Sankara Nairobi, Autograph Collection

The best time is January and February, when days are warm and rain is scarce. The long rains from April to May bring heavy downpours and higher humidity, while November's short rains also disrupt plans. July and August are cooler but dry, good for outdoor activities. September offers a dry window before the rains return, with the Nairobi International Book Fair as a cultural highlight.

Stay in Westlands for easy access to restaurants and nightlife; the Villa Rosa Kempinski is there. Kilimani, with the Nairobi Serena Hotel and Radisson Blu Arboretum, suits first-timers for its central location. Karen, home to Hemingways Nairobi, offers leafy, upscale calm. The city center, around Sarova Stanley, works for sightseeing on foot.

Visit the Giraffe Centre to feed and observe endangered Rothschild giraffes up close. The Nairobi National Park offers wildlife viewing against a city skyline backdrop. The National Museum of Kenya covers history, culture, and paleontology. The Nairobi Animal Orphanage and Nairobi Safari Walk, both within the park, are ideal for seeing rescued and native animals. The Karen Blixen Museum, in the author's former home, is worth a stop for its literary and colonial history.

Full-day tours go to Amboseli National Park for elephants and Mount Kilimanjaro views, Maasai Mara for the savanna and wildlife, and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage with Giraffe Centre for a close-up animal visit. Nairobi’s own tours also pair Nairobi National Park with those two.

Plan 3 days to see the main sights: the Giraffe Centre, Nairobi National Park, and the National Museum of Kenya on two days, and Karura Forest or the Karen Blixen Museum on a third. If you want a day trip to Amboseli or Maasai Mara, add one more day. Two days can cover the top three sights if you move quickly.