On my way to Zambia I will have an early morning stop in Nairobi taking off for Lusaka late that night. What can I do or shouldn't do in that 14 hours?

I wouln't wear my anti obama hat around.

How about a boat ride up the coast for pirate hunting?

quote:

Originally posted by James Cardwell:
How about a boat ride up the coast for pirate hunting?

...quad .50, sounds right to me

Keith

Not a great deal, the Traffic in and around Nairobi is terrible.
Do you have to leave the Airport?
Maybe visit Nairobi National Park, Blixens house museum (OUT OF AFRICA), Nairobi Museum of natural history.

Be careful in Nairobi. They don't call in Nai-robbery for nothing. Kenya is one of the top five corrupt countries in existence. Con men and scams abound. Con men will approach you in restaurants and stop you on the street. The "starving Somali student" is a common scam. Don't give anybody any money, including young street kids. They'll take the money and buy glue, if they can find it, and get high.

Everybody has a sob story. The immigration people are all crooks, and everybody has his hand out. I just spoke with a Kenyan I met the other day who has been living here for ten years. His brother lives in Nairobi and says things are really bad.

I spent many months there over a multi-year period several years ago during the early and middle 90's and things really sucked then. I can only imagine what it's like now.

The Kenyan told me that some airport cab drivers are in league with thieves and will drive you off someplace and steal everything but your underwear and dump you off. "Out of Africa," it ain't.

Karen Blixen's house is interesting, if you saw the movie. Looks just like the film, or did the last time I saw it.

There's a big game reserve west of the airport with a good selection of game. I'd book a tour in advance. Stay out of the local bars.
The hookers at the Intercon bar all have AIDS. You could go have a drink in the bar at the New Stanley Hotel, where Hemingway hung out. Dress down. No jewelery. Wear a Timex. Be careful.

Nairobi Airport has some Great game scene engraved glass and crystal Beer and Spirits glasses only found in Kenya.
Well worth the burden of extra luggage.

Kenyan Arabica coffee is among the best coffees in the world. I'd guess the coffee store is still open in the duty free at Jomo Kenyatta. Get some.

Thanks for all the suggestions and the warnings. I take them all seriously. I am going to try and get an earlier flight, but if out of luck I will go to Karen Blixen's house and maybe make it to Dennis Fitch Hatton's grave. I'll make sure I hire a game scout for the day.

DO NOT!! TAKE YOUR CREDIT CARD OUT OF YOUR WALLET FOR ANY REASON!!!

Rich
Buff Killer

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
DO NOT!! TAKE YOUR CREDIT CARD OUT OF YOUR WALLET FOR ANY REASON!!!

Rich
Buff Killer

Do not use a credit card in Africa, unless you absolutely have to. Scams abound.

Also, don't take your eyes off your carryon for a minute. We had a BBC crew flying with us to the Sudan. The director had everyone's passports in his briefcase. He took his eye off of it for a few seconds, and it was gone, baby, gone!

If you donate $ to the http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/ you can go there around 5PM and see the baby elephants up close and personal. That's when their keepers bring them in from the bush and feed them and put them to bed for the night. They are treated like babies (which they are) and the keepers stay with them all of the time like a mother elephant would. They are so cute. I didn't get to pet them but others have been able to.

There is a zoo and if you get a guide that regularly takes people there you may be able to go behind the scenes and play with some of the babies (leopards, lions etc).

http://www.giraffecenter.org/ is another place you can visit and get up close to giraffes.

If you want to use a guide for the day I have heard many good reviews about this guy
http://www.katokenya.org/katomembersview.asp?id=316 I have not used him.

I did spend a couple of days in nairobi. The whole trip was put together by this company and the guide they sent for me was excellent. He's a native and knew all about Nairobi and the airports and the tourist spots. At Wilson airport he got them to waive the $75 charge for overweight luggage (cameras) I think his name was James. I'm not sure if he normally takes tourists around by the day but you can ask.
Sarah at Luca Safari Ltd
East African Air charters, Wilson Airport
Tel: +254-720-461300 or +254-734-461300
Fax: +254-62-32095
email: bookings@africaunlimited.co.ke
www.maasai.com


If you want to have a rest the Fairview Hotel is nice and you can get a day room there. Even though it's in the city center it felt safe and had a very relaxed atmosphere and good food in the restaurant/bar area. Much cheaper than Stanley Hotel.

I was there in 2007 and was by myself. I hope you can make a fun plan for the day.

Cindy