While working at a US refugee resettlement agency, I was chosen for the opportunity to visit and learn from NGO programs in Kenya including their headquarters in Nairobi. It was a great chance to learn but we also had a lot of free time to discover the city itself.
Kenya is one of the more modern cities in Africa but has gone through times of rise and decline leading to a mix of old and new in its infrastructure.
Despite having areas of modern commerce and shopping, right nearby you can find traditional stalls selling goods as well.
Kanu Tower is now dated but remains an important symbol of Nairobi’s initial progress under its first post-independence president Jomo Kenyatta.
The National Museum of Kenya showcases a lot of the traditions and arts of its various cultures as well as unique historical pieces like the watercolors of Joy Adamson (Born Free)
Many people go to Kenya to go out on safari but you actually don’t even have to leave the city to experience impressive wildlife. The expansive Nairobi National Park offers some wonderful views and chances to see animals.
Just on the outskirts of Nairobi is the town of Karen, named after Karen Blixen of Out of Africa fame, which is a bit of colonial style get-away.
The Giraffe Center is a wonderful conservation and rescue site for giraffes and you can not only visit the animals there but also feed them by hand.