Nairobi Area | Safari Sense

10Jul 2025 by safarisense No Comments

Whiskers in the Grass: Tracking the Secretive Serval

Conservation, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Ernest Nyamasyo The sun is barely peeking above Nairobi’s skyline when my guests and I bump down the red-dust trail into the wilderness of Nairobi National Park—Africa’s only national park with a capital city for a neighbor. Zebras blur past in early light, and giraffes crane their necks against a backdrop of high-rises. But I’m not watching the giants this morning. I’m looking for a ghost in the grass. “Mondo,” I whisper to the guests. That’s Swahili for Serval, the long-legged, small-bodied, big-eared feline phantom we’re hoping to glimpse. With the scientific name Leptailurus serval, this spotted cat isn’t as famous as the lion or cheetah, but trust me—when you see one, it’s unforgettable. Imagine a creature sculpted for stealth: about a meter long, weighing up to 13…

03May 2024 by safarisense 1 Comment

Unveiling Kenya’s Time Capsule: A Journey with Our Ancestors #LetsGo

City Tour, Excursion, History, Holiday, Nairobi Area

Image | Ernest Nyamasyo In the heart of East Africa lies a treasure trove of ancient mysteries waiting to be discovered. Kenya, with its rugged landscapes and storied past, stands as a beacon for archaeologists and adventurers alike, offering a glimpse into the evolution of our species. Join us on an expedition through time as we unravel the tales of our ancestors, each fossil a chapter in Kenya's rich history. Proconsul heseloni: The OG Primate  Age: 18 million years old  Location: Rusinga Island, Lake Victoria, Kenya  In 1948, Mary Leakey stumbled upon the almost complete skull of Proconsul heseloni on the tranquil shores of Rusinga Island. This OG primate, dating back 18 million years, gives us a peek into the early days of our evolutionary journey. Orrorin tugenensis ('Millennium Man'):…

22Apr 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Majestic Avian: The Ground Hornbill

City Tour, Conservation, Excursion, History, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Scientific Name; Physical Characteristics The regal Ground Hornbill, known scientifically as Bucorvus leadbeateri, commands attention with its impressive stature and distinct features. Standing at heights of up to 3.3 feet and measuring a remarkable length of 3.3 to 3.6 feet, the males typically outweigh their female counterparts, tipping the scales at around 8 to 13 pounds. Their plumage showcases a striking contrast of black feathers accentuated by vibrant patches of white and red wattles adorning their throat. A defining feature of these majestic birds is their long, downward-curved bill, which aids in their foraging habits. Distinct Differences and Lifespan In the savannas of Kenya, the Ground Hornbill stands apart from its hornbill brethren with its distinctive characteristics and behaviors. While other hornbill species may roam the same terrain, the Ground…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part XI

City Tour, Conservation, Excursion, History, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy The first postal headquarters, constructed in 1906 on Delamere Avenue (currently Kenyatta Avenue), was originally based in Mombasa since its establishment in 1899. On our right, we passed Kipande House, built in 1913 as a train depot and later used for the issuance of IDs before being acquired by KCB in 1976. Opposite stands the Nairobi Gallery, originally constructed in 1913 as the District Commissioner’s Office, where records of births, marriages, and deaths were kept until 1976 when Vice President Joseph Murumbi and his wife Sheila sold their art collection to the Kenyan government. Image | Courtesy Turning onto Uhuru Highway, we marveled at the Nyayo Monument, created in 1988 to mark 10 years of former President Moi's rule and 25 years of independence, located at Central…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part X

City Tour, Conservation, Excursion, History, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy Passing through Moi Avenue, we marveled at the Kenya National Archives, whose construction began in 1928, commissioned by the Bank of India, and was completed in 1931. Also located on the then Government Road is the Tom Mboya Statue, erected in 2011, in memory of the politician who was assassinated on July 5, 1969. Further ahead, we encountered the August 7th Memorial Park, which commemorates the 1998 terrorist bombings of the American embassy. Turning towards City Hall Way, previously known as Sergeant Ellis Avenue after Sergeant George Ellis, the first European resident who arrived from Newington Butts, Surrey, England in 1896, we passed through the Nairobi City Court (Supreme Court), built in the 1930s. The statue of The Naked Boy of Justice adorns its premises, erected in…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part IX

