Nairobi

A last-minute work trip to Nairobi somehow turned into a few days I’ll never forget — and it felt like I’d stumbled into a place I was always meant to be.

Maybe it was destiny — I mean, the first half of Nairobi is literally my surname. Nudge nudge, wink wink. Clearly, this city and I were always meant to vibe?!

The Maasai heritage, the Indian roots, the city’s African soul — it was chaotic, colourful, utterly alive, and endlessly fascinating.

I threw myself into the markets, haggling (badly but with enthusiasm!) with the most talented and ridiculously generous local craftsmen, and breathing in every bit of colour, sound, and spice the city had to offer.

I explored the National Museum, wandered through a local shopping centre (hello, familiar South African brands!), and hunted down some of the best Indian food recommended by a friendly local I randomly stopped to ask (like I do when I travel solo!). Nairobi turned out to be a total foodie haven — a complete and wonderful surprise.

And can we talk about their Uber system for a sec? Absolute game-changer. I hopped in and out of their ChapChap rides — super quick, cheerful, and to put it bluntly, ridiculously affordable (especially compared to London prices)!

Each trip felt like its own mini adventure — drivers pointing out landmarks, sharing local stories/snippets of the city’s history, and cranking up the best Afrobeats tunes as we zipped through the streets. No exaggeration — it was the most joyful, budget-friendly city tour I could’ve asked for

By the time I got home, I was already plotting: “Oliver, we have to come back together.” I barely scratched the surface this time — no safaris, no hiking, no beaches. I had to pick one main event, the one I’d been dreaming about — and that was, hands down, the Insta-famous, swoon-worthy Giraffe Manor.

A few hours with my favourite animals — up close and cheeky as ever — feeding them, laughing at their antics, and basically living my wildest giraffe dreams. Sooo bloody amazing!!!