Wedding in Nairobi
Discussion
My wife and I have been invited to a wedding in Kenya by a friend (the bride). The entire ceremony is a week long with something different on every day. We don't know anyone else who is going but presumably with that level of events we'll know people by the time we leave..
We're both UK born and bred and have no idea what to expect.
Is anyone on here well-travelled in the area?
Any advice?
We're both UK born and bred and have no idea what to expect.
Is anyone on here well-travelled in the area?
Any advice?
No responses?
We spent a night and a day there, but it was 20+ years ago on our honeymoon.
Back then it was an odd mix of modern, western hotels and shopping centres and 3rd world squalor (although it constantly amazed me how the locals all seemed to wear white shirts/skirts/etc which were absolutely spotless - I'd have looked like a tramp in half an hour!).
No idea how it's progressed, I was hoping someone would have posted a reply so I could find out
M.
We spent a night and a day there, but it was 20+ years ago on our honeymoon.
Back then it was an odd mix of modern, western hotels and shopping centres and 3rd world squalor (although it constantly amazed me how the locals all seemed to wear white shirts/skirts/etc which were absolutely spotless - I'd have looked like a tramp in half an hour!).
No idea how it's progressed, I was hoping someone would have posted a reply so I could find out
M.
My advice would be to go, have a great time and book yourself a safari for the week after. Not been to nairobi but have been to Mombasa and the poster above's description sounds spot on. I wouldn't expect it to have "progressed" at all in the last 20 years in terms of poverty/social inequality. Kenya is a great place and I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Get yourself over to the Tripadvisor Kenya forum for some more focussed advice.
Sarova chain of hotels are pretty good and they have some ace safari lodges.
Get yourself over to the Tripadvisor Kenya forum for some more focussed advice.
Sarova chain of hotels are pretty good and they have some ace safari lodges.
It depends how full the wedding schedule is, but there are plenty of things to do in and around Nairobi. Off the top of my head there's a giraffe sanctuary, rhino sanctuary and Nairobi NP itself which are all worth a visit. Also Hell's Gate and Nakuru NPs are within easy reach iirc. I'd tag on a few days safari in the Masai Mara afterwards if possible, but the less well known parks may work out cheaper.
first be careful at nairobi airport,pick pockets work there and if your lucky you will get all you luggage back !
second i hope someone is meeting you at the airport cos mzungus (white people) are fair game and you will be ripped off for taxi fair etc
third if any african wants to be your friend, they want money !
do not give anyone money up front you will never see them again
do not flash money about in public,you will lose it
kenya now is very up to date but please be careful
second i hope someone is meeting you at the airport cos mzungus (white people) are fair game and you will be ripped off for taxi fair etc
third if any african wants to be your friend, they want money !
do not give anyone money up front you will never see them again
do not flash money about in public,you will lose it
kenya now is very up to date but please be careful
Went there on a charity trip, very busy place, very mixed between very poor and middle class. Assuming you are staying in a decent hotel and will have proper transport for that week I say go for it. As said be careful of being robbed, they call it Nairobbery for a reason. Be sensible and take in the different cultures and experiences. Oh and make sure you get out of the city as well. We drove up to Mount Kenya, Meru and also north to Samburu - off the tourist tracks and probably the best scenery and drive I have ever done. Oh and also the driving standards are "interesting"...
Have fun!
Have fun!
Kenya is a beautiful place, however be careful. There is abject poverty and the temptation to steal something which is equivalent of a few months wages is understandable almost when you see the conditions and pay that some locals contend with.
My family and I were there as part of a pretty large group a few years back. The trip was a holiday tied in with a programme of religious events which my parents follow. The whole party (probably 300-400 people) were guests of a very wealthy asian business man there, so I guess our presence was known about, which may have increased theft etc.
However, just going from hotel to getting on a coach, I know a number of people were robbed of jewellery or handbags. Our coaches were actually escorted by armed guards and despite staying in the city centre, we were expressly told by the tour company not to venture out of the hotel alone. Even if we wanted to visit the supermarket across the road, we were to get one of the tour company staff to accompany us.
That said, Nairobi was still interesting and safari and Mombasa was absolutely amazing. If the wedding is anything like asian weddings, I imagine you'll get bored of a whole week of events, I know I do! I would try and do safari and few days in Mombasa, along with going for the more important 2-3 days of the wedding schedule.
My family and I were there as part of a pretty large group a few years back. The trip was a holiday tied in with a programme of religious events which my parents follow. The whole party (probably 300-400 people) were guests of a very wealthy asian business man there, so I guess our presence was known about, which may have increased theft etc.
However, just going from hotel to getting on a coach, I know a number of people were robbed of jewellery or handbags. Our coaches were actually escorted by armed guards and despite staying in the city centre, we were expressly told by the tour company not to venture out of the hotel alone. Even if we wanted to visit the supermarket across the road, we were to get one of the tour company staff to accompany us.
That said, Nairobi was still interesting and safari and Mombasa was absolutely amazing. If the wedding is anything like asian weddings, I imagine you'll get bored of a whole week of events, I know I do! I would try and do safari and few days in Mombasa, along with going for the more important 2-3 days of the wedding schedule.
shirt said:
i fully agree with comments re: the airport. the ground staff are robbing b
ds. do not put anything of value in your hold luggage or even padlock your case as they'll smash it and wreck the zips. use tie wraps on the zips and cling wrap your cases.
very good advice looks like you been to the airport aswell !ds. do not put anything of value in your hold luggage or even padlock your case as they'll smash it and wreck the zips. use tie wraps on the zips and cling wrap your cases. bill last week mrs black was out in the car with a mate from switzerland,
they was sat in traffic the mate had a very nice camera on her lap all of a sudden a big black hand
tryed to get in ! it was only the quick thinking of mrs black that saved the day cos she spotted the
hand and closed the windows
they was sat in traffic the mate had a very nice camera on her lap all of a sudden a big black hand
tryed to get in ! it was only the quick thinking of mrs black that saved the day cos she spotted the
hand and closed the windows
Bluebarge said:
Not been to nairobi but have been to Mombasa and the poster above's description sounds spot on.
I went to Mombasa on the same trip and it was like stepping back a century from Nairobi, back then. There was signs of wealth and modernity in Nairobi, but I didn't see any in Mombasa (except in our hotel).
But, again, it was a long time ago.
M.
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