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.

Upper Hill at night, Prism Towers lit up in the centre

AFCON 2027Mon 5 Oct 20267 min read

AFCON 2027 in Nairobi: the dates, the grounds, and where to base yourself

Nairobi is Kenya's only host city for Pamoja 2027, 19 June to 17 July. The three grounds, how far apart they really are, and why where you sleep decides your tournament.

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The studio in daylight: bed, sofa and the full-height window

AFCON 2027Mon 5 Oct 20268 min read

There are 29 days of AFCON and your team plays three: what to do with the rest

Lions at dawn twenty minutes from the stadium, the Rift Valley before lunch, and the best plate of food in the city for under five dollars. How to spend the days between matches.

The whole studio: bed, sofa, coffee tables and television, with the window beyond

AFCON 2027Mon 5 Oct 20266 min read

Coming to AFCON 2027 for work: squads, press, sponsors and the people behind them

A month in one city, invoices that have to satisfy a finance department, and a schedule nobody controls. What a working stay at Pamoja 2027 actually needs.

The window and the city beyond it, seen from the sofa in daylight

AFCON 2027Mon 5 Oct 20267 min read

Pamoja means together: following AFCON 2027 across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

The first Africa Cup of Nations hosted by three countries. What that means in practice — flights, borders, and why most people should pick one base rather than chase the draw.

The dining table laid for two, against the slatted wall

Staying longerTue 22 Sep 20266 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.

The sofa and the window seen from the doorway, with the bed beyond

PracticalMon 21 Sep 20264 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.

The television and the seating, seen from the bed

Staying longerSun 20 Sep 20265 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.

The rooftop pool, with the Nairobi skyline beyond the glass

NairobiSat 19 Sep 20265 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.

The gym, with treadmills facing the window

Staying longerFri 18 Sep 20266 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.

The sofa, with the bed behind it and the window to one side

PracticalThu 17 Sep 20265 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.

Prism Towers and Upper Hill under a blue sky

NairobiWed 16 Sep 20266 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.

NairobiTue 15 Sep 20265 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.

The studio from above: the kitchen corner, the bathroom door, the bed and the sofa

PracticalMon 14 Sep 20266 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.

Upper HillSun 13 Sep 20266 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.

A bedside table and pendant lamp against the green panelling

PracticalSat 12 Sep 20265 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.

The bed, made up, with the window and the desk beyond it

NairobiFri 11 Sep 20265 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.

PracticalThu 10 Sep 20264 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.

PracticalWed 9 Sep 20264 min read

Booking a serviced apartment in Nairobi directly

Confirmed the moment you book, a deposit to hold it, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay. How direct booking works and why the rate is lower.

Upper HillTue 8 Sep 20265 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.

NairobiMon 7 Sep 20265 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.

NairobiSun 6 Sep 20264 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.

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.

See the apartment Check dates