Quick facts
Budget breakdown
| Category | Budget | Midrange |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $15–30 | $40–80 |
| Food | $5–15 | $15–30 |
| Transport | $5–10 | $10–25 |
| Activities | $12–35 | $35–90 |
| Drinks/Social | $3–8 | $8–15 |
| Daily Total | $30–80 | $80–200 |
Daily per-person estimates. Costs vary by season and travel style.
Practical info
Entry & Visas
- Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) required — $30 USD, apply online at etakenya.go.ke before travel
- Giraffe Centre: KES 1,500 ($12) non-residents. Open daily 9am–5pm. No advance booking needed
- Sheldrick Trust: KES 1,500 ($12) — public hour 11am–12pm only. No booking, first-come basis
Health & Safety
- Nairobi is at 1,661m altitude — cool mornings and evenings (12–20°C). Bring layers
- Yellow fever certificate may be required depending on your origin country. Check before travel
- Use Uber/Bolt after dark. Nairobi has improved significantly but standard urban precautions apply
Getting Around
- Uber and Bolt are safe, cheap, and widely available. The best way to get around Nairobi
- The Lang'ata/Karen area (Giraffe Centre, Sheldrick, Karen Blixen) is 30 minutes from the city centre by car
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is 20km from the city centre — Uber costs KES 1,000–2,000
Connectivity
- Safaricom SIM cards available at the airport — KES 100 + data bundle. Excellent 4G coverage in Nairobi
- M-Pesa mobile money is universal — taxis, restaurants, shops all accept it. Essential for daily life
- Free WiFi in most cafes, hotels, and shopping centres throughout the city
Money
- ATMs widely available (Equity Bank, KCB, Barclays). International cards work at most ATMs
- M-Pesa is king — load credit at any Safaricom agent (found on every street corner)
- USD accepted at major attractions but you will get better value paying in KES
Giraffe Tips
- The Rothschild's giraffe is one of the most endangered giraffe subspecies — the centre plays a vital role in conservation
- Feeding pellets are provided free at the platform. The giraffes are gentle but their tongues are rough and very long (45cm)
- Best photos: morning light (9–10am), bring a camera with a wide-angle lens for up-close giraffe portraits
Cultural tips
Conservation Success
The Giraffe Centre is a conservation success story — Rothschild's giraffes were reduced to 130 individuals in the 1970s. Today, largely thanks to breeding programmes and reintroduction efforts from centres like this one, the population has recovered to over 1,600.
Nairobi Climate
Nairobi sits at 1,661 metres altitude — expect cooler temperatures than you might expect for an equatorial city. Mornings and evenings can be genuinely chilly (12–15°C). Bring a light jacket even in "summer".
M-Pesa Is Everything
M-Pesa mobile money is king in Kenya — almost every vendor, taxi, and restaurant accepts it. Get a Safaricom SIM card at the airport and load M-Pesa credit for seamless payments everywhere.
Safe Transport
Use Uber or Bolt for transport — they are safe, cheap, and widely available in Nairobi. Avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas. Nairobi has improved dramatically in recent years but standard urban precautions apply.
Lang'ata Circuit
The Giraffe Centre, Sheldrick Trust, and Karen Blixen Museum form a natural circuit in the Lang'ata/Karen area — plan a full morning to hit all three. They are within 10 minutes of each other by car.
Tipping Culture
Tipping is appreciated — KES 200–500 for guides, KES 100–200 for restaurant staff. Safari guides typically receive KES 1,000–2,000 per day from the group.
