What does the name Nairobi mean?

What does the name Nairobi mean? The Maasai term Ewaso Naiberi, which means “place of cool water,” is the source of the name Nairobi. During the construction of the railway from Mombasa to Lake Victoria in the late 1890s, the town sprang up around the railhead. Nairobi served as the hub of the British Colonial Administration and is currently home to the Kenyan government’s headquarters since the country’s independence in 1963. The vibrant centre of the city is the Central Business District, or CBD. Administrative offices and enterprises are located at Upper Hill. The massive UN Regional Headquarters and several embassies are located in Gigiri. Muthaiga is a prestigious residential neighbourhood known for its storied colonial Country Club. A hive of retail malls, movie theatres, art galleries, eateries, and nightlife is Westlands. Nairobi National Park is bordered by Karen, which bears Blixen’s name.

Located southeast of the city the centre is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which bears the name of Kenya’s first president. On Langata Road is Africa’s largest light aircraft airport, Wilson Airport. The Nairobi Railway Station is located in the heart of the city. Minibuses, also referred to as matatus locally, are used for public transportation. Taxis can be individually reserved or called by any hotel reception; they are accessible throughout the city.

In 1910, the National Museum of Kenya was founded in a single room. It was moved to its current location on Museum Hill in 1930, and between 2005 and 2007 it had a comprehensive renovation. Excellent exhibitions covering rock art, fauna, birdlife, fossils of hominids, ethnography, and archaeological excavations are available. The Railway Museum has information on the railway’s construction. The railway, which was known as the Lunatic Express, took the lives of around 2,500 workmen during its construction, which took place between 1896 and 1901. A display about the infamous Man Eaters of Tsavo is one of the exhibits. Historical records from Kenya’s British colonialism and the Mau Mau rebellion for independence are kept in the National Archives of Kenya. There are historical images, cultural objects, and contemporary artwork on exhibit.

The most well-known work of Kenyan coffee farmer Karen Blixen, who lived from 1913 to 1931, is her iconic memoirs Out of Africa. Her garden and farmhouse have been turned into a historically accurate museum. Visitors are introduced to Kenyan customs and culture via Bomas of Kenya. Various tribal communities’ traditional dances and songs are performed by dancers and artists. Nairobi National Park features grass plains, a permanent river with riverine forest, and highland dry woodland. It was gazetted in 1946. There are about 400 known species of birds in addition to the black rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest. The Main Gate, Langata, Cheetah, and Maasai are the park’s entrances; Mokoyiet, Kingfisher, and Impala are the picnic areas.

Orphaned elephants and black rhinos are raised by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which is located on the borders of Nairobi National Park. Every day from 11 a.m., visitors are invited to the site, which also features a gift store and information centre. The surrounding town of Langata is home to the endangered Rothschild giraffe breeding institution, The Giraffe institution. Hand feeding giraffes is possible from an elevated wooden structure.

Kenya safari accommodations in Nairobi

Kitengela Hot Glass

In Kenya, Kitengela Hot Glass is well-known for its creative and vibrant hand-blown glass. Anselm Croze founded the establishment in the early 1990s, and it is a wonderland of shiny statues, chandeliers, dinnerware, and jewellery. Many Nairobi residents and visitors have made the factory, with its fiery furnaces, and the shop and café adjacent, their favourite place to spend a day or perhaps spend a week. Named for its unusual Bush Willow tree, Bush Willow is a charming one-bedroom cottage with one bathroom. Whitewashed walls with ornate Kitengela glass insets adorn the open-concept sitting area, bedroom, and kitchen. The sitting room features a fireplace, sofas, and armchairs in addition to white floors interspersed with woven rugs. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom Soap House cottage has an open concept kitchen and living area. The walls of the house are whitewashed, and there are stone flooring, multi-coloured rugs, and white sofas with vibrant cushions. There’s an indoor gym at the house too. Ole Chalet is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home with a traditional peaked makuti thatched roof. The home features an open fireplace, multi-coloured carpets and tablecloths, and bookshelves adorned with glass ornaments. Every cottage features a fully functional kitchen, roomy verandas, and mature, private gardens. In addition, they have a backup generator, an electric fence, and borehole water.

Movenpick

In 1948, Swiss hotelier Ueli Prager opened the first Movenpick restaurant in Zurich. Since then, he has opened more restaurants, wine shops, and fine dining establishments. In 1973, the group’s first two hotels debuted in Zurich. Today, it boasts 84 properties in 24 countries. In 2018, Movenpick debuted in the Westlands neighbourhood of Nairobi. Superior, deluxe, executive, family, suite, presidential suite, and one- and two-bedroom apartments comprise the 276 rooms. Every room has a desk, WiFi, air conditioning, minibar, safe, and smart TV. The apartments have a living room; the family room has a kitchenette and can sleep four people. Two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, an office, and a kitchen comprise the presidential suite. The flats include a dining space, living room, and fully functional kitchen. The View is a 360-degree rotating restaurant serving Swiss and Mediterranean cuisine; Kijani Bar is located next to the swimming pool; and Baluba offers a buffet, live cooking and an a la carte menu. The convention centre features fourteen fully furnished meeting rooms, including the spacious Hall of Africa, which can accommodate 1,000 people, and the enormous Almasi Ballroom. Perfect for events is the Cocktail Terrace by the pool. A spa, executive lounge, and health centre are also available. Movenpick offers a robust programme that supports equal opportunities, local sustainable employment, supplier sustainability, and emission reduction.

Radisson Blu Hotel and  Residences Arboretum

The first designer hotel in history, the SAS Royal Hotel, debuted in Denmark in 1960. The group, which rebranded as Radisson Blu, currently manages 380 properties globally. Located in 2019 and overlooking Nairobi’s beautiful arboretum is the Radisson Blu. Superior rooms, junior suites, one-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom flats, and a two-bedroom deluxe suite comprise the 122 en-suite rooms. Every room features a balcony, air conditioning, TV, minibar, desk, Wi-Fi, and several USB connections. The bathrooms are stocked with toiletries. The larger suites come with a living area, coffee maker, safe, iron, and hair dryer. The flats feature a kitchenette, living room, and other extras. The large luxury suite includes a fully furnished dining area and conference space in addition to two bedrooms, a living room, a lounge, and a kitchenette.

The hotel’s restaurant and bar are surrounded by the swimming pool, which forms an arch in the middle of the building. Up to 200 people can be accommodated in the five meeting and conference rooms, which also have a projector, sound system, podium, Wi-Fi, and a devoted support staff. With over 300 different tree species and over 100 different bird species, the arboretum is perfectly situated near the hotel. Additionally, it is near Nairobi’s bustling Westlands neighbourhood, which is home to the National Museum as well as a sizable number of eateries, pubs, stores, and markets.