Attractions in Nairobi County
64. Jewish Synagogue
The Jewish Community of Kenya is especial, comprising Jewry from all corners of the earth, Sephardic and Ashkenazi, from countries as divergent as Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Great Britain, the U.S., Canada, Israel, Yemen, Iraq, India, Morocco and South Africa, and of the native-born Kenyan Jews. In 1963, when Kenya became independent and Israel opened an Embassy in Nairobi, the Nairobi Hebrew Congregation took on a new lease of life. Owing to the good relations that early Jews had founded, the Israelis established themselves in a favourable environment, having great relations with Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta (and later Daniel Moi). The Nairobi Jewish Synagogue “is one of Nairobi’s earliest buildings, having been erected in 1912 on a piece of land which had been allocated to the small Jewish Community which had trooped in and settled in the then British East Africa Protectorate”. The Nairobi Jewish Synagogue is currently the only operating Jewish Synagogue in East Africa with a rich history of over 100 years. A word of advise is necessary here. Entry to the synagogue is strictly controlled and sometimes only limited to the Jewry. And due to security considerations, visitors must fill out an online security clearance form at least a week before arrival. It is found at the corner of Uhuru Highway and Nairobi University Way.
65. Nairobi National Museum
Ground in 1929 as the Coryndon Museum, it was reestablished in 1963 as the Nairobi National Museum. “At his unexpected death in 1927, Lady Coryndon established the Coryndon Memorial Fund to build a better museum for the society in memory of her husband. The government offered matching funds for public donations and in 1928 construction began”. The National Museum of Kenya aims to collect, preserve, study, document and exposition Kenya’s rich past and present. It houses a tremendous array of artefacts, sculptures, historic mementos and pictographic galleries. In addition to the museum, visitors are treated to a variety of shopping and dining facilities as well as its botanical gardens that offer a serene outdoor space for walking. It is open daily and year round from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. It’s found at Museum Hill along Waiyaki Way.
66. The View at Movenpick
Nairobi is home to a vibrant culinary scene with a mix of first-rate eateries and, every year the list changes substantially, yet, what is special about The View at Movenpick (a smart casual dining experience that offers plenty of highlights for all the senses) is that it treats visitors to a moving 360 degree skyline view of the city, as they enjoy world-class cuisine. “It’s like being in a culinary orbit.” The Swiss oriented cuisine bistro at the revolving restaurant on the 24th floor is adorned in a winsome, stately and fancy decor, and large windows, as one of the most indulging in Nairobi City. The revolution takes 80 minutes with all-round fine panoramas of the City. It is located in Valley View Office Park in Westlands.
67. Shangilia Skate Park
Although still relatively new in the Kenyan space, skate-boarding seems to have taken a foot-hold in the streets of Nairobi. Huge steps forward were achieved in 2013 with the help of Skate-Aid to fabricate the eye-catching park that’s the first of its kind locally. Shangilia Skate Park offers a delightful arena for youngies to be active, where they can be creative and impress the cheering guests. It is open Monday to Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 1 pm-6 pm. It’s located along Waiyaki Way behind Nairobi School off Mukabi Road. By car it’s best to go through Loresho, and be on the lookout for the Mexican Embassy.
68. Vetlab Sports Club
The 18-hole golf course at Vetlab Sports Club, consisted of well-laid greens of hybrid blend bent-grass compatible with the weather and in line with USPGA recommendations, is one of the leading golfing and leisure facilities in Kenya. It operated as a 9-hole golf course until 2007, with members keen on expanding it to an 18-hole course, completing the sequential 18 holes with an investment of over Kshs 60 million. The value of Vet Lab Sports Club as recreation and green oasis amidst Nairobi’s concrete jungle cannot be gainsaid. And it is currently the only golf course in Kenya constructed on public land and to which end its membership is open to every Kenyan and visitor to Kenya within the provisions of the club’s constitution. Indeed, it is one of the most sought after courses for golf enthusiasts. Other amenities: A modern sports bar (the water hazard) with a stunning view of the 18th green with its outside greenery blending in with the interior to match the color pallet of the landscape; a well-equipped gymnasium for all members (at an annual fee of Kshs 16,800); conferencing facilities. It’s located 15 kms from the City at Loresho via Waiyaki Way and Kapenguria Road.
Abiri Kenya 