Ethiopian Airlines and Two Days in Nairobi

Kenya’s Desert, Wildlife, and Beaches in 15 Days – Day 1

It was a lovely afternoon on one weekend of June, when Richie and I were strolling by the gardens of a 250-y old heritage property in West Bengal, India and we planned our Kenya trip. The plan was indeed a fruitful one; we are just back from Kenya and more than excited to share the stories with you all. We started with Nairobi, then headed to the north, visited popular national parks, Chalbi desert, and Lake Turkana, met few interesting tribes, camped next to one of the Rift Valley soda lakes, and also in the most exciting Masai Mara National Reserve where we witnessed the Great Migration of wildebeests and zebras, caught few of the Big Fives in the action, then relaxed for a few days in the best beach resort of the country, and finally spent a night in the heart of Nairobi before flying off.

Highlights of the Day

• Ethiopian Airlines Flight to Nairobi
• Wildebeest Eco Camp

Ethiopian Airlines

This was my first experience with Ethiopian Airlines. We took the flight from Mumbai with Ethiopian Airlines to Addis Ababa, rising capital of Ethiopia in the highlands bordering the Great Rift Valley. It took around 5 h. We had a small layover in Addis Ababa, and then we took another flight to Nairobi. It took around 2 h.

Being vegans, we were more than delighted with the food service in the airlines. Even the service was good. We would surely fly with the airlines again.

Welcome to Nairobi

We reached Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Few officers checked the yellow fever certificate of selected passengers on arrival, even before immigration. The airport is not that remarkable; however, the people at the information kiosk are very helpful. They suggested us to take Safaricom SIM card when we asked about the best network provider in Kenya. Their suggestion was really helpful later as the network stayed uninterrupted in most parts of the country. Richie got him a 7 GB data bundle from Safaricom, that cost him 15$ plus 1$ for the new SIM card. I got a Telkom SIM card with 10GB data bundle and 100 min local calling balance for the same rate.

We also did some currency exchange there. The best way to carry local currency is through M-Pesa in the form of mobile money. However, we carried both United States Dollars and Kenyan Shillings in cash. Soon, we were welcomed by our driver John with a big smile, right outside the airport. He came all the way from Wildebeest Eco Camp to pick us up at the airport. It is located around 13 km south-west of the city.

Interesting Facts on Nairobi

While driving to the eco camp from airport, John told us many interesting facts of Nairobi that I would love to share:

1. Nairobi was just a railway camp in 1890s. The British were building the Lunatic Express railway line from Mombasa to Uganda and they rested here originally named“Ewaso Nai´beri“, but the British had difficulty pronouncing this. So they coined their own name “Nairobi”.
2. Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya. It is the most dynamic city, also known as the “green city in the sun” for many reasons. It stays cool for most of the year.
3. Nairobi is a city full of contrasts. It is old enough to make you feel its past and multi-ethnic enough so you can experience Kenyan culture, yet it is modern enough to go mostly cashless and use mobile phone-based money transfer instead.
4. The contrast is also evident socially and economically. There is a striking difference between wealthy suburbs like Karen and Langata and the nearby slums of Kibera.
5. The skyscrapers of Nairobi sit on what was once a large swamp that Maasai people, one of Africa’s most iconic tribes, referred to as a place of cool waters.
6. Nairobi is one of the few cities in the world with a national park.
7. The city has the most Maasai markets in the country. The Maasai market run from Tuesday to Sunday, in different parts of the city.
8. Nairobi houses around 4 M people from all cultures and walks of life.
9. The city is also home to numerous local and international businesses and organizations.
10. The must-visit places in the city are Nairobi National Park, David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Giraffe Center, Karen Blixen Museum, and Bomas of Kenya (tourist village).

Wildebeest Eco Camp Nairobi

Wildebeest Eco Camp is a great base in Nairobi, conveniently positioned in beautiful Langata from where you can enjoy the best of both worlds – being close to major tourist attractions, with good transport links to the city center as well as both the domestic and international airports.

On our first day in Kenya, we did not want to stay inside the heart of Nairobi. We had plans to move out to other counties up north the next day, so we wanted to consider Nairobi as a base for 1 night. We did not want any standard hotel room; instead, we wanted to curl up in a luxury canvas tent, hidden away from the hustle and bustle and set up our safari mind frame. Wildebeest Eco Camp was exactly the place we were looking for – a perfect glamping experience that we would always remember!

