BEST Things to Do and See Within 24 Hours In Nairobi
These are the best ways to explore Nairobi in the shortest way possible. With little or no time to see the wildebeest migration in Masai Mara and visiting Samburu, a Kenya day tour offers remarkable variety. For travellers looking to experience more of Nairobi in a single day, Kenya features plenty of multi-day tours from Nairobi, with all attractions easily visited on just a short drive from the city center. All these Nairobi urban tours can bring a different rhythm to your journey, whether you prefer to end your time in the city’s capital or start from Nairobi City.
Top-Rated 20-Day Trips from Nairobi
Over the last 5 years and counting, specializing in Kenya safari trips, we have tried and tested many Kenya safari itineraries. These are our top Kenya day trip tours that we’ve found working well with both first time travellers and repeat safari goers, all completely customisable to meet your travel wishes.
Browse by interest on your vacation to Kenya – these are Kenya’s most-loved experiences – from city safari tours and to culture, events, and food. Find what you enjoy most.
Feed The Giraffes
1. Go on a Guided Nairobi City Safari
Go on a 5 hours guided Nairobi City safari tour, walking alongside a local English-speaking guide. This Nairobi city tour package lets you see all of the top sites in Kenya’s capital within a single day. After a brief intro meet up with your local guide, head off to explore Nairobi! Walking through the streets of Nairobi and travelling by public transport provides plenty of opportunity to mingle with the locals as they go about their daily lives, making this a pretty solid local experience in our books. Another key local experience is food, the opportunity to sample local cuisine at lunch at a local restaurant. Eat like a local, chat with locals, see Nairobi like a local… After your Nairobi walking tour, your guide will safely walk you back to your hotel/ meeting point, which marks the end of your full day Nairobi City tour.
Breakfast
2. Go on a Half-Day Trip to Nairobi National Park
With just 10 kilometers from Nairobi City Centre, Nairobi National Park is the perfect place for a half-day or full day Nairobi excursion. This 1-day safari to Nairobi National Park brings you up-close to some of the big 5 (Lions and Rhinos) all against the backdrop of Nairobi’s Skyscrapers. You will explore the park on a 5-hour game viewing drive, with options to visit the giraffe center, or Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.
3. Visit Orphaned Baby Elephants & Rhinos at Sheldrick
As a traveler on your first trip to Kenya and have a day free in Nairobi, you can visit the Elephant Orphanage. This is an amazing and fun tour in Nairobi that also gives one truly Heart- touching memories and supports a good cause. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery bordering Nairobi National Park offers safe haven to orphaned baby elephants rescued from parks and reserves in Kenya. The nursery cares for the young elephants, including hand rearing them until they are old enough to be gradually introduced back to the wild in Tsavo East National Park among other places.
This is where an orphan’s journey begins — a journey that will culminate, many years down the line, in their reintegration back into the wild.
4. Visit Amboseli on a Day Trip from Nairobi
A 1-day Amboseli safari means a day trip to the park. Amboseli day trip costs as little as US$285 per person per day. This is a great park for so many reasons, with the main highlights being the amazing wildlife you can see here in a day, as well as the opportunities for cultural encounters with members of the local Maasai tribe. Watch and photograph up-close Africa’s highest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro, alongside marching elephants, sightings of cheetahs, lions, hyenas, buffaloes, flamingoes, giraffes, serval cats and many more.
Baby Elephants
5. Go Cycling at Hell’s Gate on A Day Tour from Nairobi
Ride a bike and hike through Hell’s Gate National Park on a full-day, private tour from Nairobi to the wildlife park. You will be cycling in Hell’s Gate past zebra’s giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and other plain un-harmful wild animals. Unlike traditional safaris where you remain in the vehicle, Hell’s Gate offers a unique experience where you can cycle, walk, or run through the park.
6. Visit the Giraffe Center In Nairobi
Just 40 minutes from Nairobi’s City Centre, visit the famous Giraffe Centre in Nairobi which plays a key role in conserving the critically endangered Rothschild giraffe. This half-day tour to Giraffe Center is the best place to visit if your kids enjoy animals! From the raised wooden structure (of a giraffes height), you can watch the giraffes up-close and hand feed them. You may also observe warthogs snuffling at their hooves, scavenging on the fallen pellets. Once you have finished with the giraffes, you can move out on a self-guided forest walk in the nearby Gogo river sanctuary, a 1.5 km trail within Giraffe Center with great views of Nairobi and the Ngong hills. The Giraffe Centre is open every day with visiting timings from 9 am to 5pm daily.
