The Capital of Kenya, Nairobi, is also the World's Safari Capital

First, a Little History...

Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, was founded at the turn of the twentieth century. Unable to pronounce "Enkare Nyirobi," the Masai name for the area which translates as "the place of cool waters" (indeed, many rivers crisscross the city), the British colonialists settled for the name "Nairobi."

Nairobi was initially used a depot for materials used to construct the Kenya-Uganda Railway. In time, this was transformed into the vibrant capital that it is today.

Regional Hub

Nairobi is East Africa's largest and busiest metropolis. I know Kampala, neighboring Uganda's capital and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania's commercial city) fairly well and the Kenyan capital is a lot lot larger.

In fact, it is second largest city in eastern and southern Africa - hot on the heels of Johannesburg, South Africa.

And what does it have to show for it?

Gleaming skyscrapers, a large airport that prides itself as the regional aviation hub, a vibrant stock exchange, 50+ commercial banks and several large homegrown and multinational corporates.

Even though Kenya is classified as a developing country, Nairobi is, in many respects, a modern city. What with its huge and busy shopping complexes, several five-star Nairobi Hotels and excellent medical facilities.

The capital of Kenya is a thriving cosmopolitan city with a sizable white population. This is thanks, in part, to the United Nations agencies that are headquartered here.

These are the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN Habitat) which are both located at the United Nations Complex at Gigiri.

The 5 Reasons I Love Nairobi

For me though, Nairobi isn't just the capital of Kenya, it is home! And, while many of the amenities detailed above make living here easier, I was (and remain) enchanted to this city for slightly different reasons...

No. 1 - Gorgeous Weather

Africa is almost synonymous with sweltering hot weather. Ditto for most of Kenya.

The capital of Kenya though, is different.

Owing to its high altitude, Nairobi's climate is largely temperate. So, even during the hottest months of December to March, the sun doesn't ferociously blaze down on us.

So the weather here is perfect...

I can take my evening walks without working up clouds of dust. And the kids can swim virtually all year round. They do have to take a break in July, of course, when the Kenyan winter is at its severest (for want of a better adjective).

No. 2 - The Green City in the Sun

Nairobi's plush suburbs are remarkably lush. This, and its pleasant weather led the capital of Kenya to be endearingly referred to "the green city in the sun."

Then inefficiency and graft in the City Council took their toll - on the roads, street lighting and other public facilities.

But now, there is renewed hope. The recent appointment of the highly-regarded Philip Kisia as the Nairobi Town Clerk should help restore the capital's glory.

Already, many of the roads have been repaired, streets lit and many sidewalks have been repaved. The hawkers have been kept out of the city center and the beautification of Nairobi with flowers and trees is in top gear.

No. 3 - Real Estate

Nairobi real estate continues to fascinate me to this day.

In the US, the exterior walls of many houses I've been to are made of cardboard and wood. In Uganda, these walls are made of clay bricks and cement.

In Nairobi however, houses are built with rock-hard stone. Equally intriguing is that these stones are prepared to a perfect smooth or rugged finish with just hand and chisel!

Admittedly, my fixation with stone walls is an acquired taste. When I first saw the gray houses here, I thought they were decidedly unattractive.

Now though, I've grown to love them. In fact, we are building our dream house with the Njiru blue stone, a hard gray stone with a subtle tinge of blue. There won't be an iota of paint on the outside walls.

We love this look so much, one wall in each of public spaces (lounge, dining, family and TV rooms) has a natural stone finish as well.

I will post the progress and pictures of this modest dream house soon so check back regularly.

No. 4 - World-class Restaurants and Nyama Choma

We love good food (don't we all?). And, the city of Nairobi offers a wide spectrum of dining options from exclusive restaurants to cheaper eateries so we are often spoilt for choice.

We tend to settle for the tried and true such as Haandi (my husband's favorite), Osteria (their homemade ice cream is downright sinful), Horseman or Karen Blixen.

Sometimes though, we grab a quick bite from the many eateries dotted all over the capital of Kenya. Or we order nyama choma, Swahili for barbecued meat, at either Sagret or the club and sit out the 1 hour wait.

No. 5 - A Wildlife Haven

My family is able to, within minutes, retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city into the serene atmosphere of the Nairobi National Park.

This wildlife habitat is home to an incredible array of wildlife such as lions, rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes and countless other species.

We are also able to view vulnerable wild animals at Nairobi Animal Orphanage and Nairobi Safari Walk.

Then, if we want to administer some TLC to orphaned baby elephants, we head to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

If, on the other hand, we want to get up close and personal with the endangered Rothschild giraffe, we visit the Giraffe Center.

Nairobi offers an eclectic mix of tourist destinations and business opportunities that are certainly worth exploring.

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