Things to do in Nairobi this weekend
A locals-first shortlist of what's worth your time in Nairobi this weekend — from outdoor escapes to standout food and live music.
Top spots in Nairobi
David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
FamilyKaren
11am public hour — watch orphaned baby elephants get milk bottles and mud baths.
Giraffe Centre
FamilyLangata
Feed endangered Rothschild giraffes from a raised platform, eye to eye.
Karura Forest
OutdoorsGigiri
1,000 hectares of urban forest with waterfalls, bike trails and a riverside café.
Nairobi National Park
OutdoorsLangata
Only national park inside a capital — lions, giraffes and rhinos with skyline backdrop.
Alchemist & Tribeka
NightlifeWestlands
Sunday afro-house at Alchemist's open-air courtyard; Tribeka for late-night amapiano.
Maasai Market
CultureWestlands (Tuesdays)
Rotating craft market — beadwork, kikoi cloth, kisii soapstone. Bargain hard.
Where to eat
Carnivore
$$$Game meat BBQ · Langata
Maasai-spear skewers brought tableside — beef, lamb, ostrich, crocodile until you surrender.
Cultiva
$$$Farm-to-table · Karen
Wood-fired tasting menu in a converted farmhouse — Nairobi's top-tier dining.
K'Osewe Ranalo Foods
$Luo / Kenyan · CBD
Lunchtime institution — fish stew, managu greens, ugali on banana leaves.
Mama Oliech
$$Kenyan / Fish · Kilimani
Whole fried tilapia with ugali and sukuma — Obama ate here, plastic chairs, perfection.
Talisman
$$$Pan-African Fusion · Karen
Garden cottage classic — feta samosas, lamb tagine, candlelit courtyard.
Live & on stage
Beneath the Baobabs
Kilifi (NYE) · Dec 28 – Jan 1 · Festival / Electronic
Blankets & Wine
Ngong Racecourse · Monthly Sundays · Afrosoul / Picnic
Koroga Festival
Two Rivers · Quarterly · Afrobeats / Live
Safaricom Jazz Festival
Kasarani Stadium · Feb 21 · Jazz
Frequently asked
- Locals' favourites right now: Nairobi National Park, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Centre. The full list is curated weekly and balances outdoor, food, culture and live music picks.