The green, leafy suburbs south-west of the centre — spacious, colonial-era garden estates near the giraffe centre, the elephant orphanage and the Karen Blixen house, with lovely lodges and restaurants. Calm, safe and beautiful, though far from downtown; the base for travellers who want tranquillity, the wildlife sights on their doorstep and a taste of 'Out of Africa' Kenya.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€170–400
typical per night in Kenya
You pay for the postcode
One of the pricier addresses in Nairobi.
Where it sits
The circle is Karen & Lang'ata and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Bomas of Kenya19 min taxi6.3 km
- Nyama choma & Kenyan food28 min taxi9.3 km
- A Kibera community tour30 min taxi10.2 km
- The Maasai Market41 min taxi13.7 km
- Westlands nightlife41 min taxi13.7 km
- Nairobi's food scene41 min taxi13.7 km
- Nairobi National Museum43 min taxi14.4 km
- Nairobi National Park51 min taxi17.1 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 2.Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage — One of the world's most moving wildlife experiences — the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust rescues and hand-rears orphaned baby elephants, and for one hour each morning you watch the keepers bottle-feed them and play in the mud, learning each one's story. Heart-melting, uplifting and genuinely important conservation; book ahead (visits are limited and support the cause). A joyful, unforgettable start to a Nairobi day.
- 3.The Giraffe Centre — Come face to face with endangered Rothschild's giraffes at this conservation centre in leafy Karen — feed them pellets from a raised platform, eye to eye, and even get a slobbery 'giraffe kiss' if you're brave. Fun, educational and superb for families, with the giraffes wandering freely in the grounds; combine it with the adjacent Giraffe Manor if you're feeling luxurious. A delightful, only-in-Nairobi wildlife encounter.
- 4.The Karen Blixen Museum — The former farmhouse of the Danish author of 'Out of Africa', preserved as a museum in the leafy suburb that bears her name — a charming colonial-era home with original furnishings, set in gardens at the foot of the Ngong Hills she wrote about. A gentle, atmospheric window into the colonial past and the famous book and film; combine it with the giraffes and elephants nearby for a lovely Karen day.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Karen & Lang'ata; flights via Google Flights.