The Nairobi Arboretum is located in Kilimani, Kenya. This place is a collection of plants for various research and education purposes. The Arboretum covers a total area of 30.4 hectares of wooden landscape. It was established by Mr Battiscombe in 1907. The Arboretum is one of the only remaining places in Nairobi with green spaces. There are nearly 350 species of indigenous and exotic plants. It is home to more than 100 species of birds. It also has a lot of sykes and vervet monkeys. This place is mainly visited for long walks between the trees, jogging, and picnicking on the lawn. This place is open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. with an entry fee of KSH 50 for adults and KSH 20 for children that need to be paid electronically.
Places To Visit Near Nairobi Arboretum
Here are a few places to visit near Nairobi Arboretum for a memorable trip.
1. Nairobi National Museum
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Nairobi National Museum of Kenya is a state-operated institution that manages Kenya’s monuments, sites, and museums. It helps carry the heritage to research and expertise in subjects of various fields. The main idea of this museum is to spread Kenya’s culture, nature, history and contemporary art. It discusses many themes, like the cycles of life, the history of Kenya, the collection of human fossils and many mammals.
There are many other themes, like the Hall of Kenya, which discusses heritage and anthropology. The Joy Adamson Gallery talks about the illustrations in books and films about the nature and people of Kenya. There is also a Nairobi snake park and botanical garden around this museum. This place is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tourists who want to take night tours and visit the museum can make bookings where a minimum of 10 people are organised together.
Location: National Museum of Kenya, Kipande Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Timings: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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2. Uhuru Park
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Uhuru Park, located in Kenya, is a recreational park adjacent to the central business district of Nairobi. It covers a total area of 12.9 hectares and is open to the general public. It has an artificial lake, a few national monuments and an assembly ground that has become a skateboarding area on weekends, and skateboarding competitions are also held. The assembly ground is sometimes used for political and religious gatherings. It is a less famous place because a protest against illegal land grabbing by the Moi regime happened here. In 2012, they renovated the park and made up a project to renovate it because of environmental concerns. It was closed in November 2021 and has been open again after renovation.
In 1988, Wangari Maathai was forced by the government to leave her office, but she continued her protest, which led to the involvement of foreigners, which resulted in the project’s cancellation. This park is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. It has various activities like a children’s play area, Ferris wheels, merry-go-round, inflatable castles, bird watching, fish watching and wildlife watching.
Location: Uhuru Park, 23 Uhuru Hwy, Nairobi, Kenya
Timings: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
3. Ngong Hills
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The Ngong Hills are peaks that are spread along the Great Rift Valley. It is located in the southwest region of Nairobi. The name of this hill translates to Rhinoceros Spring. It overlooks Nairobi National Park from the eastside slopes. From the westside slopes, it gives a view of the Great Rift Valley, which is 3,281 ft below. This hill is 2,460 ft above sea level. During British colonial rule, the area around the Ngong Hills was a central farming area, and many colonial houses are still found in this area. In 1985, a film out of Africa showed several scenes of the Ngong Hills. In the 1990s, residents reported seeing lions on the hill. This hill has a walking trail to the top.
Kenya Forestry Service has set up a small post at the NE foot of the park. It costs KSH 600 rupees for the entry fee for visitors. Residents sometimes conduct Sunday Church services on the southern part of the peak. The forestry services of Kenya ensure that nature is well protected and the animals are preserved in this area. Tourist guides are also available to provide a satisfying trip around the hill. Many tourists visit this place for walks, picnics, morning jogging, running professionals, and worshipping on the mountain. The time to visit this place is from morning at 6:00 a.m. and should be cleared by 5:00 p.m. There is also a ziplining activity near the cell that costs KSH 1000.
Location: Ngong Hills, Kenya
Timings: 6:00 a.m. and should leave the area by 5:00 p.m.
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4. Giraffe Centre
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The Giraffe Centre, located in Langata, Kenya, was established to protect the giraffe found only in the grasslands of East Africa. The Giraffe Centre was established in 1979 and became a nature sanctuary to visit and a wildlife conservation centre to educate urban school children. It was started by Jock Leslie Melville, who was the Kenyan grandson of a Scottish earl. He and his wife captured two baby giraffes and began a breeding program on their Langata property.
Later, this program became a huge success, leading to several breedings of giraffes in Kenyan national parks. By 1983, money had been raised to start the Giraffe Visitor Centre, which became a tourist destination. It became a famous tourist attraction for schoolchildren and visitors to feed the giraffes. The giraffe centre is also home to several warthogs, which roam freely along with the giraffes. This place is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day.
Location: Giraffe Centre, Duma Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
Timings: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
5. Karura Forest
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Karura Forest, located in Nairobi, is an urban forest. It was declared a forest in 1932 and is managed by the Kenya Forest Service. The entire area is 1,041 hectares and has three parts separated by Limuru and Kiambu roads. This forest is home to 200 species of birds and animals, including bush pigs, civets, honey badges, bush babies, porcupines, sykes monkeys, bush squirrels, and many more reptiles and butterflies.
Karura Forest has been developed to have trains for visitors to walk, run, or bike for over 50 km. It is one of the most extensive forests in Nairobi. There is a waterfall, bamboo forest, marshland, Mau Mau caves, and an old church in this forest. Various plant species and monkey species are found in this forest, along with other wildlife. The forest is open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with an entry fee of KES 200 for Kenyan resident adults, KES 600 for Kenyan non-resident adults, KES 100 for Kenyan resident children and KES 300 for Kenyan non-resident children.
Location: Karura Forest, Nairobi, Kenya
Timings: 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Further Read: Gigiri
A trip to Kenya for a great vacation with your family and friends. Kenya is famous for its stunning views and wildlife. It’s your chance to experience Kenya’s popular wildlife safaris and national parks. So what are you waiting for? Plan your next vacation to Kenya today and explore the true beauty of this fantastic country like never before.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Nairobi Arboretum
How to reach Nairobi Arboretum?
By air, Nairobi Airport is the nearest one. From there one can reach the city centre by bus or taxi. Some people prefer to walk from the city centre.
What is the best time to visit Nairobi Arboretum?
The best time to visit this place is between July to October because during those times there is less rainfall and tourists are advised to visit in the early mornings to have an amazing view.
How is the climate in Kenya?
The climate in Kenya is pleasant and tropical. Most of the year, the temperature is high. Even though there are rains, the majority of the year is dry.
What is Nairobi Arboretum famous for?
The Nairobi Arboretum is famous for conserving a wide variety of plant species for scientific study and research. It has a wide variety of monkeys.
What are some activities to do in the Nairobi Arboretum?
There are activities like walking, running, jogging, bird watching, wildlife watching, picnic spots, cultural events, photography and many more.
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