Nairobi: Beyond the Transit Zone
Barely a decade younger than Kigali, Nairobi has its origins as a swampland. It was never intended to be a city; English colonial administrators originally planned it as a mere railway depot and labor camp for African migrant workers.
The colonial masters assumed the migrant labor force would eventually return to their homes. They didn't. The resulting story—of Sudanese soldiers and the origins of what is now Kibera—is a fascinating history of identity and tenure.
What was also unpredicted was the "blood lust" of visitors from abroad who descended upon nascent Nairobi to hunt wild animals, sparking a tourism gold rush that propelled the settlement into a permanent, sprawling metropolis.
The Insight
Nairobi is often treated as a transit zone for wildlife safaris. But beneath the surface lies a complex, hip, and contemporary metropolis that is a destination in its own right.
Given its abundant wildlife and beauty, it is no surprise that Nairobi is often overshadowed by Kenya's wild spaces. However, the true pulse of the country beats here, in the urban sprawl and creative energy of the city.
We reveal the Nairobi that makes us excited about the present and the future—a city that has grown far beyond its labor-camp origins.
Nairobi Experiences
We have created a portfolio of curated experiences that invite you to engage with this evolving metropolis from many angles, across the lines, and between the binaries.
