Historical Tour of the City Centre: Part 1

About the audio 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.

Major Landmarks

Nairobi Gallery, Kipande House, Galton-Fenzi Memorial, McMillan Library, Khoja Mosque, Jeevanjee Gardens, Central Police Station, Norfolk Hotel, Ainsworth House

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.

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 to walk:

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.