Jennifer Hong
4. Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya is an interesting place. There is a lot of development happening due to an influx of capital from the Western companies and investors but it is also the home of two of the largest slums in the world. You will see a 4-star hotel being built right next to the shacks in a neighboring slum.
Safari Tour
Since Lion King was inspired by Kenyan safari, a safari tour is a must. I strongly recommend Sanctuary Olonana where you will be greeted by a flutist and some refreshing beverages. The prices may vary based on who you’re booking it through but we paid $1,200 pp for a 2-3 night stay. This includes a round-trip flight from and back to Nairobi (only about 45 minutes), food and drinks, and the game drive with a tour guide. Their food was better than most restaurants I’ve been to (for real). You stay right on the river with the hippos so you will see them bathing and chilling as you eat your breakfast. Don’t worry, there is an electric fence.
If you go in the summer (the peak season), you will see buffalo herds and other animals migrating between Kenya and Tanzania. Your game drives will likely be full. We went in January when it was slow and ended up getting our own tour guide for just the 2 of us. They pack your lunch and a bottle of wine for each person as well for a full-day game drive. Each day you will witness amazing animal actions in the wild such as lionesses hunting.
Slum Tour
If you are going to stay in Nairobi for a few days, you should sign up for the slum tours (do not go there alone or with just one other friend, especially if you are a woman). Bring a fake wallet with a little bit of cash just in case and do NOT pull out your cellphone anywhere in public. We had a lot of opportunities to actually speak to people living in the slums who had amazing drives and hustler moves. You’ll see women designing gorgeous handbags using nothing but left-over candy wrappers and beads. Trust me, it will be worth your time.
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