The Atlas Obscura Guide To Nairobi

14 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Nairobi, Kenya

Updated June 19, 2026

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Unusual Attractions in Nairobi

Giraffe eating breakfast with guests at Giraffe Manor

Nairobi, Kenya

Giraffe Manor

Just outside of Nairobi lies a large estate surrounded by endangered Rothschild giraffes, who have been fed from the window by Mick Jagger and Walter Cronkite.

Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi Animal Orphanage

Located in Nairobi National Park, this animal orphanage is the oldest of its kind in Kenya.

Giraffe Centre

Nairobi, Kenya

Giraffe Centre

Get tall with nature's lankiest beasts and their warthog friends at this Kenyan preserve.

Nairobi, Kenya

Carnivore Restaurant

Kenyan restaurant is a carnivore's paradise, serving exotic meats at its ultimate 'Beast of a Feast.'

Mosaic sculptures at Kitengela.

Nairobi, Kenya

Kitengela Glass

A glass and sculpture wonderland forms an oasis in a remote part of Kenya.

Luo village at Bomas of Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya

Bomas of Kenya

This tourist village in Nairobi celebrates the traditional lifestyles and customs of Kenyan tribes.

Nairobi Railway Museum

Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi Railway Museum

Strolling through these vintage locomotives offers a surprising amount of insight into the history of Kenya.

See All 14 Things To Do in Nairobi

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya

Carnivore Restaurant

Kenyan restaurant is a carnivore's paradise, serving exotic meats at its ultimate 'Beast of a Feast.'

A set of amuse-bouches.

Nairobi, Kenya

Embark Restaurant

Farm-to-table East African-European cuisine is on the menu here.

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Stories About Nairobi

Swahili coconut chicken, made with indigenous kienyeji birds.

In Nairobi, Young Diners Clamor for Traditional Kenyan Cuisine

Indigenous dishes are now trendy—and expensive.

by Dauti Kahura, Atlas Obscura

November 11, 2020

A still from Wanuri Kahiu's Rafiki.

The Art Movement Bringing Fun and Frivolity to Portrayals of Africa

The second episode of TED’s Far Flung podcast chews over AFROBUBBLEGUM.

by Anna Phelan, Atlas Obscura

The cryptic chameleon, Calumma crypticum, has a past full of mystery.

A Fossilized Skull May Solve the Mystery of a Chameleon Migration

A raft very likely carried chameleons between Madagascar and mainland Africa—but in which direction?

by Sabrina Imbler, Atlas Obscura

February 18, 2020

According to local legend, a person who falls into Ondiri Swamp will turn up days later in Lake Naivasha, a two-hour drive away.

The Return of Ondiri Swamp

Exploited for years, these vital wetlands near Nairobi are blooming anew thanks to a remarkable grassroots effort.

by April Zhu, Atlas Obscura

August 14, 2019

An artis's rendition of Simbakubwa kutokaafrika.

Found: One of the Largest Carnivorous Land Mammals Ever, in a Museum Drawer

Despite its massive size, it had been overlooked for 40 years.

by Jonathan Carey, Atlas Obscura