Nairobi — The hub of business and culture | Kenya

Image Credit: Unsplash | Amani Nation

It was January 2011, and I remember I landed on this African continent along with my kids and husband, who bagged up a lucrative job, head of a mid-sized packaging company based in Nakuru, Kenya. The first sight of the Baobab tree seen far from the airport attracted my attention as I recollected the scenes from the movie ‘Out of Africa.’ Nairobi as a city was the ultimate amalgamation of Afro-British architecture and a sprawling roof of modern Africa. It’s almost a decade I spent in this beautiful country, but if you are looking for a trip to this alluring land, Nairobi should be your first stop.

What makes Nairobi unique?

Nairobi is just one of its kind. Never in this world apart from South Africa will you find wildlife and urban life simultaneously and in harmony. You will get a vibrant nightlife, and it’s a melting pot of cultures. Starting from the oldest Masai tribe and ending in the tech-savvy software professional, Nairobi offers a comfortable shelter to people from all walks of life. Make sure you prepare a listicle of things to do while touring this city.

Visit the Nairobi National Park

The Nairobi National park is situated near the city. On this unique game drive, you will get the rarest view of a giraffe overlooking the skyscrapers of East Africa’s hi-tech city. You will be taken off your feet by the charm of the scattered Acacia bush along with the host of wildlife beauties like buffaloes, black rhinos, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, birds, and many others, compromising a total of 400 species.

Experience ‘beast of a feast’ in Carnivore restaurant

If you are a non-vegetarian, then the Carnivore restaurant will do justice to your taste buds. Since 1996, Carnivore, a restaurant belonging to the Tamarind group, located in Langata Road, Nairobi, serves a host of wildlife meats. Crocodiles, giraffes, buffalo, ostrich, and wild beasts used to be served as a part of delicacies. You will be amazed to see the process of roasting meats inside huge barbeque setups. You will be served till you drop. Treat this experience as the ‘beast of the feast’.

Visit the Giraffe Center and animal orphanage

Giraffe center is a breeding center for Rothschild giraffe, an endangered species found in East Africa. If you are a lover of animals, you will definitely love feeding giraffes and clicking selfies. The African center maintains this for endangered wildlife. You can similarly visit the elephant orphanage, which is meant to nourish baby elephants orphaned due to their parents being killed by the poachers.

Enjoy the vibrant nightlife

Nairobi is often mistaken to be a city where people sleep by 8 PM; don’t be in a dilemma. You will have nightclubs, pubs, discos that entertain people till late in the night. Meet visitors from around the world stepping to the city as tourists, business professionals, students, or job seekers.

Visit Masai Village, the fashion district of Nairobi

If you are fond of shopping, several centers can satiate your desire for African fashion. Look for branded clothes, jewelry, lifestyle utilities, and many others. There are many shopping malls like Two River mall, Sarit center, and Diamond Plaza to satiate your shopping spree. You will find every item of African and also international standard.

Visit the Kazuri bead factory

If you want to look at the locals of the land, visit the Kazuri bead factory where there are 340 women dedicated to crafting beautiful jewelry adored by women worldwide. Founded in 1975 by a single parent woman, Kazuri, which means ‘small and beautiful’ in Kiswahili, has been a success story in search of livelihood.

Nairobi is the home for tour operators, and you can easily plan trips to others parts of the country, including wildlife destinations and beaches.

How does Nairobi attract business people as well as job seekers?

Not only the tourists but Nairobi is known to attract job seekers from various parts of the world. Known as the hub of agriculture, floriculture of Eastern Africa, Nairobi is an attractive place for job seekers and a center for higher education. Since the past decade, there has been a revolution in the country as far as educational opportunities are concerned. The first preference for job opportunities lies with the locals, but the country often looks for outsourcing talents for industries. If you are an experienced professional in the following majors, you have a great opportunity to earn bread as an expatriate manager.

The categories are like:

• As agriculture experts
• Specialized in information technology
• Finance and accounts professionals
• Architectural experts
• Experienced engineers
• Experienced lecturers
• Medical experts including doctors and physiotherapists

Well, the government allows a work permit if your area of expertise falls into these categories. Other professionals like school teachers, public relations experts, and administrators are preferred from the local talent pool.

In Nairobi, Kenya, staying in one of the healthiest places on earth, the percentage of pollution is lesser compared to other countries. Move more towards the towns, and you will hardly feel any pollution in the air. The number of towns and cities is increasing with an adequate amount of medical facilities and entertainment. In a word, Nairobi is the hub of business and a melting pot of cultures. Learn a bit of Kiswahili, the local language, if you want to make your life a bit easier.