nairobi

Nairobi happens to be the largest city in Kenya. Always had short stints with it, as twas a place where I would have day visits and then connect flights to other parts of the world.
 
This time around I had 2 days to explore and couldn’t wait to absorb its character beyond modern skyscrapers, fast food restaurants and busy streets. Just to paint a quick picture: it’s as urban as Johannesburg, just on a smaller scale. The rhythm of the city is also fast both day and night.
 
Had planned to link up with my local connects, but my timing was off. Nevertheless, let me give you the lowdown on the “Green City in the Sun”

REQUIREMENTS
- Valid passport (Visa free country for South Africans)
- Yellow fever card

WHERE TO STAY
Did a bit of research and found that two areas met my criteria for centrality and quietness: Westlands and Kileleshwa.
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Ended up booking a lovely apartment on Airbnb, which happened to be in Kileleshwa. I was sold on the spaciousness and the clever use of  wall paper, unique light fixtures and wooden floors. 

​The main bedroom was my favourite thing about the space, the  bed leaned on a contemporary back wall made up of wood and mirrors, and the Eames inspired furniture completed the look.

CURRENCY 
R1 = 6,77 Kenyan Shilling 
$1 = 100,91 Kenyan Shilling 
*Dollars and Kenyan Shillings are widely used. Most establishments were formal, so cards often accepted, but cash is king.

WEATHER
Best times to visit Niarobi are June – September . I went in end September, temperature was an average of 20°C  with 8hrs of sunshine. No rainfall. Enjoyed wearing strapless tops and light items.

TRANSPORT
All forms of transport available from Matatus adorned with Graffiti artwork to trains. Lots of cars on the road causing traffic, but the main thing I would like to highlight about Nairobi that is different to the other parts of Kenya is that ​Uber and Taxify services were largely available and I heavily relied on my apps to get me around.

​FOOD
Wanted a real taste of Kenyan food culture and the best thing I did was signing for a cooking class with Agnes of Jikoni Magic, a popular food channel on YouTube. Started the experience with a visit to a fresh produce market named Wakulima Market, there we browsed the aisles in search of the best quality, and bought fresh fruits and vegetables before proceeding to the kitchen. Agnes and Esther had a beautiful energy about them, which made the learning process fun. 

Class lasted 6.5 hours and consisted out of the following actions:
- Cutting, peeling and grinding
- Boiling, frying and simmering

​We prepared 3 traditional Kenyan dishes: Samaki Wa Kupaka, Mboga Kienyeji  and Kimanga. All too yummy, I even went for seconds, got to the apartment and passed out lol

Looking to book a longer Nairobi stay in the near future, where I can explore the nightlife and glamping. Til next time!