7. Go on a Walking Safari at Crescent Island In Naivasha
Go on a Crescent Island walking safari and boat riding tour.  The walk is guided, typically lasts 2–3 hours and offers a relaxed, family-friendly adventure which is manageable and closely tied to the lake setting, with enough time for wildlife, birdlife and open views across the island. A return boat ride provides the great chance to see hippos, and many birds.
The animals you will see at Crescent Island include Masai Giraffes, Impalas, Hippopotamus, Defassa Waterbuck, Wildebeests, Burchell’s Zebra, Thompson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Bat Eared Fox, Kirk’s Dik Dik, Bushbuck, White-tailed Mongoose, Spring Hare, Vervet Monkey, Cape Buffalo, Spotted Hyena, Silver Backed Jackal, African Rock Python, Ostrich, Leopard Tortoise, Coypu and over 135 species of bird species.
For those planning day trips to Crescent Island Sanctuary, please note that Crescent Island is open every day from 8.30am & last entry is at 4.30pm. Please ensure that you are on your boat by 5.45pm latest to avoid Hippos encounters on foot! A part of the Island entry rules, strictly NO dogs allowed; animals don’t like dogs and chase people with dogs.
Walk Past Wildlife
8. Go on a Day Trip to Masai Mara
Daytrips to Masai costs a total of USD$400 to USD$500 per person with the price including entrance fees to Masai Mara, transport to and from Nairobi, game viewing drives and picnic lunches. However, Masai Mara day tours are not that popular because of the long driving hours involved (around 5-6 hours) and even if you still choose to fly to Masai Mara on a one-day trip it will still be costly.
9. Visit the Masai Market In Nairobi
For anyone on a safari in Kenya, the Masai Market is an experience not to be missed. Busy, popular Maasai Market is held every Tuesday on the ground near Slip Rd in town. Souvenirs on offer include beaded jewellery, gourds, baskets and other Maasai crafts, but you’ll have to bargain. The market is open from early morning to late evening.
10. Go Food Tasting on the Streets of Nairobi
A Nairobi food tour or rather Nairobi street food experience is a tour that gives you the chance to sample a variety of local food in an authentic setting. Food tastings may differ depending on availability, but typically include mutura (traditional Kenyan spiced sausage), choma (grilled meat, street-style), smokies.
For a better setting, we recommend visiting K’Osewe Ranalo Foods in Nairobi a very large and spacious restaurant, attracting a mainly Kenyan and African clientele, authentic Kenyan food cooked. Get a chance to sample the dishes that locals love during this private, half-day street food tour of Nairobi.
11. Private Day Tour to Nairobi Art Galleries
Discover the best of Nairobi’s art scene on a half-day tour of museums and galleries. Individuals/groups can enjoy guided tours by well-trained guides who interpret the exhibition. Audio guides are also available on request. Explore Kenya’s cultural heritage and contemporary creativity in one experience. Nairobi Art Galleries displays paintings of course but also a large amount of lovely prints and sculptures. The Nairobi Gallery is open daily 8:30AM – 5:30PM Monday to Sunday.
12. Visit the Last Northern White Rhinos In Ol Pejeta
Experience the extraordinary: a rare chance to encounter the last two Northern White rhinos on Earth. Come and learn about the endangered species on Ol Pejeta. This activity starts at 04:30 PM to 05:30 PM from the Morani Information Centre. Here, guests have a once in a lifetime opportunity to come face to face with last female northern white rhinos, and learn about their journey to Kenya from the Czech Republic. The 700-acre endangered species enclosure also protects small populations of Grevy’s zebra and the Jackson’s hartebeest. This activity is only available to people with their own vehicles.
13. Visit Kazuri Beads
A great place to stop by in Nairobi – explore handmade Kenyan jewelry, beads, jewelry, and other gifts made by local women. Visit for a guided tour and jewelry-making workshop experience to see the various stations and steps of jewelry-making, all tools and materials provided, then shopping. Kazuri Beads specialize on Hand Made Ceramic Beads, Pottery and Genuine Leather Bags. Kazuri Beads is open daily from Monday to Saturday between 9AM to 4PM, and on Sunday, opening hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Visiting Kazuri
14. Experience Cultural Dances at Bomas
Experience the rich culture of Kenya’s 42 different ethnic groups at the Bomas of Kenya. Watch traditional dances, music, song, and folklore on daily cultural performances. The selection consists of over 50 dances from different ethnic communities in Kenya. With live percussion, string and wind instruments, and diverse, authentic and energetic dancing, BomasHarambee Dancers will take you on a journey through Kenya’s past and present. From Western Kenya and the shores of Lake Victoria (Nyanza) through Rift Valley, Central and Eastern Kenya to North-eastern and Coastal Kenya, these daily shows display an array of diverse musical and dance traditions. Bomas is open daily from 10:00AM to 6:00PM with the afternoon cultural performances, starting at 2:30PM on weekdays and 3:30PM on weekends and public holidays.
