THE TOP 10 MUSEUMS IN NAIROBI CITY
The Top 10 Museums in Nairobi City : Nairobi city is an amazing city booming with remarkable history and various aspects of Kenya as a country showcased in museums ranging from traditional art museums, galleries to cultural and traditional museums.
Nairobi city is filled with a number of museums and this article lists and details the top 10 museums to visit in Nairobi while on Kenya Wildlife Safaris and these include
KAREN BLIXEN MUSEUM
Karen Blixen Museum is a historical site in Nairobi situated along the bottom of Ngong Hills, 10 kilometers from the center of Nairobi city. Formerly the museum was the center piece of a farm owned by Danish Author Karen and her Swedish Husband Bror Von Blixen Fincke, the farm house housing the museum is a 19th century styled bungalow architecture.
The farm house gained international fame following the release of the movie “Out of Africa” an Oscar winning film based Karen’s biography which has the same title. The Museum was built in 1912 by the Swedish Engineer Ake Sjogren, Karen and her husband bought the museum house in 1917 and was used as a farm house for their farm of 4500 acres.
Karen Blixen Museum consists of a museum shop selling handicrafts, posters and postcards, the movie and books of Out of Africa and various Kenyan souvenirs. There are also beautiful grounds which are rented out for wedding receptions, corporate functions and other events. While visiting Karen Blixen Museum you are treated to guided tours offering a peek into the colonial life of Kenya in 20th century.
NAIROBI GALLERY
Nairobi Gallery is a beautiful museum in Nairobi situated at the intersection of Kenyatta Avenue and Uhuru Highway, this museum is a commanding art gallery regardless of its small size. Nairobi Gallery was built in 1913 and initially it was the Old PC’s office building because of the birth, marriages and deaths that were recorded in this building it is fondly referred to as Hatches, matches and Dispatches.
Nairobi Gallery is known for hosting a collection of antiques by Joseph Murumbi and holds an array of temporary art exhibitions ranging from jewelry to fabrics and fine art pieces.
NAIROBI NATIONAL MUSEUM
Nairobi National Museum is spectacular site of national heritage importance found at Museum Hill in a 10-minutes drive from the city center of Nairobi, the museum is hosts a rich heritage of Kenya and a perfect city to visit during Nairobi City for travelers who wish to get a sample of Kenya’s history and sculptures.
The construction of Nairobi National Museum was initiated by a group of enthusiastic naturalists under the then East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society currently called East African Natural History Society (EANHS) in 1910.
Nairobi National Museum hosts various collections intended to celebrate a wide history and culture of Kenya, some of the notable attractions found in Nairobi national museum include contemporary works of art, stunning outdoor sculptures, a nature trail and a botanical garden, on-site restaurant and a small onsite garden.
ONE OFF CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY
One Off Contemporary Art Gallery is a breathtaking Art Gallery in Nairobi aiming at exhibiting only the best art from the region, this Art Gallery is situated off Limuru Road and Lone Tree Estate amongst a stunning green sculpture garden.
One Off Contemporary Art Gallery is a uniquely designed gallery featuring multi-dimensional artists and sculptors from around Kenya, the gallery once housed the Bank of India. One Off Contemporary Art Gallery hosts exhibitions featuring artists like Allan “Think Kioko” a Nairobi’s own famed painter and graffiti artist, while visiting the gallery you will get to walk through a range of photography exhibits from contemporary to wildlife and landscape.
KENYA NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Kenya National Archives is a home to a large collection of government and historical documents and exhibitions on arts, crafts and local photography collected from various parts of Kenya. The archives are situated amongst the bustling central business district in downtown Nairobi.
Kenya National Archives features a national library services hosting a variety of books, newspapers and a parliamentary for scholars, researchers and tourists wishing to learn more about Kenya and its history.
AERO CLUB OF EAST AFRICA
Aero Club of East Africa is located on Wilson Airport road, this club is a home to private and commercial aircrafts and it is a fantastic site to visit for tourists and students interested in becoming pilots or engineers as it offers excellent opportunities to learn more about the aircrafts.
Aero Club of East Africa museum has an outdoor seating area where you can sit and enjoy a meal or sundowner, a fitness center, swimming pool and children’s play area. For individuals who wish to utilize the facilities of Aero Club of East Africa, memberships are available that are annual memberships and a temporary memberships.
UPEPO PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY
Upepo photography Galley is a photography museum established with an intention of original photography works by Kenya’s local photographers, the gallery was founded by a photo journalist Cyril Villemain in 2017 as a way of promoting and showcasing works of local photographers. All photographs in the gallery are sold in a limited edition of 50 prints accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and most of these photographs are signed. Frames are also available for sale with photos that are locally sourced to support Kenyan artists and workers.
BOMAS OF KENYA
The Bomas of Kenya are traditional homesteads showcasing the culture, traditions and norms of Kenya’s various tribes, the bomas are situated in Langata. The Bomas of Kenya are a cultural village built using traditional materials such as grass to thatch the roof, stones, mud and timbers in the unique architectural style belonging to various tribes of Kenya.
At the Bomas Village various art and crafts, dance, cultural performances and music are showcased and this is intended to preserve Kenyan customary culture. The Bomas of Kenya are a home to one of the largest auditoriums in Africa, the site also consists of the Utamaduni Restaurant serving a selection of local traditional dishes.
NAIROBI RAILWAY MUSEUM
Nairobi Railway Museum is also one of the Top 10 Museums in Nairobi City which is a site exhibiting a vast selection of classic non-operational East African Railways and trains including early diesel locomotives and passenger coaches. One of the displayed locomotives at the museum is a 301 (2301) which was used in the Out Of Africa 1985 movie
Nairobi Railway Museum was opened in 1971 displaying a unique part of Kenya’s history of the railway systems and how Nairobi the capital city of Kenya grew with the railway system. Also, plenty of photographs and memorabilia are displayed in the museum.
KAREN VILLAGE
Karen Village is a creative innovation hub in Nairobi city sitting in along green lush landscape on Ngong Road across from the Kenya Broadcasting Cooperation. Karen Village is the largest cultural center and creative art outlet in Nairobi with studios, spaces, shops and restaurants. The village hosts artists, social entrepreneurs, painters, glass artists, artisans, farmers, sculptors, fashion designers, lectures, animators, music producers, theater companies, art galleries, recycling artists, tour operators, event agencies and digital artists.
Karen Village is open to local children to play in their playground and attend workshops either alone or as a school, the site also has small accommodations for those interested in short stays at the village.
While on a Kenya safari, you should not miss exploring the city and visiting various museums scattered around the city. Visiting the museums will give you a deeper insight into the history of Kenya, traditions, customs and other various aspects showcased in these museums.
