Nairobi City walk Tour preview I will be honest; this is the first time doing a Nairobi City walk Tour despite being a local. I walk to and out of this City every day so why should I do...
Nairobi City walk Tour preview
I will be honest; this is the first time doing a Nairobi City walk Tour despite being a local. I walk to and out of this City every day so why should I do the so-called Nairobi walking tour?
That was my attitude until I met Mr. Jeen, popularly known as Chinku the City tour Expert. He tried to sell me the idea of the City Tour but I was disinterested and disinclined.
Since I didn’t want to look rude, I listened to him with obviously divided attention.
He noticed I was not listening but he continued anyway. It is after a few minutes in our talk that he mentioned the tour takes 5 to 6 hours.
He finally had my full attention. “You mean this city walking tour can take up to 5/6 hours?” He knew he had my attention.
“Yes, don’t think you know the city so well despite being a local”. He quipped as he sipped 0.5 oz of water ready to delineate this discussion.
I swiftly grasped the idea of the City Tour and it was not long before we partnered the following week.
To start us off, I suggested this to my clients who were visiting Kenya and they were happy with the idea of doing the Nairobi City Walk Tour.
After all, that was quirky since they never came across it when searching for Tours in Kenya. Even now all you can get online is Nairobi Excursions like the Giraffe Centre, NNP, DSWT, etc.
Without much ado, let us delve in and see how our first Nairobi City walk Tour went down.
Book the Nairobi City Walk Tour NowBrief History of Nairobi.
How do you pronounce Nairobi? (NY-ROH-bee) It is the Capital City of Kenya which was founded in the year 1899 by the Colonial Authorities.
It grew to replace Mombasa the second-largest City in Kenya in 1907. It is until 1963 after independence that Nairobi became officially the Capital City of Kenya. Popularly known as Green City under the Sun. (We shall be seeing why the name).
The name Nairobi comes from the Maasai phrase `Enkare Nyorobi` which translates to “place of cool waters”, which is a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city.
Where the Nairobi City Walk Tour Starts.
Most of the places you will visit open at 8:30 AM, so we met at 9:00 AM at Hilton – Bata Shoe Shop. My clients were residing at Kileleshwa (7 km from CBD and so they boarded an uber to our starting point. I had pinned the Location.
If you’re new in Nairobi, and residing outside you can always catch a taxi to CBD to start the Nairobi walking tour.
Everyone was ready by 9:00 AM I introduced our Nairobi City Expert (Chinku) who promptly started a tour briefing after the intro.
I tried to hide my vehemence since I was more excited than my guests to start the tour.
After the Tour Briefing, off, we were at our first stop doorstep.
The Kenya National Archives and Documents Service (KNADS).
Nairobi City Walk Tour starts Point – The Archives
I didn’t want to say this but it was my first time stepping inside this chronicled Archive! Despite having passed by countless times. What a waste! I felt like I was visiting some museum in New York City.
How improbable yet the entry fee is only Kes50. With my shamefaced but exuberant look. I listened to our City Expert unravel the KNADS in detail.
Established in 1965, its main purpose was to:
Offer consultative records management services to the public service. Acquire and preserve valuable public and private records as part of the national documentary heritage. To ensure timely accessibility of records and archives to users.Tucked in Downtown along Tom Mboya Avenue, it’s a building where Nairobi Newbies refer when they get lost.
It is a building we were born in while it existed and probably we`re going to leave it still intact. Why not pay a visit to such a heritage?
Kenya National Archives entrance fee.
| CITIZENS | Adult | Kes50 |
| Child | Kes20 | |
| Resident
Non-Resident |
Kes200
Kes200 |
Kenya National Archives Opening Hours.
Monday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Tuesday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Wednesday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Friday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Weekend/Holidays 9:00 AM – 4:00 PMIt was unbelievable how much this building holds so much information about our country. I appeal to every Kenyan and visitor visiting Kenya to pay a visit to this phenomenal gallery.
Time to move to the next….
Nairobi Railway Museum.
I have been to this place countless times so I walked in with my head held up high. I even offered to help the Nairobi City walk Expert guide and delineate every little detail.
Read a comprehensive article I wrote about the Nairobi Railway Museum.
It felt good though to be back. Every visit is different and that’s one of the reasons I never get enough of this place.
The museum is divided into 4 rooms.
These Rooms talks about:
1st Room: Photographs from back the late 1800 and early 1900s. Survey maps which they used and other engrossing Memorabilia from back then all related to the railway in Kenya.
2nd Room: The communication room since there are pictures and those tangible communication tools like phones, and bells.
Signaling Lambs and torches. Ships steering wheels, back then life jackets which looked cool still in orange colour.
3rd Room: Water transport and ships affiliated with Kenya. This is the room for you. All the then models and a piece of detailed information about the German cruiser Konigsberg. Which was sunk during world war 1 by the British
4th Room: Displays and talks about the modern rails which are accustomed by the Kenya government in collaboration with the Chinese
After the rooms, you now head to the anticipated and interesting vintage locomotive graveled and lawn-greenish parking lot.
If not, be careful you can spend the whole day here. Time was not on our side so, I handed over tools of power to our Nairobi City walk tour Expert.
Time to walk to the next…
Nairobi City walk Tour break.
It was time to take something delicious equivalent to the Nairobi City Walk Tour. Before long we were at Kimathi Street where we had a delectable lunch as we shared what we have already learned about the city walk tour.
