Historical Tour of the City Centre: Part 1

Name: Historical Tour of the City Centre: Part 1
Brand: VoiceMap
SKU: 1450
Price: 2.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (10 reviews)
Author: Ben

(10 reviews)

Nairobi audio tour: Historical Tour of the City Centre: Part 1

This is a 1.7mi walking tour

It takes an average of 45 mins to complete.

Nairobi

Kenya

$2.99

Access all 24 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

This tour brings to life some of the dramatic events and eccentric characters that defined Nairobi at the turn of the 20th century. It describes the momentous events that shaped the country's destiny. You’ll learn the stories behind some of the surviving historical buildings and monuments in the city centre, and the people who built them.

Tour Producer

Ben

1 tour

At Jambonairobi.co.ke, we love the outdoors and all things natural. We share information on hiking trails, recreational parks, museums & galleries, and other interesting places and activities near Nairobi, and further afield. By complementing this wealth of information with Voicemap audio tours of the city, we hope your experience of this wonderful place will be further enriched.

Preview Location

Location 1

Nairobi Gallery & Kenyatta Avenue

Hello and welcome to our historical tour of Nairobi’s city centre. This tour is the first of a two part series. My name is Benedict and I'll be your guide.

Imagine a doctor riding a zebra while making house calls. Or an eccentric aristocrat riding his horse into a hotel res... Hello and welcome to our historical tour of Nairobi’s city centre. This tour is the first of a two part series. My name is Benedict and I'll be your guide.

Imagine a doctor riding a zebra while making house calls. Or an eccentric aristocrat riding his horse into a hotel restaurant. Or better yet, a former US president nearly causing a diplomatic incident after a drinking spree.

Well, I’ll take you back to a time when these and other interesting incidents happened in Nairobi.

If you are standing in front of the Nairobi Gallery, at the junction of Kenyatta Avenue and Uhuru Highway, then you are at the right place.

The Nairobi Gallery is a gazetted national monument. Its entrance leads to an octagonal atrium with doors to various rooms. The atrium is Point Zero. Distances between Nairobi and other towns were measured from this spot.

The house was built in 1913 by the colonial government. Initially it served as the registry where records of births, marriages and deaths were kept. White settlers fondly called it Hatches, Matches, and Dispatches.

Later on it became the Nairobi Provincial Commissioner’s office. The colonial Governor also worked from here. When Nyayo House was completed next door in 1983, the Provincial administration moved there. This building was then taken over by the National Museums of Kenya and renamed Nairobi Gallery.

It currently hosts a part of the massive Murumbi African Heritage Collection, and temporary art exhibitions by local and foreign artists. To learn more about Murumbi and his legacy, be sure to listen to the second part of this tour. I would also recommend you take a tour of the Nairobi Gallery.

Okay, let's get moving. Turn round so the gallery is behind you, and the roundabout is on your left-hand side. Then cross Kenyatta Avenue. I'll meet you on the opposite corner.

VoiceMap uses GPS to pinpoint your location and trigger the relevant audio. This means you can now put your phone away and relax. I will tell you where to go. Read More

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How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

Listen as many times as you like

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Major Landmarks

Nairobi Gallery
McMillan Memorial Library Nairobi
Khoja Mosque

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Kenyatta Ave, Nairobi, Kenya
Total distance

3km
Final location
Ground Floor, National Museums Of Kenya, Museum Hill Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
Distance back to start location

1km

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts from the Nairobi Gallery, at the intersection of Kenyatta Avenue and Uhuru Highway. From Kencom bus stage, opposite the Hilton Hotel, take any bus and alight at the General Post Office (GPO) bus stage. You'll find the Nairobi Gallery a few metres ahead. Alternatively, you can walk there from Kencom, or use a taxi.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Point Zero Coffee at the Nairobi Gallery, Al-Yusra Restaurant balcony overlooking McMillan Library, Vogue Cafe at the National Museum Grounds.

Best time of day

Anytime during the day. It's unsafe after dark.

Precautions

Keep an eye on your belongings. Exposed valuables may get snatched.

Be careful when crossing roads. Motorists sometimes don't stop at street lights and zebra crossings. Watch out for motorbikes, too. They rarely follow traffic rules.

Avoid walking into large gatherings.

Smoking on Nairobi streets is prohibited. You can smoke at designated smoking zones near Galton-Fenzi Memorial, and at Jeevanjee Gardens.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

Google Play Store

Questions and Reviews

4.5 / 5

10 Ratings

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