Exploring Nairobi by night

Exploring Nairobi by night

When you are looking for things to do in Nairobi, you must factor in the nightlife in Nairobi. This is because Nairobi at night is a different city all together, and you will be pleasantly surprised at what the nightlife here can offer.

There are so many ways to enjoy Nairobi by night, and I will show you how to blend in the Kenyan crowd at night, where the best spots are to hang out with friends and family (or alone), and how to stay safe.

Read on and discover some of the things you can do in Nairobi at night.

Photo by YouTube

• Dance the night away!

This has to be first on my list. Why? Because Nairobians love to dance! Visit any nightclubs in Nairobi, and you will notice that most have a dancing floor. This is because Nairobians like to enjoy their local music, African music, and even international music, by dancing.

One of the most popular local music in Nairobi has to be “mugiithi”. This is music from the Kikuyu tribe that is enjoyed by all Kenyans with messages of love, politics, and life in general. Dance moves for “mugiithi” involves simple sways left and right, while you listen to the lyrics (or sing along if you can).

There are other different general dancing styles that you might also want to familiarize yourself with before you come, even though these keep changing. They are normally popular with the younger generation, but if you make an effort to learn them, you will get extra marks! The dancing styles include:

The “Shaku Shaku” dance – This style of dancing involves steps that mimic the walk of a drunkard or someone high on weed, and it involves crossing your arms on the chest and thumping your feet on the ground in turns, with your body facing either right or left while staying put on position.

The “Vimbada” dance – This style of dancing involves swinging arms up and down in turns with your legs slightly folded. Add some spice to your moves by placing your thumbs against the knuckles of your index and middle fingers to make a fist.

The “Kwangwaru” dance – This dancing style requires you to lean forward slightly, while you swing your hand and butt in unison.

The “Idibala” dance – This is a dancing style that involves “fainting” or “collapsing” to signify boredom or a hangover. So if you are at the club and see people falling down together at the same time as they sing, don’t be scared. They will be up before you know it!

There are many more dance styles that come and go, but knowing a few will help you blend into the crowd so easily and have even more fun!

Photo by EventsKenya

• Bar-hop

Nightclubs in Nairobi are many, and the easiest way to sample each of them in a short time would be to bar-hop/ pub crawl. That is, visit or drink at a series of bars in the same evening, just for fun!

Nairobians love to bar-hop, and it is not surprising to see someone visiting at least five nightclubs in a single evening, before heading home to their “locals” (bars in residential areas), and then home.

From the B Club in Kilimani to the 1824 Whisky bar along Langata road, to 40Forty lounge in Westlands, to Brew Bistro & Lounge along Ngong road, to Golden Ice Bistro along Mombasa road, you have so many options to choose from, it will be hard to decide!

Most of these bars have a roof top or balconies where you can sit and explore Nairobi as you enjoy your drink. But please always remember to never drink and drive. So if you know you will be bar-hopping, use an Uber or a registered taxi to get back to your residence or hotel.

Photo by Culture Trip

• Enjoy live music, including jazz

If you are a fun of live music, then you will enjoy your evenings in Nairobi. You just need to know where to go.

Some of the joints that play live music and that are worth checking out include the Slims restaurant on Valley road (Ralph Bunche Road), the Tribe hotel along Limuru road, Pots & Palms along Riverside drive, Heri Square on the northern bypass connecting Ruaka and Kiambu, among many others.

Nairobi also sees a huge number of visiting artists from Africa and from all over the world who come and perform over the weekend (mostly on Saturday nights), so you can also find out beforehand if there will be any celebrated musicians in the country during your stay. Your hotel can also give you this information, even though most performances will always be widely advertised online before they happen.

Most of these places are fully packed over the weekends, so plan to arrive early to get some great sitting space and to avoid being stuck in the traffic.

Photo by Travelstart Kenya

• Go out for dinner

In my article on the 10 best restaurants in Nairobi, I gave you some really great options of where you can enjoy dinner in Nairobi, including places to eat traditional Kenyans dishes in Nairobi.

There are also many options of what to eat, including top traditional Kenyan foods. So why not take out your significant other for a memorable evening in one of the most popular cities in Africa?

Remember also that your hotel can organize something special for you (including a roof top dinner) if you make a request early and if you are willing to pay extra (for some).

Photo by Bizna Kenya

• Visit the theaters

If you have never been to the Nairobi theater scenes before, then you will fall in love with them! Visiting a theater in Nairobi is one of the best way to spend your night in Nairobi. The theaters have plays and musicals that are very entertaining and give you a perspective of the Kenyan way of living.

The regular performances in theaters are always packed, so please book early and arrive on time!

Some options to check out for theater include the Alliance Française and the Kenyan National Theater.

You can also go and watch a movie with friends and family either in the city centre (IMAX 20^th Century) or in any one of the many popular malls in Nairobi including the Garden city mall on Thika road and the Junction mall along Ngong road.

Photo by The Standard

• Stroll the streets

If you have time to spare and good company while in Nairobi, why not discover some of the most popular streets to see in Nairobi, by foot?

Of course walking at night in Nairobi is not the safest thing to do especially if you are walking alone, but don’t let that stop you from walking all together. You can do short distances, probably in the early evenings, and in the company of other people. What you need to bear in mind is the following:

• Walk in a group.
• Walk on main streets.
• Walk like you know where you are going to even if you don’t.
• Avoid alleys and poorly lit areas.
• Keep minimal money on you (not having any money is as bad as having too much money).
• Don’t wear flashy jewelry.
• Don’t carry too many bags at one time.
• Be polite to everyone but never stop to talk/chat.
• Always! Always stay alert!

Photo by Elewana Collection

• Go for a night game drive

The Nairobi National park, one of the top Nairobi landmarks, is a must visit not just during the day, but also at night. This is because this park is completely different at night, as you get to see animals you would normally not see during the day.

Night time is also when the big cats come out to hunt, and you might be lucky to spot a family of lions. For your information, lions sleep all day and hunt in the evenings, and most other wild cats are active just before and after the sun sets. So you also get an opportunity to observe the behaviours of these animals and record it!

Nairobi can get very cold at night and in the early mornings, so carry a heavy jacket to keep yourself warm. It’s also important to note that most night game drives will not allow children, so please bear that in mind as you plan your trip.

Photo by Hmurimi

• Become a photographer for the night!

Nairobi by night is very picturesque, and many of the attractions you see during the day look even better at night. So as you wonder through the city during the day, make sure to spot some few places that you can come back to at night for some amazing photographs.

I have to remind you though that you must always stay alert and be safe, so it is advisable that you walk in a group as you take your photos, or hire local security if you can afford it and if necessary.

Photo by Kenya Airports Authority

• Use a taxi to explore the city

If you are really worried about the security in Nairobi at night but still want to make the best use of your time here, then I would recommend using a taxi to explore all the options mentioned above.

You can get a good taxi person (the hotel you are staying in can recommend one from a registered company) to take you everywhere you want to go to at night, and they can wait for you as you move from one location to the next. We also have various international taxi services in Nairobi, so you should be in good hands exploring Nairobi by night.

Of course using a taxi all though the night might cost you a little more, but you will have peace of mind, and still get to sight see Nairobi at night!

There you go! Now you know how to enjoy Nairobi by night! I hope this was an interesting read and that it will come in handy as you plan your trip to Nairobi. Feel free to share your experiences and tell us about what you enjoyed most. See you soon in Nairobi!