Various Facilities in Wildebeest Eco Camp

• Free WiFi
• Restaurant – breakfast (included is served between 7 AM and 10 AM and a buffet dinner is served at 7 PM
• Fully-stocked bar
• Infinity swimming pool
• Communal fire pit
• Guest lounge with DSTV (full package of sport and international channels)
• Board games, cards, pool table, foosball, table tennis, and darts
• Guest library
• Beautiful, relaxing gardens and two decks right in front of your tent
• Gift shop stocking local crafts – great for picking up souvenirs as well

Our deluxe safari tent was large, spacious and luxurious. This deluxe tent was a unique ‘under-canvas’ experience and a nice change to a regular hotel room. It was equipped with all the expected modern conveniences, including en-suite bathroom with solar-hot showers, basin and flush toilets, and electricity. We had a great sleep after such a tiring journey.

Kenya’s Desert, Wildlife, and Beaches in 15 Days – Day 2

Before getting started with the Kenyan safari to the wild, it is a great idea to spend a day in Nairobi and get to know the capital city better. Nairobi may have started as a small British rail depot, but now, it is not only the capital of Kenya, but also the most populous city in eastern Africa, and a major political, business, and financial hub in Africa. Many tourists arrive at Nairobi airport and head out the next day for safari, that is how it has earned the name “Safari Capital of the World.” However, we thought of spending an extra day there to get to know more about the see. Here I have listed the 5 places you must visit when in Nairobi.

Highlights of the Day

• Nairobi National Park
• David Sheldrick Elephant and Rhino Orphanage
• Giraffe Center
• Karen Blixen Museum
• Bomas of Kenya

Breakfast in Wildebeest Eco Camp

After a lovely sleep in our luxurious tent, we started our day with an early breakfast. After having a delicious and filling breakfast at the Wildebeest Eco Camp, we were picked up by our Nairobi day-tour organizer at around 7 AM.

1. Nairobi National Park

The first visit is the Nairobi National Park, which is located around 4 km from Wildebeest Eco Camp. It is the oldest of all Kenya’s national parks and is one of the only national parks in the world, which borders a capital city. Despite of its proximity to an urban land, the wildlife inside is undisturbed by the outside chaos. Species found in the park include buffalo, baboon, lion, rhinoceros, cheetah, gazelles, hippo, zebra, leopard, etc. We enjoyed a nice morning game drive traversing through the national park.

2. David Sheldrick Elephant and Rhino Orphanage

At around 11 AM, we reached the famous David Sheldrick Elephant and Rhino Orphanage, which actually occupies a part of the Nairobi National Park. The orphanage is operating since 1977 in memory of the late David Sheldrick, a key anti-poaching activist. The animal orphanage can be only be visited for an hour every day between 11 AM and noon. During this hour, the baby elephants are brought out to play and to feed, and visitors can watch them from behind a rope. Wardens are on hand to explain the work of the orphanage and to answer any questions.

3. Giraffe Center

The next visit is the Giraffe center, which was established by Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville in 1979 as a sanctuary for the rare Rothschild giraffe. You get to know about a lot about the center”s work to save the endangered Rothschild giraffe.

Finally, there was a break for lunch in a nearby restaurant. After enjoying our lunch, we headed to the must-visit museum of Nairobi.

4. Karen Blixen Museum

The museum is basically a beautiful colonial building where Karen Blixen lived transformed into a museum. The history dates back to 1914, during the First World War, when Karen Blixen arrived here from Denmark. At the foot of Ngong Hills, Karen Blixen established herself as a farmer. After she left in 1931, the suburbs retained the commemorative home of Karen, and the Danish government donated the house, and the surrounding land to Kenya after independence. It took around an hour to visit the museum.

5. The Bomas of Kenya

The most interesting part of the tour was getting to know Kenya’s rich culture where the 42 different tribes of the country are exhibited through dance, songs and homesteads at the Bomas of Kenya. We enjoyed the tribal cultural show that occurs from 2.30 PM to 4 PM. It displayed tribal talent in music, dance, fashion show, recitals, comedies, sports and games, exhibitions, drama, body building, and more.

Finally, at around 5 PM, we were dropped off at our hotel. The tour included hotel pick-up and drop-off, vehicle with driver who was also our guide, and drinking water. However, it did not include the entrance fees of the places we visited. Even lunch was onto us. But, it was a wonderful day spent in Nairobi.

We were already very excited for the following day as our Kenya safari starts the next day. The stay in Wildebeest Eco Camp was super comfortable. This place was the best to spend a night in as it is away from the hustle and bustle of the city plus it is close to all the sights to see in Nairobi that are mentioned above.

NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN USD)

Let us have a look at the expenses of Days 1-2 in Kenya – Nairobi.

• Stay at Wildebeest Eco Camp (2 nights) for twin sharing including airport pick-up, breakfast, and buffet dinner: 180
• Food at Addis Ababa airport and Nairobi: 12
• SIM card: 16
• Entrance fees of Nairobi National Park, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Giraffe Center, and Karen Blixen Museum: 72
• Bomas of Kenya show: 10

Total expense (roughly): 290 USD

For a more customized itinerary, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page.

If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!