Journal
Staying in Upper Hill
Written for the people who actually come here — for a meeting, for treatment at one of the hospitals, or for a month of work. Practical rather than promotional, and largely what we find ourselves telling guests before they arrive.
Nairobi5 min read
Weekend trips from Nairobi, for anyone staying a while
If you are here for weeks rather than days, the weekends are the point. Four places within reach of Nairobi, and how long each realistically takes.
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Staying longer6 min read
Monthly and corporate stays in Nairobi: what to know before you commit
Relocating, on secondment, or between homes? What a month-plus stay in Nairobi actually involves — the questions to ask, and what an invoice needs to say.
Nairobi6 min read
Upper Hill, Westlands or Kilimani: where to base yourself in Nairobi
Four neighbourhoods, what each is for, and the honest trade-offs. In a city where a short journey can take an hour, this is the decision that matters most.
Nairobi5 min read
Getting around Nairobi: taxis, ride-hailing and the traffic
How people actually move around Nairobi, what each option costs you in time rather than money, and why the hour of the day matters more than the distance.
Practical6 min read
Travelling to Nairobi for medical treatment: what to arrange first
Nairobi draws patients from across East Africa and beyond. A checklist for the parts of the trip that are not the treatment — paperwork, money, and where to stay.
Practical5 min read
Money in Kenya: M-Pesa, cards and cash for visitors
Kenya runs on mobile money to a degree that surprises most visitors. How to pay for things, what a card is good for, and how much cash to carry.
Nairobi5 min read
Is Nairobi safe? An honest answer for first-time visitors
Nairobi has a reputation that is partly earned and largely out of date. What is genuinely worth doing, and what is worrying about the wrong thing.
Practical4 min read
Entry requirements for Kenya: what to sort before you fly
Kenya replaced visas with an Electronic Travel Authorisation. What that means in practice, when to apply, and the details you will be asked for.
Practical4 min read
Booking a serviced apartment in Nairobi directly
Confirmed the moment you book, no card taken, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay. How direct booking works and why the rate is lower.
Upper Hill5 min read
Eating well in Upper Hill
A working district empties in the evening, which changes where you eat. Lunch, dinner, groceries and deliveries around Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Nairobi5 min read
Nairobi between meetings: what to do with half a day
A national park with lions fifteen minutes from the office towers, and a handful of other things worth the trip. What actually fits into a free afternoon.
Nairobi4 min read
When to visit Nairobi, and what to pack
Nairobi sits at 1,800 metres on the equator, which makes its weather far milder than most people expect. The seasons, and what they mean for a stay.
Staying longer6 min read
Working from Nairobi for a few weeks
Time zones, connectivity, power cuts and where to actually sit. What a month of working from Nairobi is really like, from guests who have done it.
Practical4 min read
Getting from JKIA to Upper Hill
Roughly 18km, and anywhere from 25 minutes to an hour and a half depending entirely on when you land. What to expect, and what to arrange before you fly.
Staying longer5 min read
Serviced apartment or hotel in Nairobi?
Hotels win the first three nights. Apartments win the second week. An honest comparison for anyone deciding where to spend a longer stay in Nairobi.
Practical5 min read
Staying near Nairobi Hospital: a practical guide for families
If someone you love is being treated in Upper Hill, where you sleep matters more than you expect. What to look for, and what nobody tells you beforehand.
Upper Hill6 min read
Where to stay in Upper Hill, Nairobi
Upper Hill is where Nairobi keeps its banks, its head offices and its best hospitals. A guide to the neighbourhood, and how to choose where to sleep in it.
One apartment, booked directly
Everything above is written from letting a single studio in Upper Hill. If it sounds like what you need, the dates are live and nothing is charged until you arrive.