An Afternoon Picnic at the Nairobi Arboretum

The Nairobi Arboretum was our most visited destination of 2020, so I thought it is only fitting that I begin the year 2021 with a post about this park. For Mark, going to the park to run or walk our dog was a weekly affair. It could have been more if we lived closer to it or had our own private transportation but weekly runs and walks in this park sufficed for the last year. As for me, I accompanied these two park lovers biweekly to have a walk or a picnic.

Getting to the Nairobi Arboretum

The Nairobi Arboretum is located on state house road in Kilimani. The easiest way to get there as a foreigner is via Uber or Bolt. The cost from our place in the Westlands Area is usually between 150 and 200 Ksh ($1-2) each way. If you’re driving in your own vehicle, you can follow the directions on Google Maps to get there.

Nairobi Arboretum Entry Fee

At the time of this writing, the Nairobi Arboretum charged an entrance fee of Ksh50 and Ksh20 for adults and children respectively. The new fee as of September 2024 is ksh200 for resident adults. It is the same as the car park fee. Children pay ksh100.

In the past, citizens, foreigners and residents all paid the same price to enter the park but this is not the case anymore. See the website for updated pricing. The cost can be paid at the gate only via Mpesa or a card.

From a few reviews I have seen online, the card option is not always available, making it somewhat difficult for foreigners who do not have Mpesa set up to gain access. I think this is worth considering if you plan to visit the Nairobi Arboretum since the centre does not accept cash.

In addition to the entrance fee, the Nairobi Arboretum charges an extra Ksh1,322 and Ksh3,306 ((updated for 2024) for photography and videography respectively. You may, however, take pictures with your smartphone for free.

An Afternoon Picnic at the Nairobi Arboretum

The first time I went picnicking in Nairobi, I visited Paradise Lost in Kiambu County. Our next picnic location was at the Karura Forest (Sigiria Entrance). Because of its proximity, the Nairobi Arboretum has also become our favourite location for picnics.

Karura-Forest-Picnic-Nairobi-Kenya
A Picnic at Karura Forest

Initially, I had overlooked picnicking here because it tends to get very crowded. At any given day, there are large groups of people exercising or just hanging around. The Arboretum is also a very popular place for prayer gatherings and it is not uncommon to find a large number of people praying loudly all around the park.

Having said that, there are few areas and time frames where you can enjoy a relatively quiet picnic in it. Also, if the loud noises and population doesn’t bother you, you can simply set up anywhere and enjoy the scenery around.

Nairobi Arboretum Activities

The Arboretum exists largely for the preservation and study of trees. If that’s something you’re interested in, it may be worth checking this place out. It is also a great place to go running or to walk your pet. Unlike the Karura Forest, there are no dogs-off-leash areas and you’re expected to keep your dogs on a leash throughout the park’s premises.

Also unlike Karura Forest, riding a bike inside the Arboretum is not permitted. Generally, it’s a place you could visit to go running, take a leisurely walk, have a picnic or simply people-watch :). You can check out this website for more details on activities you can do here.

Nairobi Arboretum: Opening Hours

The Arboretum is open all year round from 6:00 am to 6:15 pm.

Final Thoughts…

Overall, the Nairobi Arboretum is nice to visit if you live within the city or are visiting Nairobi for a long period of time. If you’re visiting momentarily and are looking to spend some time in one of the parks, I’d recommend a visit to Karura Forest instead. There are a few more activities to engage in while you’re there and compared to the Nairobi Arboretum, it is more organized.

As always, I am on the lookout for serene picnic locations in Nairobi or elsewhere in Kenya. Please share your favourite locations with me!

Also, have you made any travel plans for this year? That is assuming (praying and hoping) that the pandemic is over. I’d love to hear about them too. In my next post, I’ll share some of my goals, travel and otherwise for the year. Hope you stick around! 🙂

6 comments

  1. I realise that I have never actually gone on a picnic. I will fix up this month, a new garden space just opened up in Ikoyi and it is really pretty, so I’d go there before the newness wears off.

    I actually couldn’t plan out my whole year (it was seeming too stressful), so I just planned Jan – Mar and it has only local travel plans (Abuja and Jos).

    1. 2020 taught a thing or two about planning, haha! A January to March only plan is actually great! I have a vague idea of what I want to do month-by-month but I know all that could change in a second. Actually I’m, praying it does! Can’t wait to see the space, hope you’ll post a picture on IG or share with me on Whatsapp 🙂

      1. Hehe! I’d definitely share pictures. I’m sitting here with Joy and she says hi, that at this rate you’d see more of Nairobi than her! She recommends Champagne Ridge for your next adventure.

  2. Your travel experience and blog inspire me and my team to make our first move to Togo

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Guess where! 👀
20 hours ago
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Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
2 days ago
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What a beautiful city! 😍

#kamoriver #kyoto #japan
What a beautiful city! 😍 #kamoriver #kyoto #japan
3 days ago
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Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰
_____________________

If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢

📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here
📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン)
📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats.

For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. 

Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day!

#lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰 _____________________ If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢 📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here 📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン) 📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats. For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day! #lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
4 days ago
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This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍

To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it!

-------‐‐‐--‐

Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages.

The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture.

#travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍 To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it! -------‐‐‐--‐ Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages. The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture. #travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
6 days ago
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Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
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Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂

Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel!

Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑

I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are!

+1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel!
_____________________________

Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below!

#travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂 Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel! Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑 I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are! +1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel! _____________________________ Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below! #travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
1 week ago
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An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍

#japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍 #japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
1 week ago
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8/9
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June.

If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can:

🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌

You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays.

Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 

Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr
Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter

Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June. If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can: 🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌 You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays. Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
1 month ago
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