from those offering bare-bones rooms to high-class luxury resorts, and none of them is ever fully booked. Major chains such as Hilton and the Holiday Inn have hotels in Nairobi, if you are looking for a familiar name. The Safari Park Hotel a full resort in itself, with large gardens, a casino and stage shows. Other good upmarket hotels are the Nairobi Serena and the Stanley.

All upmarket hotels in Nairobi are air-conditioned, have services according to international standards and are staffed by English speaking employees. The only disadvantage is that no Nairobi hotel is really cheap. If a reasonably good hotel for a relatively low price is important to you, then try the Terminal Hotel.

Getting There And Away Except for some neighbouring countries, the only feasible way to get to Nairobi for international travelers is by air. See my pages about international air connections to Kenya (virtually all use Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) and these tips for finding cheap tickets to Nairobi.

Getting Around the City If you don’t have your own vehicle, then your options are the public bus system, matatus (privately owned minivans) and taxis. The public buses follow the same routes as matatus, and while the buses drive more safely, the matatus are a great experience. In all colors of the rainbow, battered and with loud benga or rap music, this is transport the African way. For 25 shillings (40 dollar cents!), they’ll take you anywhere they go. People are picked up as the buss passes by. Taxis are plenty, and cost around 300 shillings (US$4) for a few miles in the city centre to 1000 shillings (US$14) for getting from and to the suburbs.

Major Nairobi Sights The first thing you will want to see is the Nairobi National Park, which is a safari park right in the city limits. Take an afternoon to drive through the park, have a picnic or walk around the hippo pool walking trails. You’ll also want to see the National Museum, the Railway Museum, Uhuru park, the Watatu art gallery, the Bomas villages and maybe even take a skate around the Solar ice rink. Many of these sights are included in day tours that you can book through your hotel or tour operator.

Restaurants Dining choices in Nairobi are many and varied. Though you can find many restaurants serving familiar cuisines like Italian, Chinese, Indian, French and Thai, you should try some of the local Kenyan food as well. Kenyans are great meat eaters. Carnivore is a well-known restaurant, serving grilled meat dishes cooked on large stone fire pits. It’s very touristy, but don’t miss it.

Some Nairobi Travel Basics The weather in Nairobi is actually much cooler than the rest of Kenya, so you may even need to pack a jacket for the cool nights of July and August. The 2 rainy seasons are between March and May, and then again in November and December. Things to remember when packing for your trip.

The official languages are English and Swahili. Most Kenyans, and all inhabitants of Nairobi, speak English well.

Nairobi has a reputation for crime, but I believe this is exaggerated. If you follow some simple rules, nothing unpleasant is likely to happen to you. The major rule of thumb is to not go into deserted areas alone, and to watch out on the streets after dark (which is starting at 6-7 PM). After dark, better take taxis. Nairobi is like most other North American cities in this respect.

Purchasing a Nairobi Travel Guide Book For those who like to have plenty of information right at their fingertips while they are on vacation, I would suggest getting a good travel book to cover the area of Nairobi.

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Kenya is one of the more prosperous countries in Africa, and in the capital of Nairobi business is growing at high speed. Nairobi is the most prominent city of East Africa and the hub of the entire region. For African standards, it has a very good infrastructure.

Since 1994, the country’s economy has been growing each year, with the exception of 2000. Economic growth figures grew to 5.7% in 2005 and 6.1% in 2006. The skyline of Nairobi is filling up with skyscrapers and office buildings. Currently, Nairobi Business Park is being built, a flagship complex with office space for companies. When finished, it should offer 30,000 square metres of office space.

However, inflation is relatively high with 10.3% in 2005 and even 14.6% in 2006, and the huge gap between the poor masses and the rich upper class remains. Half of the population lives on less than S1 a day, while a small group of Kenyans is extremely rich, often through corruption and favouritism. Corruption still plagues the country.

Nairobi Tourist Industry The biggest Nairobi business in terms of foreign income, is unquestionably tourism. It brings in around U$1 billion a year. With a safari park outside the city, and dozens more within a few days drive, Nairobi is the place to go for a safari holiday. With a major international airport, Nairobi has become the tourist gateway for all of Kenya. The main railway goes through the city, and the national network of roads also.

Exporting Tea and Coffee Kenya is the largest exporter of tea in the world. Tea is grown on more than 110,000 hectares of land. It’s also the 17th largest exporter of coffee. Much of the coffee is grown on farms around Nairobi. Kenyan coffee is bought and sold at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange every Tuesday of the week. The weekly tea auction takes place in the port city of Mombasa.

Multi-National Corporations Doing Nairobi Business Several major world-wide companies have regional headquarters as well as manufacturing plants in or near Nairobi. Names you will see include Goodyear, Siemens, Coca-Cola, Citibank, General Electric, Toyota and even internet giant Google. As corporations expand beyond the North American market, they are finding that a presence in East Africa can open up whole new opportunities. Nairobi has the modern facilities that major businesses are looking for. Nairobi is home to several international organisations. One of the four huge international headquarters of the United Nations is located in Nairobi.

Large African companies have a strong presence in the Nairobi business area as well. Kenya Airways operates out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) also has its headquarters in Nairobi.

Suited for Business Travel With more and more business taking place in Nairobi, there are plenty of facilities to accommodate a business trip. Major hotels like the Nairobi Serena or Hilton Nairobi have extra services for business travellers, such as meeting rooms, internet and fax services and even a secretarial staff. You’ll find that many high-class hotels are located in the business district.

The Kenyatta International Conference Centre, located in the heart of the business district, has all the facilities needed for major business meetings, exhibitions and conferences. The amphitheatre can hold up to 800 people, and the huge main chamber can sit up to 5,000 attendees. The sound systems are state-of-the-art, including wireless simultaneous interpretation services that can translate into 7 languages, for international events.