City Tour, Conservation, Excursion, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy Turning onto Kimathi Street, formerly known as Hardinge Street during the colonial period after the first Administrator of the Kenya Protectorate, Sir Arthur Hardinge, we made our way to the Thorn Tree Restaurant for a cup of coffee, pausing first to acknowledge the Dedan Kimathi Statue. It was erected on August 15, 2007, in honor of Dedan Kimathi, a rebel field marshal fighting against British colonial authorities during the Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950s. “A relentless campaign to capture Kimathi and his insurgents was launched by the British colonial government’s tribal police that ended up capturing him alone early on October 21, 1956. After a laborious and intricate trial, on November 19, 1956 at the Supreme Court of Kenya in Nyeri, Chief Justice Kenneth O’Connor found…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part VIII

City Tour, Excursion, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy As we turned onto Kenyatta Avenue, the echoes of history reverberated with each passing moment. Formerly known as Delamere Avenue in honor of the pioneer white settler and colonial administrator after his death in 1932, Kenyatta Avenue bustled with weekday human traffic. Despite the rush, we paused to pay homage to the fallen heroes of WWI (1914 - 1918) and WWII (1939 - 1945) at the Askari Monument (the Carrier Corps Memorial - To Our Glorious Dead) - constructed in 1928 (Myrander SC) and re-erected in 1945, a solemn reminder of sacrifice and valor. Its inscription, “If you fight for your country, even if you die, your sons will remember your name,” spoke volumes, alongside dedications to the native African troops, the carriers who supported the Army,…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part VII

City Tour, Excursion, History, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy Continuing our excursion through Nairobi's streets, we glimpsed the Khoja Mosque, also known as Khoja Jamatkhana, constructed on January 14, 1922, by the Ismaili community led by the Aga Khan. We then passed through Monrovia Street, once known as Mark Street, and I pointed out the statue of Queen Elizabeth I in Jeevanjee Gardens—formerly Victoria Gardens—unveiled by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and presented by Alibhai Jeevanjee. Amidst the horns and blares from the traffic, I recounted the tale of Alibhai Jeevanjee, a visionary entrepreneur who made profits from the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway line, his legacy enduring in the heart of the city when he donated the gardens in 1906. “Alibhai Mullah Jeevanjee was born in the Bohra community in Pakistan in 1856 and…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part VI

City Tour, Excursion, History, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy Leaving the museum behind, our next stop beckoned with the allure of a bygone era. The Norfolk Hotel, a bastion of colonial elegance, opened on December 25, 1904, by Major C.G.R. Ringer, stood as a testament to Kenya's tumultuous past. Picturing it against a backdrop of dusty plains and towering acacias, there is still an aura of a time when intrepid adventurers and illustrious dignitaries mingled in the corridors of power. “The Norfolk of the yesteryears, with its cool resting rooms and hot and cold baths, was civilization in the bush. With nothing in front of it except the papyrus swamp with the frogs (and sometimes the lions) and nothing behind it but barren, open land, the white railings of the hotel's perimeter spelled comfort for early…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part V

City Tour, Conservation, Excursion, History, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy Our next destination was the Nairobi National Museum, a sentinel of Kenya's past, guarding its secrets with silent reverence. As we made our way in, Vlad and Olga were curious about the museum's storied history, from its humble origins in 1910 when a modest institution was born from the vision of the East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society, to what it is today. Image | Ernest Nyamasyo “The Nairobi National Museum was officially opened on September 22, 1930, and named Coryndon Museum in honor of Sir Robert Coryndon, a former Governor of Kenya,” I explained. With each step, we journeyed through time, from prehistory and the country’s rich tapestry of different tribes with their unique customs, to the dawn of independence—a testament to Kenya's enduring spirit…

Category: Nairobi Area