Is it safe to travel to Nairobi city?

Is it safe to travel to Nairobi city? : Nairobi city is a vibrant city and a great tourist destination to visit during Kenya safari, Nairobi city is the capital city of Kenya and as a great Kenya tourist destination it consists of many tourists sites such as Nairobi national park, The Karen Blixen Museum, The Nairobi national museum and many more.

While planning on visiting Nairobi for a safari experience, the first concerned and question asked by the travelers is about their safety their travel to Nairobi city. Like other cities in the world, a series of petty crimes happen and unfortunately Nairobi city does not have the best reputation when it comes to petty crimes. At an overall scale, no major security threat has been so far registered to travelers.

Is it safe to travel to Nairobi? Is a common question asked by the travelers, this article answers some of the questions asked by travelers in regards to their safety during their travel to Nairobi.

Is Nairobi Dangerous?

Nairobi city is the capital city of Kenya and a place where safaris and tours to most destinations of Kenya begin and end from, meaning it attracts a great number of travelers/tourists from all over the world. Nairobi city is developing at a rapid rate and like other city the occurrence of petty crimes is so common, some areas in the city such as Kibera are considerably dangerous. As a tourist it is important to be carefully aware of your surroundings during your travel in Nairobi city.

In Nairobi city certain crimes have a higher risk than other crimes such as mugging, carjacking and possibly armed robberies (though so rare), because of the occurrence you are advised to keep a guide, a  driver  or any hotel staff  while in Nairobi   as they are able to assist you. Also a bid by their instructions as they know the city very well and the spots to avoid, avoid moving alone most especially during evening hours as you can expose yourself to becoming a victim of the dangerous crimes.

Is Nairobi Safe for Solo Travelers?

Nairobi city is a safe destination for travelers including solo travelers, solo travel is becoming so common in Nairobi and this due to the city being an up and coming destination and hub for business travelers.

As a solo traveler you are advised to move in Nairobi city with a guide if it is within your travel budget, avoid moving alone in the night and if you are to do always stick to populated areas. Additionally moving with about by a taxi is best idea over public transportation as you might get lost.

Is Nairobi Safe for Female Travelers?

Nairobi city is generally a safe destination to travel to as a woman either a solo travel or in groups, however while travelling in Nairobi here are the few safety cautions to keep in mind.

• Do not walk alone around in the hours of a night especially in beach areas as they can be dangerous to any traveler and more dangerous to women
• Though locals tend to be overall accommodating and helpful, Nairobi being a big city sexual assault is still at a high risk for women travelling alone so you need to be careful.

Safety Tips for LGBTQ+ Travelers

Participating homosexual acts are forbidden and outlawed in most African countries including Kenya since the colonial British era and post independence the law is still in place. Regardless of the law, same-sex couples are free to move in Nairobi as long as they are discreet and avoid displaying any for form affection towards each other.

Homophobia is a huge risk in Nairobi that is why a LGBTQ+ you are advised to be well away of your surrounding as crimes to your kind of people can occur such as harassment and kidnapping. Many LGBTQ+ people have had a safe travel in Nairobi city and other parts of Kenya.

Safety Tips for BIPOC Travelers

For BIPOC travelers is very safe destination to travel to, unfortunately colorism is an issue in Kenya as it is across the globe where light skin is considered to be better thus lighter-skinned travelers receive preferential treatment and services in most cases.

However, overall extreme cases as a result of colorism such as abuse or discrimination are very rare in Kenya and Nairobi as well, tourists from varying backgrounds are equally desired and welcomed.

Safety Tips for Travelers

As an individual travelling to Nairobi either for a safari or a business holiday, here are some of the general safety tips to observe.

• While in Nairobi, make it a point to use a registered taxi such as Yellow Cab Nairobi, avoid accepting rides from strangers.
• Avoid moving alone in the lonely places such as disserted streets at night, when moving always with a group or with a guide if possible.
• Avoid moving with large bills of money, also ensure that when converting your money, you do it inside a reputable bank not with strangers.
• Avoid smoking in the public, most areas in Nairobi have strict smoking rules. So while smoking ensure that you do it in the designated smoking areas inside and outside of the facilities.
• While in Nairobi, avoid high risk areas for danger such as Kibera unless you are traveling with a trusted guide, driver or hotel stuff.
• If you are planning on doing outdoor activities during your travel in Nairobi, visit your doctor to get a prescription for malaria pills.
• Be aware of tourist scams which are so common in Nairobi, they scams are operated by unregistered tour guides and thieves dressed as police officers.
• Plan your outing in Nairobi city based on the rush hour traffic, if you must travel during rush hour that is between 6 am – 9 am and 5 pm – 8 pm. Plan your travels accordingly.