Nairobi

The capital and largest city of Kenya, it is home to almost 2 million people. A central point for business and culture, it is located at 1600m (5500 ft) above sea level, and as a result enjoys a very pleasant, moderate climate. It is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city, home to many foreigners and international organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme.

Near Masai Mara and adjacent to Nairobi National Park, the city is the gateway for safaris in Kenya and also offers the opportunity to visit the home of Karen Blixen, the Danish author pictured in “Out of Africa” and for whom the neighbourhood of Karen was named. Also in Nairobi are a giraffe park and a park of traditional Kenyan dwellings (“bomas”).

Nairobi is served by Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the largest airport in East and Central Africa, with daily flights from around the world. Transportation inside the city is handled by “Maratus”, small minibuses that go almost everywhere. Although a relatively safe place, Nairobi is a large, sprawling city that has struggled with crime in the past, and is home to the world's second-largest slum, Kibera. If appropriate precautions are taken, volunteer work in Nairobi can be a very safe and rewarding experience.

Kitui

This rural town is 130 kilometres east of Nairobi and is the capital of the Kitui District. With a population of about 15 000, it is the closest larger settlement to our Kenyan village project, where you can travel as a volunteer abroad.