Denver and Nairobi are both bustling modern capitols, with international air, diverse populations, and nearby snow-topped peaks. Nairobi, like Denver, is situated on a high plateau with two of the highest peaks in Africa a relatively short distance away. Nairobi is an exciting and cosmopolitan city and, as the capitol of Kenya, serves as a center of commerce for all of East Africa. Like the Queen City of the Plains, Nairobi is a beautiful city and has often been referred to as the Jewel of Africa.
Founded in 1899 as a simple rail depot on the railway linking Mombasa to Uganda, Nairobi quickly grew to become the capital of British East Africa in 1907 and eventually the capital of a free Kenyan republic in 1963. Nairobi is now one of the most prominent cities in Africa politically and financially. Home to many companies and organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme and the UN Office in Africa, Nairobi is established as a hub for business and culture. The Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) is one of the largest in Africa and the city is known internationally as a prominent social centre.
Situated 5,889 feet above sea level on a high plateau, Nairobi boasts a moderate and pleasant climate. From the hot and humid eastern coast on the Indian Ocean, the low plains rise to central highlands. The highlands are bisected by the Great Rift Valley- a fertile plateau to the west of Nairobi. The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in all of Africa. The highlands are also the site of the highest point in Kenya (and the second highest in Africa)- Mount Kenya, which stretches to 17,057 feet. To the south, Mount Kilimanjaro looms at 19,341 feet on the Tanzanian border.
Frequent tourists from around the world pass through Nairobi in route to some of Kenya’s elite tourist destinations. From the great wildebeest migration on the Maasai Mara, the white sand beaches on the Indian Ocean, the haunting landscapes of Lake Turkana, and the awe-inspiring reserves at the base of Mount Killimanjaro, Kenya offers extraordinary sites found nowhere else on the planet.
Nairobi itself offers a remarkable opportunity to experience many of the highlights of Kenyan culture. Vegetable stands line many streets, filled with colorful arrays including fresh avocados, pineapple, sugarcane, mangoes, and roasted corn. Local street markets sell everything from fashionable clothing and shoes to electronics and luggage. High-end shopping malls, restaurants, movie-theaters, and coffee shops are frequent throughout the city. Local bands play on lazy afternoons in small bars in the city’s many informal settlements, and young people dance all night in packed bars and clubs across the city. Animal sanctuaries offer a peak into Kenya’s wonderful wildlife, as well as the opportunity to pet an elephant or kiss a giraffe! And in all of these places, there is the unmistakable feeling of community, life, and happiness that are so central to the vibrant and beautiful culture of Kenya.
