Kenya
Nairobi
Welcome to Kenya! Nairobi is a lively capital city where glittering skyscrapers rise up just a few miles from wild lions, giraffes, and zebras roaming free.
Why is it famous?
Nairobi is famous for being one of the only capital cities on Earth with a full wildlife park inside its borders.
It's a busy, modern hub for East Africa, filled with tall buildings, green parks, and a huge mix of cultures and languages.
How was it built?
Nairobi began in 1899 as a small supply camp for workers building a railway across Kenya.
The name comes from a Maasai phrase meaning 'place of cool waters,' after a stream that once ran through the area — the tiny camp grew quickly into Kenya's biggest city.
Amazing facts
Nairobi National Park sits right at the edge of downtown, so it's possible to see a giraffe with skyscrapers behind it!
The park is home to lions, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and even endangered black rhinos.
Quick facts
- Nairobi National Park sits right at the edge of downtown, so it's possible to see a giraffe with skyscrapers behind it!
- The park is home to lions, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and even endangered black rhinos.
- Nairobi is nicknamed the 'Green City in the Sun' because of its many parks and tree-lined streets.
- At an elevation of about 5,900 feet (1,795 m), Nairobi's high altitude keeps its weather mild all year round.