Nairobi Introduction

Nairobi Introduction

Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is also the biggest city in Africa and has a population of about 2 million. Nairobi is named after Enkare Nyirobi (ice water), in the language of the local Maasai. The most famous attraction is Nairobi National Park. It is a national park of Kenya, located 7 km away to the south of Nairobi. The park and the Nairobi downtown area is only separated by fences. We could even see the buildings of Nairobi from inside the park.

Area: 684km²

Population: 4 million

Language: English

History & Culture

Nairobi was founded in 1899. As a rail depot of the Uganda Railway at first, it provided supplies for Mombasa, the city in Southern Kenya, and Uganda. It was rebuilt after the outbreak of the plague in 1900 when Britain began to colonize East Africa, and thus it became an important city for the colonists. Nairobi became the capital of British colony in East Africa in 1907. After the independence of Kenya in 1963, it continued to be the capital. Most Kenyans refuse to talk about their colors, number of their children, personal income and dead relatives, or offend their president during talking. Quite a few Kenyans think the number 666 is the symbol of devil, which is unlucky.

Natural Environment

Visitors usually come to Nairobi from January to March, or from July to October, because it is the best time for hunting trips in Nairobi National Park. Summer, from November to February, is the best time for visiting. But, in fact, people can come all year round, which is better determined by their purposes of travelling than with the weather.

Climate

Nairobi has an oceanic climate, which is less hot than the rest of Kenya because it is affected by the high elevation. Because it is close to the equator, people differentiate the seasons here by wet season and dry season, which is different from others who divide a year into four seasons. However, the summer here, namely from November to February, is when the climate is warm and pleasant. Temperature remains at 10 to 25 degrees Celsius. In winter, from June to August, it can get little bit cold at night, but the temperature is not very different from that in summer. Rainy season is in the end of summer, during which it is cloudy and humid in Nairobi, but much heavy rain. From March to May and October to December, it is drizzling in Nairobi.

Holidays

1st June, Madaraka Day

10th October, Moi Day

20th October, Kenyatta Day

12th December, Independence Day