Nairobi – The Green City Of Kenya

Nairobi, which translates to “cool river” in English, is east Africa’s largest and fastest growing city, home to over 3 million people. Originally established as a railway workers encampment, the city now has a modern skyline, including the striking Kenyatta Conference Center. Visitors can see an impressive view of the city and the countryside from its 28th floor observation deck. Nairobi is the cultural, economic, and communications hub of Kenya, also hosting its most important higher education institutions. Its tourist industry continues to grow.

Railways have played a vital role in the growth of this city. The British have chosen this 1700 meter altitude place for its ever cool climate.

Nairobi was practically uninhabited swamp until Uganda Railway started in 1899, which soon became the railways headquarters. It was completely rebuilt in the early 1900s after an outbreak of plague in the area. By 1905 it replaced Mombasa as the capital of British protectorate and the city became famous with its tourism in the form of big game hunting. They become the port of call of Britons thus prompted the colonial government to build a few grand hotels in the city.

An international city. Modern Nairobi is an economic giant of East Africa. Businesses and organizations from across the world are based in Nairobi, including the United Nations Environment Program UNEP and United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN HABITAT). With such a large number of international residents, it’s no coincidence that the restaurants in Nairobi are a match for those in major European and American cities.

You can find the rich live in high end suburb while majority live in slums. In fact half of the populations have been estimated to live in slums. With this condition of living, they struggled with rising crime thus earning reputation for being dangerous and even named as “Nairobbery”. They claim that the biggest reason for the city’s alarming crime rate is police corruption.

Nairobi is not a prime tourist destination although it has several tourist attractions like their famous Nairobi National Park. Home to over 400 species of bird as well as other animals like lions and giraffes. It also offers a safari walk, a rare on-foot experience of the animals.

Green Nairobi. Moi Avenue begins near the Railway Museum, and takes visitors directly into the center of Nairobi. The central business district is bookended by Uhuru Park and Central park, two large public green spaces. People rest and relax under the leafy trees in both, or stroll along gravel paths; Uhuru Park even has a small artificial lake. Environmentalist Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, organized a series of protest in 1989 to save Uhuru Park from development. Those that visit the Kenyan capital after experience the hard life of a safari will appreciate Nairobi’s full service, Western-style hotels. Nairobi is ideal as a starting point for day trips and tours of Kenya’s breathtaking national parks. Nairobi National Park, the nation’s first founded in 1946, is just an 8 km trip from the city and occupies 12 square kilometers.

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