Kids Nairobi. Whilst Nairobi isn’t exactly overburdened with soft plays and parks there’s plenty of fun places in Nairobi. To find kid friendly places in Nairobi you may need to dig a little deeper. For me, Nairobi is all about getting the kids outside and celebrating our natural environment. If that doesn’t work, I’ve given you some great restaurants with playgrounds in Nairobi so you can at least sip cocktails while they yell at you.
Kids Nairobi: Animal Adventures
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
For an informative talk and chance to say hello to the elephants you can visit at 11am every morning. If you are a foster parent then join them at 5PM for a far more interactive session and a chance to meet and learn about the elephants. Find out about fostering here. 500KSH.
Giraffe Centre
For 200 KSH (adults) and 50 KSH (kids) you can feed the giraffes and spend time gazing in awe at their majestic beauty. Read my blog on the giraffe centre here.
Stedmark Gardens / Snake Park
Stedmark Gardens on Langata Road has animals, a snake park, a theme park with rides and an indoor heated pool.
Animal orphanage / safari walk
At the entrance to Nairobi National Park off the Langata Road is a chance to see some of the parks famous residents eye to eye. Touted as a showcase for the parks animals, you can see rhino, lion, cheetah, hyena and a host of other animals up close. The fee for residents is 300 KSH (adults) 170 KSH (kids) and cheaper for citizens. I prefer this option for young children as they will definitely see the animals they wish to see.
Adventure Farm
Adventure Farm, located on Rhino Park North Road in Karen, this small farm has rabbits to pet, a zipline and a lovely cafe.
Indoor play areas for Nairobi Kids
The following malls have indoor play areas or soft plays
- Village Market
- Westgate
- Nextgen Mall
- Garden City
- Junction Mall
- Two Rivers
- The Hub
- Diamond Plaza 2
Kids Nairobi Activities
Ice skating at Panari
Ice skating at Panari Hotel on Mombasa Road, is fun for the whole family. If your kids can’t skate, or indeed you are such a bad skater that people suspect you of drinking (I hadn’t been) then there are little plastic seals that you can hold on to and whizz around.
The Village Market
The Village Market in Gigiri is a wonderland for both kids Nairobi and adults. It has a trampoline park, fantastic ‘Under the Sea’ soft play, a bowling alley, VR and video games. The Village Market is packed full of over 20 restaurants many of which will cater specifically for children with kids meals and loads of interesting shops for the parents. It’s probably the best mall in Kenya for both children and adults.
The Waterfront Mall
The Waterfront is on Karen Road. The jewel in the crown here is Maji Magic, a huge on-water bouncy castle/obstacle course. You can also go paint balling, go-karting, kayaking, horse riding, bowling and enjoy various arcade & VR machines.
The Hub
The Hub Mall on Dagoretti Road has ziplining and a plethora of bouncy castles. You can usually hire cars (for small kids) and drive around the main square. There’s a large indoor play area and arcade machines on the top floor.
Lu&Mi Kids Nairobi Village
Lu&Mi on Loroghi Road, Lavington is described as a kids play headquarters. There’s swings, slides, climbing frames, horse riding, bikes to ride and you can hold events there.
GP Karting
GP Karting is located near Carnivore, go-karting for the whole family.
Rock Climbing at Camp Blue Sky
Head over to Camp Blue Sky in Diamond Plaza where there are huge climbing walls fun for kids and adults alike.
Walking trails for Nairobi Kids
Karura Forest
Karura Forest is a large forest with miles of walking and biking trails. There are towering trees, plenty of wildlife, bat filled caves, wobbling bridges and trees to climb. The Limuru road entrance has a nice picnic area with a wooden play area, and Sigiria gate has a lovely obstacle course for Nairobi kids and adults. You can hire bikes here to cycle around the forest. There is an excellent restaurant The River Cafe. Perfect for lunch. Read blog on Karura Forest
Ngong Forest Sanctuary
Ngong Forest Sanctuary near the racecourse on Ngong Road has 5k, 10k, 15k and 21k trails that are perfect for cycling and walking. There’s a big dam and horse riding trails.
Giraffe Centre Nature trail
Opposite the Giraffe Centre is an easy 1.5K walk that takes you down to the river or up to a viewpoint of the Ngong Hills. Watch out for warthogs, monkeys and giraffes. This is a short trail suitable for younger Nairobi kids.
Ololua Forest
A large area of forest in the Karen neighbourhood. It is home to over 35 mammals and multitude birds, reptiles and insects. The forest has an extensive network of walking or running trails and is great for a meander with the kids.
Download the Geocache app to make the walk into a treasure hunt. See my blog on Geocaching in Nairobi here. Or bring a bucket and net to fish for frogs or fish or crayfish in the running rivers.
Paradise Lost
Located on Kiambu Road, this beautiful place has walking trails, a stunning water, caves and there’s a play area, horse riding, boating and zipling.
Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park. What’s more magical than safari. Nothing.
