Welcome to Nairobi, the capital and largest city of Kenya.
Look into your rear view mirror and you will notice the real side of Nairobi.
Hop into a public “matatu” mini-bus and venture to the neighborhoods that make up Nairobi.
Nairobi matatu mini-buses line the sloppy muddy road, waiting to be repaired in order to get back on the street again. Riding a matatu is one of the more entertaining things to do in Nairobi.
A warm reception at this downtown Nairobi apartment complex. A thermos of steaming chai is waiting.
Freshly washed laundry streams through the inner square.
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Browsing local fresh markets like City Park Hawkers in the Parklands area of Nairobi is one of the most rewarding things to do in Nairobi!
Hawkers and vendors line the streets of Nairobi, selling snacks like roasted maize, newspapers, or other products of the day.
The most convenient way in the world to buy a puppy is through the window of your car, while waiting in long lines of stagnant traffic.
This is street food in Nairobi. A Mama cooks the food in her home, packs it in plastic containers and gunny sacks, and transports it to wherever there is demand.
Clockwise from top left:
- typical rice, sukuma wiki veg, soupy stew
- staple of ugali (cornmeal mush)
- the Double Hut from Burger Hut Nairobi (Kenya’s best burger)
- chicken tikka with sauce from Diamond Plaza
- Eritrean food from The Smart Village Nairobi
- bajhias from Slush Restaurant
In Nairobi anything can be fixed and re-sold. “Jua Kali,” is a name that describes fix-it men that can transform a hunk of junk into something useful.
In Nairobi, people live on the edge. Walking past on the street, you would never notice the crater in the center of this slum village, but from an adjacent top of a building, the conditions of a landslide in the future appear to be inevitable.
If you need that latest “2Pac shave” or “Ice Cube cut,” Nairobi can cater to all of your salon needs and requests. Name a hip hop celebrity and they got you covered.
Dedan Kimathi was a Kenyan Mau Mau rebel leader who battled against the colonial power of Britain in a struggle to gain independence. A bronze statue was erected in his remembrance in downtown Nairobi.
A serious fence in Dandora area, Nairobi, Kenya. Fences are often wrapped with barbed wire, shards of broken glass, electric wire, and sometimes thorn bushes.
Behind the barbed wire lie charming manicured lawns and elegant gardens for afternoon tea.
In Nairobi, when it rains, it bleeds. The blood red dirt flows through the streets as rivers and puddles gather in hazardous spots, wreaking havoc for pedestrians and motorists, but nourishing the beautiful greenery.
A cutting board loaded with nyama choma roasted meat is a treat and pastime that all Nairobians enjoy.
“If u can’t beat them join them,” and together “Yes we can.”
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vishal kaushik
2 years ago
Awesome blog. Thanks for sharing.
kw
7 years ago
As a Kenyan, I have to say that is a very fair account and representation of Nairobi life… It highlights the good and even represents the bad in a plalatable way. Its a beautiful place to visit… To enjoy the life. And obviously for adventure as well. Its very impressive.
Mark Wiens
7 years ago
Thank you very much KW.
eddy
9 years ago
first ‘mzungu’ i’ve seen who has taken interst in the yin side of nairobi. thumbs up mark. To any who might head over to this part of africa, take a ride in the matatus that opperate on the outskirts of the C.B.D and see life in nairobi first hand. oooh, and download the movie ‘nairobi halflife‘. u‘ll deffinitely learn alot about life here.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Eddy, good to hear from you. Yah, this is another whole side to Nairobi! Thanks for the suggestion of the movie, will have to check that out.
mrssmith
12 years ago
the ‘real nairobi huh”, bet you if they showed the real america, half of the immigrants would not come! You love showing the wonderful america to the rest of the world then bring back the worst of africa so that you can wallow in your superiority complex!
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
You are right, show the real America to the world and half the people might change their minds about wanting to immigrate.
South America ME
12 years ago
Those are some amazing photos. I love these types that show the harsh reality.
That green lawn seems so out of place after the rest of the photos (then again must be a part of life there for a small few).