The business district is also home to the City Hall and Parliament buildings. Uhuru and Central parks add a natural green element to the area. Some parts of the city are growing so fast with regards to business facilities, that offices are starting to move out of the business district to other parts of the city. There is a great deal of commercial growth going on.

The Nairobi Stock Exchange The local stock exchange was established in the 1920 when Kenya was still under British rule. In 1954, the London Stock Exchange recognized the NSE as an overseas stock exchange and today it is the 4th largest exchange in Africa. There are nearly 50 companies listed on the exchange, as well as Government of Kenya treasury bonds.

Nearly every possible industry or business sector can be found represented in Nairobi. Business in technology, agriculture, finance, retail, manufacturing, travel and many more are t in this busy African capital.

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The time in Nairobi (Kenya) is 3 hours later than Greenwich Mean Time (GMT or UTC). The Nairobi time zone is called EAT (East Africa Time). Nairobi is in the same time zone as Tanzania, Ethiopia, and the Western part of Russia (including Moscow). This means that if it’s morning in the USA, it’s the late afternoon or early evening in the USA.

Kenya has no Daylight Saving Time (DST) scheduled, so the time doesn’t change in the summer like it does in many places in North America or Europe.

Nairobi Time Compared

If it’s 3 PM in Nairobi (afternoon tea time), then the corresponding time elsewhere is:

- Los Angeles: 5 AM (everybody still sleeping)

- Denver: 6 AM (last minutes before the alarm clock goes)

- Minneapolis: 7 AM (brushing your teeth)

- New York: 8 AM (in traffic jam)

- London: 12 AM (at work)

- Berlin and Paris: 1 PM (lunch time)

- Moscow: 3 PM (afternoon vodka)

- Mumbai: 4 PM (Cup A Soup time)

- Beijing: 7 PM (doing the dishes)

- Tokyo: 9 PM (watching TV)

- Sydney: 11 PM (bed time)

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The tourism market in Kenya is quite competitive, and cheap flights to Nairobi can be found relatively easy.

Here are my six tips to get the best deal. So don’t let the distance to Kenya stop you from planning an exotic vacation. The basics about air connections to Nairobi – including a list of all air companies who fly there – are on my flights to Nairobi page.

1. Book Seperate Flights

There are few, if any, direct air connections from North America to Kenya. From the US or Canada, you will usually have to go past one of the European hubs (often London, Amsterdam, Brussels or Zurich). Because of this, you can sometimes save money buy booking separate flights: a cheap flight to your European hub (for which there are many options), and from there the best deal you can find to Kenya.

2. Book Chartered Flights

One of the best ways to get cheap flights to Nairobi, is to book a chartered tour. By buying up multiple seats at a time, the tour company gets a better price, which can mean savings for you. These deals often include accommodation, but it won’t be the first time that together they are cheaper than a regular flight-only. And you are of course not obliged to use the accommodation, so if you don’t like it, you just move into another place.

Some charters don’t fly to Nairobi, but directly to Kenya’s second city Mombasa (at the coast, where the popular beach resorts are). Even if Nairobi is your destination, it can pay off fly over Mombasa and from there to Nairobi. Four companies fly between these cities: Kenya Airways, Air Kenya, Mombasa Air Safaris or Safarilink. There’s also a night train (taking about 9 hours) and a very cheap bus connection between Mombasa-Nairobi.

3. Go With Flying Blue

The main Kenyan carrier, Kenya Airways, has joint ventures with among others KLM, Air France and Northwest Airlines. It’s part of the Flying Blue program of KLM, Air France, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, , Northwest Airlines, CZA Czech Airlines, Aeromexico, Alitalia and Korean Air.

If you travel with them, you are awarded air miles. As you reach higher levels, you can get better deals with tickets and hotel nights, free upgrades, better service etc. Dutch KLM has daily flights to Nairobi in a joint venture with Kenya Airways, and Amsterdam is a hub both for North American and European air travelers.

4. Book A Round-The-World Ticket

If you plan to visit Kenya as part of a much larger trip, then a round-the-world (RTW) ticket may be best for you. With this, you only have to book the first outbound flight now, and then book other flights as you go within a period of either 6 or 12 months.

There are conditions for RTW tickets and you’ll have to do quite some research. Some RTW tickets are mileage based, while others allow you a certain number of flights (within a minimum and maximum) or set clear time limits. You can typically only book flights from companies who are part of an alliance or network (i.e. the Star Alliance in which 19 air companies take part). You often can only travel in one direction (east or west) and the final destination has to be your point of departure.

5. Time Your Trip

Ticket prices go up in the tourist seasons, which for Kenya are July-August and December-January. You’ll increase your chances for getting cheap flights to Nairobi if you look outside tourist high seasons. Prices of accommodation are lower then, too.

You’ll typically pay less if you include a weekend day, because if you don’t the airlines assume you’re a business traveller who doesn’t mind the costs. But while, including a weekend day IN your itinerary, you should avoid flying on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays (i.e. the typical days on which working people leave on a holiday, and return). It’s busier then and prices go up. Also, choose a flight that leaves extremely early, or late in the evening. Less convenience means lower fares. Another timing consideration is when you buy your ticket. Prices tend to go up as you approach the departure date, so cheap flights to Nairobi must be booked early.

6. Shop Around

Tourism to Kenya has been growing for years and the sector is very competitive. So it pays off to shop around for cheaps flights to Nairobi. Start your search early, compare rates, play around with the dates if your schedule is flexible, and try alternative routs to get cheap flights to Nairobi. Online travel search engines like Expedia and Travelocity can help you narrow down the best deals. While you’re at it, book your hotel and even car rental in a package to save even more.

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