Nairobi with a baby—navigating neighborhoods, exchanging money for safari, and finding comfort at Junction Mall. Our first impressions of Kenya’s capital.
Table of Contents
- Main Journey
- Events
- Tips for Traveling with a Baby
- Local Travel Tips
- Travel Reflections
Main Journey
After what felt like forever, we finally made it to Nairobi.
The taxi driver, after circling around for what seemed like ages, dropped us off at our accommodation—a huge relief that it wasn’t right in the middle of the slum area we’d passed through. It wasn’t what we expected though.
It wasn’t a hotel, hostel, or even a guesthouse. It was a local house being rented out room by room through Booking.com. The listing had said “Private Room,” but I didn’t realize it literally meant someone’s house.
Still, we were grateful—it had tall fences and wasn’t in a dangerous spot. Inside, we met a foreign man and a young child, around 5 years old. He said he was renting a room long-term. Then we met a Japanese guy who had been staying for a week. When I asked about safety, he said it felt fine during the day, but he never went out after dark. That was both comforting and sobering at the same time.
We arrived at 2:30 PM and decided to go out before it got dark to buy dinner. We asked the staff about nearby food options and were told about a big shopping mall just a 10-minute walk away. He even drew us a hand-drawn map—which felt nostalgic and surprisingly helpful.
As we stepped out, we were super cautious. The streets didn’t feel exactly unsafe, but as travelers—especially as Asians in Nairobi—you feel eyes on you. I didn’t even dare to pull my phone out at first.
But then… monkeys. Real monkeys on the street. Not baboons like in Zimbabwe, just small, cute monkeys running around. Nairobi continues to surprise.
Eventually, the street started to feel safer. I snapped a quick photo (then instantly hid my phone again). The walk, which was supposed to take 10 minutes, turned out to be 25—but the moment we saw the mall, we felt so much more relaxed. Crowds, lights, and something familiar.
We had two missions:
- Get dinner
- Get US dollars for the safari
Events
- Arrived at a private home rented as a room via Booking.com
- Met long-term travelers and got local safety advice
- Walked 25 minutes to Junction Mall through unfamiliar streets
- Spotted monkeys in the wild—right in Nairobi city!
- Exchanged Kenyan Shillings for US dollars for the upcoming safari
- Bought bananas with leftover currency for Sweetie’s safari snacks
- Ended the day with comfort food at KFC
Tips for Traveling with a Baby
Use leftover foreign currency wisely.
We ended up with about 400 Kenyan Shillings, and instead of letting it go to waste, we used it all on bananas—perfect snacks for Sweetie during our safari.
Avoid cooking if you’re only staying briefly.
While it’s tempting to buy groceries and cook, leftovers are wasteful if you’re moving on soon. We chose takeout instead—and it was the right call.
Always ask about safety from fellow travelers.
Talking to the Japanese guy staying in the same house really helped us calm down. Local advice is gold—especially about where not to go after dark.
Local Travel Tips
Don’t assume “Private Room” means guesthouse.
On Booking.com, always double-check. In Nairobi, “private room” can mean someone’s spare bedroom in their family home. It may not be unsafe, but it’s good to know what you’re walking into.
Exchange dollars at the bank—not the ATM.
We couldn’t get dollars directly from our card. Instead, we had to withdraw Kenyan Shillings, then go into the bank to exchange it. Rates were better than card charges for safari bookings.
Junction Mall is your best friend in Nairobi.
It’s safe, huge, and has everything: a bank, supermarket, and familiar food like KFC. It was our little haven in a day full of tension.
Travel Reflections
We arrived in Nairobi full of worry. After all the warnings, after the rough taxi ride, and after seeing the slum areas, our hearts were heavy. But one step at a time, things started falling into place.
The room wasn’t fancy, but it was safe. The people were kind. The city slowly showed its other side—the side with monkeys and malls, not just chaos and fear.
We prepared our dollars for the safari. We bought snacks for Sweetie. We even treated ourselves to crispy chicken to celebrate surviving another unknown.
Tomorrow, we’re off to explore the wild side of Kenya. And tonight? We sleep with a little less worry.
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