7 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Nairobi

Courtesy: youtube.com

Nairobi is one of the top ranked cities in Africa for its cultural and economic diversity. This is the capital city of Kenya, with a population of 3.36 Million. 

There is so much to see and so many places to visit when you visit Nairobi. In the City, you will find numerous tourist attraction sites as well as cultural centers.

However, there are things that you need to know before visiting the Capital

City of Kenya,

1. The Language: English and Swahili are the national languages. However, when you get to Nairobi you will learn that, not everybody speaks English. The common language is the local slug Sheng’ which is a mixture of local languages but predominantly Swahili. The first words you will be taught are most likely to be in sheng.

2. Transport Network: The road network and connectivity in Nairobi is impeccable. There is the Thika Super highway and the numerous By Pass that help ease traffic within the CBD.

However, to enjoy the inter-connectivity you need to understand the transport system. Transport is majorly through public transport popularly known as Matatus. Different areas have different terminus and navigation could be difficult for a first time visitor. On the bright side, there are Uber Taxis as well as local taxis which come in handy for first time visitors.

3. Culture: Kenya has 42 tribes and almost every single tribe is represented in Nairobi. When you visit the City you are not likely to identify with one particular culture. Everyone holds up a different culture and you will only notice through the interaction you have. However, you may find that certain areas are dominated by people from certain cultures which is not always the case.

4. Public Parks: The beauty of Nairobi is in the parks. There are numerous public parks where you can visit for free and simply enjoy the flora and fauna. These parks are very popular among locals and some residents even visit the parks when they have nowhere else to go. Some of this parks include the Uhuru Park and Jeevanjee Garden which are in the City Centre, the Uhuru Gardens and the Arboretum.

5. Political Opinion: Politics is a very sensitive topic in Kenya and almost any Kenyan you will meet with have a political opinion. When it comes to politics, Kenyan will tend to be highly opinionated and even disagree openly. Political affiliations are not a secret in Nairobi and you may need to be careful when bring up the topic. It is not easy to identify an individual’s political opinion and they will not bring it up unless provoked. Political discussions may turn into arguments and it is best to stay away from such discussions.

Courtesy: quepasa.co.ke

6. The Night Life: You may be surprised to know that Nairobi does not go to sleep. Yes, most businesses will close by 8:00pm but another economy runs at night. If you land in Nairobi in the middle of the night, you will find transport to wherever you need to go.

You will also find a place to eat and it does not have to be in a restaurant. At times you will find people roasting meat on the streets. Other than this, the entertainment joints run throughout the week with the climax begin on the weekends.

7. Public Security: In Nairobi security is something that is taken very seriously. You will be subjected to intense security checks whenever you visit any public and private facility. Be prepared to produce a form of identification and having your bags checked every time you enter a building, institution or mall. 

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