Right in the bustling heart of Nairobi is the distinctive National Archives, the ‘Memory of the Nation’, a vast collection of documents and reference materials. It’s mainly used by students and researchers, but the ground-floor atrium and gallery display an eclectic selection of contemporary art, historical photos of Nairobi, cultural artefacts, furniture and tribal objects.
National Archives
Nairobi
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
7.26 MILES
Occupying a plot within Nairobi National Park, this nonprofit trust was established in 1977, shortly after the death of David Sheldrick, who served as the…
4.78 MILES
Welcome to Kenya’s most accessible yet incongruous safari experience. Set on the city’s southern outskirts, Nairobi National Park (at 117 sq km, one of…
1.09 MILES
Kenya’s wonderful National Museum, housed in an imposing building amid lush, leafy grounds just outside the centre, has a good range of cultural and…
8.32 MILES
This centre, which protects the highly endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, combines serious conservation with enjoyable activities. You can observe, hand…
9.05 MILES
If you loved Out of Africa, you'll love this museum in the farmhouse where author Karen Blixen lived between 1914 and 1931. She left after a series of…
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17.28 MILES
This estate has been cultivating coffee since 1928, and its five-hour tours (which must be pre-booked) are outstanding, taking in an explanation of the…
9.38 MILES
An interesting diversion in Karen, this craft centre was started by an English expat in 1975 as a place where single mothers could learn a marketable…
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1.32 MILES
The Go-Down Arts Centre, a converted warehouse in Industrial Area, contains 10 separate studios and is a hub for Nairobi's burgeoning arts scene, bringing…
Nearby Nairobi attractions
1. Kenyatta International Conference Centre
0.29 MILES
Nairobi’s signature building was designed as a fusion of modern and traditional African styles, though the distinctive saucer tower looks a little dated…
2. American Embassy Memorial Garden
0.3 MILES
This well-tended walled garden occupies the former site of the American embassy, which was destroyed by terrorist bombings on 7 August 1998. It’s a lovely…
0.36 MILES
Amid the clutter of downtown, Nairobi’s main mosque is a lovely building in typical Arab-Muslim style, with all the domes, marble and Quranic inscriptions…
0.37 MILES
Looking for all the world like a colonial-era post office, this stone mosque for the city's Ismaili community was built in the 1920s and is one of…
0.39 MILES
The main Catholic church in the city, this is a key downtown landmark and one of Nairobi's most important churches.
0.53 MILES
If you fancy a look at how democracy works in Kenya, it’s possible to obtain a free permit for the public gallery at Parliament House when parliament is…
0.65 MILES
The main collection here is housed in an old railway building and consists of relics from the East African Railway. There are train and ship models,…