Visiting Bomas
15. Visit the Karen Blixen Museum
Visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the farmhouse where the author of “Out of Africa” lived between 1914 and 1931. Karen Blixen’s story and farmhouse offer unique insights into Kenya’s early 20th-century history, literature, and conservation efforts. Located 10km from the City Centre, the museum belongs to a different time period in the history of Kenya, and later gained international acclaim with the release of the movie ‘Out of Africa’, an Oscar winning film based on Karen’s autobiography by the same title. Karen Blixen Museum is open all year round from Monday to Sunday 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
16. Visit the National Museum of Kenya
This tour allows you visit a multi-disciplinary institution dedicated to collecting, preserving, researching, and presenting Kenya’s cultural and natural heritage. The Museum hosts both temporary and permanent galleries that attract learners and tourists alike. The following permanent galleries exist: The Cradle of human kind gallery; The Story of mammals; The History of Kenya; Cycles of life gallery; Numismatic exhibition and Asian African Heritage exhibition gallery respectively. The National Museum of Kenya is open on Monday to Sunday: 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. all year round including public holidays and weekends.
17. Go Dining At Carnivore Restaurant
We highly recommend Carnivore Restaurant Nairobi for anyone looking for a unique and energetic dining experience. Whether lunch or dinner, Carnivore offers a fixed-price dining experience where meats are roasted over a charcoal pit on Maasai swords. Guests begin with soup and enjoy a variety of meats, salads, vegetables, and sauces, all served tableside until they signal they’re full by lowering a flag. The set menu includes dessert and coffee, with vegetarian options also available. The venue hosts special events.
Carnivore Restaurant—famous for its all-you-can-eat roasted meats, exotic game cuts, and lively open-air dining atmosphere. About time, please take note that Carnivore Restaurant is open every day during business hours from 12:00PM – 23:00PM, during lunch from 12:00PM – 15:00PM and dinners start from 18:00PM – 21:00PM.
18. Go on Nairobi Coffee Farm Tours
Experience the magic of Kenyan coffee. You’ll tour a coffee estate, learn about every step of the production process, and get the chance to sample some freshly brewed Kenyan coffee yourself.
Learn the art of coffee cultivation and processing from our seasoned experts, gaining insights into every step of the coffee-making journey.
Engage in a variety of activities, from coffee bean picking to roasting workshops, ensuring an unforgettable experience for everyone.
Indulge your senses as you savor the rich aroma and flavors of freshly brewed coffee, straight from the beans of our thriving estate
Take home a taste of perfection with our premium coffee selection, carefully harvested and roasted to perfection on-site.
The expert-guided Nairobi coffee tours usually lasts 2 hours and takes place daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
19. Visit Lake Nakuru on a Day Trip from Nairobi
Experience a 1-day trips from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park. Enjoy a game drive through the park, see a variety of wildlife, and enjoy a picnic lunch.
Lake Nakuru features variety in its landforms – rocky escarpments, thick acacia forests, & waterfalls. And in what other park can you spot such diverse wildlife like lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe and… few flamingoes.
Another special feature of the park you won’t want to miss is the Rhino Sanctuary. The park hosts more than 25 endangered black rhinos and about 70 white rhinos. Your morning here will be filled with an engaging procession of wildlife.
20. Explore Nairobi on Helicopter Safaris
Book Air & helicopter tours outside Nairobi since Helicopter city tours over Nairobi are NOT allowed. State House and national security authorities strictly control Nairobi airspace. Discover Kenya on epic excursions by air. Our private Kenya safari helicopter tours give you the wings to explore Kenya’s wildest, most spectacular and extreme locations. This total freedom will allow you to visit places inaccessible by land and untouched by most humans. Northern Kenya hosts some of East Africa’s most remote geographical wonders. Looking down on this vast wilderness from above offers an entirely new perspective. Enjoy instant access to remote locations, otherwise unavailable under time constraints. Hover over wildlife or touch down beside a turquoise pool for a refreshing swim. Take this once in a lifetime opportunity during your luxury Kenya safari holiday to see the wildest corners of the country.
Best Kenya Safari & Beach Tours
Browse our favorite Kenyan beach holiday packages or simply get in touch with one of our Africa safari experts to help custom-make a Kenyan beach holiday that matches your travel wishes. You can enjoy safaris in Kenya national parks on the mainland, then follow it up with a relaxed beach holiday at Malindi or Diani. Get to know the coastal Kenya, and what’s possible on your trip to these Indian Ocean beaches, discover some of the best-loved experiences and safari routes that we’ve found working particularly well with our travelers.
