| I am very lucky to be able to live and work in | | | | short taxi ride from the centre of town. There |
| the Masai Mara game reserve for a few months | | | | you can relax and dine or catch a movie as well |
| of the year. | | | | as do some grocery shopping. |
| Every year when its time to return from South | | | | Just opened on Ngong Road is the Junction, again |
| Africa to Kenya, I drag out telephone numbers, | | | | a pleasant place to shop. |
| and remember where useful stuff is in town. | | | | If you don't have a great deal of time between |
| This year I thought I would compile these into a | | | | arriving in Kenya and connecting with flights at |
| list online somewhere so if I loose any of the | | | | Wilson Airport the supermarkets have helped you |
| numbers I can access them from any | | | | out. |
| cybercafé in town. | | | | There are two Nakumatt's just off the |
| So why not pad it out and let it be useful for | | | | Mombassa Road which you will take into town to |
| anybody visiting Kenya and Nairobi. | | | | turn onto Langata and Wilson Airport. |
| By rights this should always remain a work in | | | | One shop is just off Airport North Road and the |
| progress as I add to the list and find more | | | | other opposite the Nayayo Stadium, this is the |
| numbers. | | | | bigger of the two. |
| First off so it's at the top of the page and easy | | | | Just past Wilson airport on Langata, literally on the |
| to find. | | | | airfield fence with aircraft on the other side of it is |
| Important telephone numbers. | | | | a very nice Uchumi. This is the one I use to stock |
| Emergency Services 999 | | | | up with four months of goodies before departing |
| Police CID HQ 728888 | | | | for the Mara. |
| AMREF Flying Doctors 502699/506521 | | | | Oh and while I am talking about shopping you can |
| St Johns Ambulance 224066 | | | | get stacks of curios from street vendors outside |
| Nairobi Hospital 2722160 | | | | of the Sarit Centre for much less than they will |
| Aga Khan Hospital 37400 | | | | cost in your lodges. |
| Kenyatta National Hospital 2726300 | | | | Eating Out |
| Gertrude's Garden Children's Hospital 3763474 | | | | If you are taken to Carnivore restaurant you will |
| On arrival | | | | pass that Uchumi. Carnivore is the place that |
| Most people arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International | | | | having seen animals in the wild you get to eat |
| airport (822111) and are picked up by guides and | | | | them! |
| bussed into Nairobi to a hotel if it's late in the day. | | | | It's not for me I am a vegetarian! |
| Should you get in early you might be taken | | | | When I'm in town I always try and grab a meal |
| straight out to Wilson Airport (501943) which is | | | | at the Trattoria, Wabera/Kaunda (340855 |
| where all the small commuter airlines depart from | | | | 240205) also good is Cedars which is out on |
| for internal destinations. | | | | Lenana, it's a Lebanese affair. Both offer great |
| Chances are your internal flight will be with Air | | | | vegetarian food as well as stuff for the other |
| Kenya they operate a fleet of aircraft from single | | | | sort of diner ;-) |
| engined Cessna Caravans to four engined Dash 7 | | | | Many garages now sport pizza and burger |
| aircraft. You might also be flying with Safari Link. | | | | franchises, they modern and very good. Exactly |
| Yes I don't have either number, when I find them | | | | what you would expect in the rest of the world. |
| I will add them. | | | | If you have children with you the Aero Club at |
| The other thing that might happen is that you are | | | | Wilson Airport has a bar and restaurant and most |
| driving to your safari destination. | | | | importantly a children's playground that over looks |
| Be prepared for a long bumpy hot drive. | | | | the runway. Plenty to see and do whilst waiting |
| Be bullish and insist that your driver stops at a | | | | for a flight onward. It's about 5 minute's taxi ride |
| supermarket. | | | | from both the Air Kenya and Safari Link check in |
| On your journey of several hours your driver will | | | | desks. |
| continue stopping at friend's roadside stalls and | | | | If you are coming up from South Africa and want |
| curio shops where they receive commission on | | | | a memory of home! There is a Spur in the |
| sales. | | | | Holiday Inn. Corner of Parklands Avenue and |
| All under the pretext of needing breaks. | | | | Msapo Close (3740920) its not quite identical but |
| There are modern garages on all the major roads. | | | | there is a pleasant bar and outside eating area as |
| Get the driver to stop at them for toilet breaks | | | | well. |
| and snacks en route. Cleaner with fixed prices. | | | | Things to do |
| Shopping! | | | | Should you have many hours to burn you might |
| If you should have some time on your hands and | | | | think about visiting the Karen Blixen Museum or |
| want to stock up on things like chocolate and | | | | the Giraffe Manor. |
| bottled water you should visit a mall rather than | | | | Nairobi National Park and the Animal Orphanage |
| pay through the nose in your hotel or lodge. | | | | are also worth a look. |
| There are two main supermarket chains in Kenya, | | | | So that's a start, I will add to this as I think about |
| Uchumi and Nakumatt. | | | | it and when I get back and remember things! |
| Both are excellent and not unlike shops you find in | | | | Whatever and wherever you stay in Kenya you |
| the USA or Europe. | | | | will have a fabulous time. |
| One of the largest Malls in town is the Sarit | | | | The people are excellent and service great. |
| Centre which can be found in Westland's just a | | | | |