12 Tested Things To Avoid To Maximise Your Visit To Nairobi
As much as I love Kenya, Nairobi is NOT for the weak! The city is bustling, but you must pay attention to your surroundings, especially if you’re a foreigner!
There are so many things to do in Nairobi. Nairobi is eclectic. Some live for the thrill, while others (i’m others) prefer to bask in the sunshine on a beach in Mombasa. If you’re thinking about travelling to Nairobi, here are my top 12 things to avoid!
1) Walking in busy areas with your phone in your hand. Even if you are in a car with the windows wound down – you are an easy target. I’m from London, and hardly take it out there as it is just as bad, but when you’re in a new country – pay attention!
2) Avoid travelling to tourist hotspots when it’s dark. Of course you want to see the hotspots, just go in the daytime. Things can get tricky especially if you get lost or end up wandering into the wrong part of town.
3) Avoid using taxis. Uber is widely available in Nairobi, unlike Mombasa. So use Uber instead. It’s much cheaper, and you won’t get overcharged as you’ll pay beforehand.
4) Avoid getting to the airport LESS than 3 hours before your flight. Don’t leave anything to chance – Jomo Kenyatta Airport is PACKED! Queues go all the way outside and around the corner! If you want to catch your flight, get there early!
5) Avoid dressing overly provocatively. It’s not just Nairobi- many parts of Kenya have a large Muslim community and population, but dress appropriately especially in small towns.
6) Do not take drinks from anyone or leave your drinks unattended. There are a large number of bars in Nairobi, and there are also huge reports of drink spiking. WWW.GOV.UK reports on the use of methanol to spike drinks, and of course- this can kill. Just have a sprite!
7) Like with anywhere else in the world, avoid wearing flashy jewellery and expensive clothes. You may already be a target, and wearing flashy stuff will definitely warrant additional attention.
8) Avoid taking Malaria tablets late. According to (my doctor) Malaria tablets are not necessary for Nairobi, but they are ABSOLUTELY necessary for other parts of Kenya e.g (Mombasa). Make sure you follow your doctors instructions on EXACTLY how and when to take them if you are spending time in Nairobi as well as other parts of the island.
9) Avoid taking videos in public. Many Kenyans often become irritated, weary, or uncomfortable when taking photos if they are in the same space as you. NEVER take photos of people without asking. If you need footage for vlogging, try and get it when most people are either not around, or aren’t easily identifiable.
10) Avoid NOT carrying around a power bank. I was ‘today years old’ when I found out that Kenya has powercuts. I thought it mainly happened across West Africa, but we were pleasantly surprised when we experienced a powercut one evening, and our mobile phone battery was low.
11) Be careful with tipping! Kenya is not a country that celebrates the ‘tipping culture’ but they do appreciate it. If you do decide to tip, try not to tip mere shillings under 200 KES as it’s barely equivalent to £1! Be generous.
12) Last but not least, DO NOT travel to Nairobi (or Kenya) for that matter, without researching the local laws. This is something that is so important, yet many people take it for granted. It is against the law to smoke in public in some places in Kenya, so you must find a designated smoking area.
Some of the other laws include:
*No filming military or official government buildings without permission.
*No use of single-use plastic. (both bags and bottles)
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Check out our 10 best Things to do in Nairobi and let me know in the comments which one your going for…
With Love,
Siobhan Patrina