The roasted meat getting chopped up looks… um,
appetizinginteresting.Rob W.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
@Matt: Thanks Matt. I took most of these shots about 2.5 months ago, towards the end of December, it is the warmest time of the year.
Matt | YearAroundTheWorld
12 years ago
Great shots, looks like an interesting city. What time of the year were you there?
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
@Flip: Thanks Flip, let me know if you get a chance to visit Africa!
@Christy: Appreciate the comment!
@Rebecca: Yah, that is definitely a mystery how some of those structures are even standing, when the rain comes it’s not going to be a good scenario. Thanks for the comment.
Rebecca
12 years ago
Seems chaotic but can’t wait to visit. I can’t believe that some of those houses next to the crater are still standing – some of them even have their foundations sticking out into thin air!
Christy @ Ordinary Traveler
12 years ago
You really did a great job showing many different aspects of Nairobi. The food looks tasty!
flip
12 years ago
love the pictures… shows the real life of the common people… i hope i could visit africa next year…
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
@Glen: Thanks so much!
@Ayngelina: Thanks, I still don’t know how they hung some of the clothes up in the middle of the square!
ayngelina
12 years ago
I love the lines in the laundry photo, what a great capture.
Glen
12 years ago
Love your “behind the scenes” look at the city!
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
@Cathy: Awesome! I would love to be your tour guide if I am in the area. Hope you can make it sometime!
@Michael: Great! When you get a chance, I’m sure you will have a very enjoyable time!
@Rease: You are welcome! Thanks so much for checking them out.
@Christy: Yes, I fully agree, instead of the tourist norms that everyone sees, I like to see the real life of a city, what really goes on. Thanks for checking it out.
@Kelly: Yah, you will definitely get to try a lot of that meat when you travel to Nairobi!
@Jeremy: Cool, yah, you might be amazed with how many large buildings there are in downtown Nairobi. Some things in Nairobi are quite modern, while other things could use quite a bit of work.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
@Linguist in Waiting: Yah, actually when I was in Manila, a few things did remind me of Manila. The overall infrastructure and size of the entire city is not nearly that of Manila, but there are some similarities. I’m sure you would adapt well to life in Nairobi! Minibuses can cost 20 – 30 cents or so.
@Jillian: Thanks for the comment! Great, I guess you have done some traveling in Africa before!
@Inka: Thanks so much Inka, about 8 years!
@Michael: Yah, you are right, the matatus are great, and the touts are usually quite friendly and willing to help out!
Jeremy B
12 years ago
Thanks for the photos Mark. It’s interesting to see real life in Nairobi. It’s much more cosmopolitan than I would have imagined.
Kelly
12 years ago
Cool photos Mark! They really give me a sense of what it’s like to be there! I want to try that meat!
Christy @ Technosyncratic
12 years ago
These are great photos – they really show a different side to Nairobi. A lot of travel photography focuses on the ‘beautiful’ and doesn’t pay much attention to the ‘real’ (which is beautiful in its own way). 🙂
Rease
12 years ago
I really like these photos, it was a great way to show local life and the city. Thanks for sharing!
Michael Figueiredo
12 years ago
Very interesting article and photos! I still haven’t been to Africa, but I definitely know that I’ll go to Kenya when I do.
Cathy Sweeney
12 years ago
Honestly, I never really thought much about going to Nairobi, but following your posts has made me very intrigued by it. If I ever go, I wish that you could be my tour guide! Great photos.
Michael Hodson
12 years ago
I enjoyed the heck out of Nairobi and sooooo miss those mini-buses. The drivers and assistants were so damn helpful every time I needed to get somewhere.
inka
12 years ago
A more comprehensive overview is hard to imagibe, And you lived there for how long???
Jillian
12 years ago
Great photos. I loved the street scenes, to me these will always be in my memories of Africa.
Linguist-in-Waiting
12 years ago
This feels so much like Manila. The chaos, the mini-buses, the traffic jams, the thunderstorms, even the wickedly ripe papayas that are found in the markets. I think I won’t have too much of a problem adjusting if I were to visit! How much is a mini-bus ride by the way?