Things to do in Keren

There are plenty of learning and fun activities that can keep you occupied your entire time there. Here are some of the things to do in this most famous suburb.

1. Nairobi Animal Orphanage Adoption Program  

The program provides individuals and corporates an opportunity to sponsor an animal of their choice in the orphanage. This is based on the premise that every rescued animal brought into the facility has varied and special needs. The support goes directly into the daily upkeep of the animals by providing food, medicine, toys, translocation, cage construction and maintenance and their general welfare.

The wildlife enclosures are designed in such a way that the visitors get an upclose view of the animals from a safe distance. The description boards on the cages offer more information about the animal in the enclosure/cage thus allowing the visitors to derive a better experience from their visit.

Visitors can enjoy guided tours and game viewing. The Orphanage also acts as a wildlife research center especially to students/learning institutions. 

Wildlife: Lion, cheetah, hyena, jackal, serval cat, very rare Sokoke cats, warthog, Leopard, various monkeys, baboons and buffalo.

Birds : Parrots,guinea fowls,crowned cranes and ostriches.

Climate: January to March is hot and dry, April to June is hot and wet, and July to October is very warm and wet

When to go: All year round

What to take with you: Personal effects, drinking water, camera, binoculars, sunscreen and insect repellant

2. Visit the Karen Blixen Museum

The Karen Blixen Museum is one of the places you can spend your day. The former Karen’s home has a beautiful history of Kenya during the colonial era. The rooms feature original furnishings including a bookcase, a cabinet, a phonograph, a lamp, a telephone, a cuckoo clock, and a dining table among other items.

Blixen’s house is surrounded by a tranquil lush garden and an indigenous forest, with a splendid view of Karen’s beloved Ngong Hills which she honored by the phrase ‘I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills’. A collection of farm tools outdoors reminds of her dedication to the farm.

The luscious green gardens offer the best setting for all outdoor events including weddings, corporate galas, and team building. There is also a museum shop with a vast collection of souvenirs including handicrafts, posters and postcards, the Movie ‘Out of Africa’, books, and other mementos.

3. Visit the Nairobi Giraffe Center

The Giraffe Center Nairobi is one of my favorite places whenever you visit Karen. This place plays an important role in conserving the critically endangered Rothschild giraffe whose numbers were dwindling quickly due to habitat encroachment and mass hunting.

The fund was established in 1979 by Betty and Jock Leslie Melville (a grandson of a Scottish earl) after raising a Rothschild giraffe, Daisy, in their Karen home. Today, due to their relentless conservation efforts, the population of these unique giraffes has tremendously increased across Kenya.

At this sanctuary, you can watch the giraffes up close and hand-feed them from the raised wooden platform. Once done, you can head out on a self-guided forest walk in the adjacent Gogo River sanctuary, a 1.5 km trail with great views of the Ngong hills.

4. Go to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is an elephant orphanage located on the outskirts of the Karen suburb. It was established as a rescue center for baby elephants and other animals that lost their parents due to poaching or natural causes. Public visits take place strictly between 11 am and 12 noon.

For a precious hour, you will watch baby elephants being fed by their keepers, rolling in the mud, spraying murky water in the air, and playing among themselves. Tummies full, the calves will then retrieve back into the acacia woodland. 

You can also adopt an elephant and have a chance to receive regular updates about its progress until it is returned to the wild. Visitors who sign up for this program are invited to come back to the sanctuary in the evening between 5 and 6 pm where they will have a chance to learn more about the calves.

5. Relax at Ngong Race Course

Ngong Race Course has a vibrant atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. Watching majestic horses racing on the tracks is thrilling. It’s a great place to relax with friends or family. If you have kids, they will get entertained the whole day with various fun activities such as face painting, pony rides, and live music.

The Ngong Race Course is currently the only thoroughbred racing venue in Kenya. It was started in 1954, replacing the old racecourse in Kariokor, near Nairobi CBD. Horse races are held there on alternate Sundays although it regularly serves as a venue for other sporting activities.

6. Visit the bomas of Kenya

The bomas of Kenya right in the heart of Karen is one of the best places to visit in Nairobi. Established and built by the Government of Kenya, The Bomas of Kenya maintains, preserves, and showcases the rich cultural diversity of the country. This plays a significant role in promoting cultural tourism.

The Bomas are designed to replicate the traditional homesteads of the major tribes in Kenya. Various artifacts from different communities are also showcased. Traditional dancers at this place can also keep you entertained the whole day just for a small fee.

Bomas of Kenya also hosts various conferences including live concerts, end-of-year parties, gala dinners, and weddings. The new conference hall is equipped for film, production, and award ceremonies. It’s simply a place that can host any function you are dreaming of.

7. Go shopping in the malls

Karen is dotted with some of the world-class malls. There is The Karen Hub, The Waterfront Karen, The Karen Park Mall, the Karen Triangle Mall, and The Crossroads Mall among others. You can enjoy various products and services under one roof. Some of the best restaurants in Nairobi are located in these malls.

Things to Do

Of course, the highlight of a trip to the Giraffe Centre is meeting the giraffes themselves. A raised observation deck over the animals’ natural enclosure affords a unique elevated perspective - and the chance to stroke and hand-feed any giraffes that are feeling friendly. There’s also an auditorium onsite, where you can sit in on talks about giraffe conservation, and about the initiatives with which the center is currently involved. 

Afterwards, it’s well worth exploring the center’s Nature Trail, which wends its way for 1.5 kilometers/1 mile through the adjacent 95-acre wildlife sanctuary. Here, you can spot warthogs, antelope, monkeys and a veritable profusion of indigenous birdlife. The gift shop is a great place to stock up on locally made arts and crafts; while the Tea House offers light refreshments overlooking the giraffe enclosure. 

Practical Information

The Giraffe Centre is located 15 kilometers/ 9 miles from Nairobi city center. If you’re traveling independently, you can use public transport to get there; alternatively, a taxi from the center should cost around 4,000 KSh. The center is open every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, including weekends and public holidays. 

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