Senior travel: Nairobi
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 2 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 85 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- City MarketStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 45 minThe hall floor is level, but aisles are narrow and crowded; the pavement approach is uneven.
- Giraffe CentreStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minThe feeding platform is reached by a ramp and steps; the ground-level paths are uneven.
- Karen Blixen MuseumStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minA raised veranda with steps; some rooms are reached by steps. Ask about a ground-floor route.
- Nairobi Railway MuseumStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 75 minGravel yard; some carriages need steps.
- Nairobi National MuseumStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 120 minBroad paths on the hill and a ramp to the main hall; some galleries are on upper floors. Confirm at the desk.
- Karura ForestStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 150 minPaved main loops suit some wheelchairs and strollers; the waterfall path has steps.
Getting around in Nairobi
Pavements are uneven or missing, lifts are rare outside newer hotels and malls, and there is no accessible public transport; a car and driver are the workable option.
- Streets:
- Broken kerbs and open drains; a wheelchair needs a car and a route by road.
- Public transit:
- Matatus are not accessible; ride-hail cars can carry a folded chair.
- Hotels:
- Newer hotels have lifts and ramps; ask before booking.
- Toilets:
- Accessible toilets in malls, some hotels and museums (check).
Medicines and health on the ground
The Kenya guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Malaria:
- Nairobi city is high enough to have little risk, but the parks, the coast and lowlands do: ask a clinic about prophylaxis and use repellent.
- Water:
- Drink bottled or filtered water.
- Sun and altitude:
- The sun is strong at 1,800 m; use sun cream and a hat. A mild headache on day one is common.
- Food:
- Eat hot food; peel fruit; wash hands.
- Insurance:
- Private hospitals are good and expensive; buy travel insurance with medical evacuation.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.