Ngong Hills
The iconic hills, that you can spot from most places in Nairobi, make for the most idyllic walk. If you have smaller children park at the windmills (near Ngong Town) and just walk one or two hills. Take a picnic and make a day of it. Ngong Hills blog.
Kids Nairobi: Cinema
These are some of the many cinema’s in Nairobi.
- Sarit Centre
- Junction Mall
- Prestige Plaza
- 20th Century Mall
- Garden City
- Westgate
- Panari
Child friendly Cafes or Restaurants with Playgrounds Nairobi
Under the Swahili Tree
Under the Swahili Tree located on Marula Lane (Karen) has a full Nairobi kids menu, on weekends kids can make their own pizzas or enjoy a bouncy castle. They put on lots of activities such as pottery painting, and always celebrate an occasion ie: Halloween Parties, pantomimes at Christmas. Worth joining their Instagram or Facebook page to see what events are on.
Matbronze
Take the kids for tea and cake at the Matbronze café. There’s a large garden for them to play in and some very cool bronzes for them to admire. The café has recently been extended and upgraded and on a chilly day there is a very welcoming log burners.
Tin Roof Cafe, Karen
Tin Roof cafe has two locations, one in Langata Link shops and one in the House of Treasures. Both places have a little café in the centre of some excellent craft and souvenier shops and both have a kids play area. This is a great example of something for mum and something for the kids, as the Langata link and House of Treasure shops are an Aladdin’s den of clothes, jewellery, bags and other delightful purchases.
Zen Gardens
Zen Gardens is located in Spring Valley this lovely Asian centric restaurant has a huge garden often with crafts for the kids or a bouncy castle. Kids will adore their gigantic freak-shakes and there is a huge cocktail list for the adults. Kids in Nairobi can choose from lots of child friendly dishes that will keep them satisfied for hours.
The Talisman
The Talisman serves incredible food, has impeccable service and there’s a playground out the back.
Asmara Karen
This Eritrean restaurant also serves Ethiopian food and simple child friendly dishes such as nuggets, pizza or fish n chips. There’s a trampoline and a climbing frame in the garden.
Shamba Cafe
Shamba Cafe on Loresho Ridge is a fabulous venue for children. There’s a huge garden, a farm shop, and amazing food that the kiddies will love.
The River Cafe
The River Cafe in Karura Forest has a small playground for kids, plenty of kiddie friendly food such as mac n cheese, burgers and fish n chips. The best part is its location in the fabulous forest.
Kids Nairobi – Outskirts or day trips from Nairobi
- Mlango farm – Farm Tour and animal petting farm.
- Brown’s cheese factory – for a farm tour and cheese making process.
- Fairview coffee farm for a tour on coffee making process and coffee tasting.
- Kiambethu tea farm – for a tour of the tea farms .
- White water rafting in Sagana – there’s Rapids Camp or Savage Wilderness, both a great options.
- Camp Carnellys (BLOG) – Camping, bandas, excellent restaurants and boat rides on Naivasha Lake.
- Geothermal spa through Hell’s Gate National Park (BLOG).
- Sanctuary Farm (BLOG) – camping and horseback riding.
- The Forest – incredibly zip lining plus horse riding, nature walks, archery and paint ball.
- Maasai Ostrich Farm – Athi River.
- Kitengela Glass (BLOG) – take the kids glass blowing at Kitengela.
- Swara Plains (BLOG) for overnight camping or banda’s with excellent cycling around the plains, a pool and playground.
Kids Nairobi Further Reading
Get out of Nairobi. Take a trip down to the Kenyan Coast for a beachy idyll of boating adventures, warm blue seas and powder soft beaches. Read about the best hotels in Mombasa here
Or all about the various destinations on the Kenyan Coast here
Book Your Kenya Trip – Insider Tips
Find everything you need for visiting Kenya on my TRAVEL RESOURCES page.
Find everything you need for moving to Kenya in my THE EXPAT GUIDE TO LIVING IN NAIROBI book.
- Kenya Accommodation: Booking.com has the cheapest rates for hotels and guest houses in Kenya.
- Accommodation Reviews: TripAdvisor is my go-to portal for checking reviews on accommodation/restaurants in the local area. I never book without checking TripAdvisor first.
- ESIM: Airalo allows you to access the Internet from virtually any country without paying roaming charges
- Car Rental: Rental Cars is managed by Booking.com – guaranteed reliable.
- Tours and Guides in Kenya : Check out Get Your Guide and Viator – reputable companies that do tours within Kenya and East Africa.
- Travel Insurance: Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I recommend Visitors Coverage, which covers you for East Africa and offers ‘special insurance’ for safaris and adventure sports:
- Visitors Coverage
- Compensair – if you have a cancelled or delayed flight, you may get a refund.
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Trying to view some of your interesting blogs, especially on kids. However, the link to read more just keeps taking me back to the homepage. I’m using my iPhone so will try the MacBook later.
Oh no! which post is this? I will update it
Thank you so much for all this information. We are a family thinking about relocating to Kenya from NYC.
Do it – Kenya is a great place.