Our guests also shared their plight in the Cities back in the USA. At some point, it was more of a customary exchange and we all liked it.
Monuments in the Nairobi City.
Dedan Kimathi Statue
Kimathi Statue was erected in 2007.
After our light but delectable lunch, we headed to Kimathi Statue, Dedan Kimathi Waciuri was the senior military and spiritual leader of the Mau Mau Uprising.
Dedan Kimathi Waciuri led the armed military struggle against the British colonial regime in Kenya in the 1950s until his capture in 1956 and execution in 1957.
Unfortunately, the British colonials viewed him as a terrorist but in reality, he was a heroic figurehead of the Kenyan freedom struggle against British colonial rule.
After this, we strolled along Kimathi Street, passed Sarova Stanley Hotel, and joined the famous Kenyatta Avenue. (Uptown).
This part of Nairobi has less human traffic but it is the most commercialized with banks. We stopped over two other monuments before we were in the most anticipated Murumbi Gallery.
Murumbi Gallery
Inside Murumbi Gallery in Nairobi City Walking Tour
This Gem is tucked at the Intersection of Kenyatta Avenue/Uhuru highway with an overpass of the Nairobi Expressway.
Who is Joseph Murumbi? He was a Kenyan politician who was the Minister of Foreign affairs in Kenya from 1964 to 1966 and the second Vice president of Kenya during that period he was a minister.
He passed on June 22, 1990, and was buried in Nairobi City Park.
Murumbi Gallery was built more than 100 years ago, the monument was referred to as the Hatches, Matches, and dispatches because of the births, marriages, and deaths that were recorded there. It is at this juncture of the Nairobi City walk Tour you start asking yourself questions. What made me took so long without making this tour!
However today the house is a monument showcasing the Murumbi African Heritage collection exhibition.
The gallery also contains art, African tools, and ways of life for some of the Kenyan tribes like the Kamba, Maasai, and Turkana, among others.
It was an interesting tour as the starting point of Nairobi is inside the building. What do I mean by starting point (Point Zero)?
Whenever there’s a measure in Kilometers for Example Nairobi to Mombasa is 453 Km. The starting point is at this building.
Murumbi Gallery Entrance Fee.
| Citizens | Adult | Kes150 |
| Child | Kes100 | |
| Residents | Adult | Kes600 |
| Child | Kes400 | |
| Non-Residents | Adult | Kes1000 |
| Child | Kes500 |
Murumbi Gallery the Opening Hours
| Mon- Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 pm |
| Sat, Sun, and Holidays | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Time to move to the next in our Nairobi City walk tour, it was such a bracing and amazeballs experience at the gallery, to say the least.
The Kenyatta International Convention Center Helipad.
KICC Helipad
We passed by the parliament buildings, where you’re not allowed to take any pictures but ironically once you’re on the KICC Helipad you have an even better view and chance to take breathtaking pictures.
It was around sunset but unfortunately, it was cloudy and we couldn’t take those horizon shots. However, this was the culmination of the Nairobi City Walk Tour.
You will view Nairobi in 360 degrees in a bird’s view embellished by the city’s Skyscrapers. What an exhilarating view of our beloved City.
Despite being chilly up there, everybody had an awe-inspiring moment. You could see heavy human traffic downtown and heavy vehicle traffic uptown everyone rushing to get home to their families.
Long life Nairobi AKA “KANAIRO”.
KICC Helipad Charges
| Citizens | Adult | Kes200 |
| Child | Kes100 | |
| Residents | Adult | Kes300 |
| Child | Kes100 | |
| Non-Residents | Adult | Kes500 |
| Child | Kes200 |
Unfortunately, this was our denouement of our Nairobi City Walk Tour. Everyone was satisfied with our City Expert Chinku and the guests appreciated him and Incredible Kenya Adventures Ltd for making it happen.
Nairobi City walk Tour FAQs.
Can I do the Nairobi City Walk Tour Alone? Well, you can but no point without a guided tour from a City Expert since it will not be the same.
How Can I book the Nairobi City Walk Tour? Book here through Incredible Kenya Adventures Ltd for an affordable Package.
Why Should I book through Incredible Kenya Adventures Ltd? They are in Partnership with the only certified City Expert.
What of the Security Concern? You will be safe since walking if you’re in a group you will be sand winched between City Experts and they know the safest routes.
How Long does the Nairobi City walk take? It takes about 4/5/6 Hours.
How much does it cost? Reach out to Incredible Kenya Adventures Ltd for a Free Quotation.
Can I combine the Nairobi City Tour with other excursions like Nairobi National Park? No, the tour is a full-day event.
Who is eligible to book? Citizens, Residents, Non-Residents, Individuals, Groups, Schools, cooperate, etc.
Conclusion.
The Nairobi City Walk Tour is one of the most underrated tours in Kenya yet one of the most invigorating and enlivening tours everyone should take.
Whether visiting Kenya for the first time, this should be your starter package. I urge all Tour Operators in Kenya to sell this more often.
Whether a Kenyan Citizen, don’t be left out, you will be surprised how much you know less about your City.
Church youth groups, Schools should embrace this tour to make the future generation aware of where they are coming from and heading to.
NB// I didn’t delve into details on purpose, I want you to go and experience it all. This is just the tip of the Iceberg.
Indeed this is the City we Assume!
#Cityweassume
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