Accessibility is not a one size fits all concept. This is an overall accessibility guide for travels, who can then research these attractions themselves to see if they fit your needs!
Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport
The Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport is an IHG hotel conveniently located within just minutes of the airport and provides everything a guest could ask for and more. While the hotel’s exterior is gorgeous enough with a beautiful greenspace and an incredibly relaxing rooftop swimming pool, the interior is where you’ll find a 24-hour coffee shop with fresh food and beverages, a clean fitness center, three spacious conference rooms equipped with high-speed internet, a massage parlor and spa, and of course, clean and quiet rooms with bedding made for a great night’s sleep. It’s even part of the IHG Green Engage System, meaning the Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport has switched up some of their old ways to focus on sustainability and improve their impact on the environment.
This is one of the best hotels I have been to. The regular rooms have showers that are large enough for a portable shower seat and perfect for someone with mobility needs. The bed can also be accessed on one side. The only downside to the regular rooms is the carpet, but that is standard in most hotel rooms. The highlight of this hotel is the customer service. The staff at this hotel is super friendly and is willing to assist in accommodating your every need.
African Thrillist
The African Thrillist was founded in 2018 with the ultimate goal of immersing travellers deep into the Kenyan culture & lifestyle through adventure, wellness, art, history, music, local soul food & delicious drinks. They are an eco-conscious and community-sensitive travel agency who work with local communities directly and partner with entities that are pro-conservation of Kenya’s wildlife and physical environs ~ eco-lodges, elephant sanctuaries, sustainable community projects etc. They strongly believe in inclusivity and go above and beyond to ensure our experiences are both enjoyable & accessible to everyone – even if it means breaking a few rules here and there because the world is still a Work In Progress.
The owner, Raisa and her partners are willing VERY willing to work with all clients to make sure their trip is unforgettable. The African Thrillist has an understanding of accessibility and will help make every accommodation possible. Willis is also one of the best tour guides!
Uhuru Park
Uhuru Park is a vast expanse of green on the fringe of central city Nairobi where Kenyans can find respite from the hustle and bustle of the downtown noise amongst well-tended gardens, shady trees, and a beautiful man-made lake where visitors enjoy boat rides and walking across foot bridges to the central island. While spending time in the park, visitors are likely to stumble across people enjoying picnics, outdoor sports, music, and even dance groups rehearsing. The park was saved from demolition by President Moi in the late 1980s by a protest held by Wangari Maathai, which led her to receive a Nobel Peace Prize — there’s a monument in Uhuru park to honor her and her efforts.
There are benches and paths within the park. However, I have no experience with some of the attractions within the park.
Maasai Market
The Maasai Market is a one-stop shop online for ethically-sourced hand-crafted goods including a multitude of jewelry, bags and purses, home and office decor, hair accessories, kitchen serving sets, and more. All goods are hand-crafted by women from the Maasai tribe within the Nilotic group of African tribes, and every purchase directly benefits the artists. This tribe in particular is known for their perseverance through the African government and western influences’ attempts to abandon their traditions, which makes their creations ever more valuable and meaningful, as each color used in their goods hold special significance.
Please bring a guide with you, to help navigate and negotiate! There are minimal paths within the markets, so those with physical or mobility needs may have problems.
Giraffe Center
The Giraffe Center was founded in 1979 in attempts to keep the population of the Rothschild Giraffe, a subspecies of giraffe found only in the grasslands of East Africa, from falling into extinction, and is a nonprofit organization created by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W Kenya). At their beginning, only 130 Rothschild giraffes remained, but with their help and enhanced resilience in sustainable environmental conservation there are now 300 Rothschild giraffes safe and breeding well in various Kenyan wildlife parks. The Giraffe Center’s current main purpose is to educate Kenyan children on their country’s proud wildlife and environment while providing local and international visitors the life-changing opportunity to come into close contact with the world’s tallest species.
For those with physical or mobility needs, there are minimal paths to the actual area and there are stairs to the lookout area. However, the staff may be able to accommodate other needs as they are on hand and willing to assist in any way possible.
Kazuri Bead Factory
The Kazuri Bead Factory started in 1975 with two single mothers in Nairobi in need of regular employment to keep themselves and their children afloat, and now employs over 340 women skilled in the crafting of ceramic beads which are then beautifully strung into elegant jewelry. The factory is located in what used to be part of the Karen Blixen Estate, where skilled women, mostly single mothers, feel a sense of empowerment through their craft of bead-making and hand-sculpting pottery. The Kazuri Bead Factory continues to thrive with their desire to provide employment opportunities to disadvantaged members Kenyan society.
There are no smooth pathways to the different locations within the compound, however the staff and is able to assist with different types of needs.
Roadhouse Grill, Nairobi
Nairobi’s Roadhouse Grill is a fantastic open-air restaurant and pub with a local atmosphere, making it perfect for tourists who want a real feel of Nairobi culture. The cooks grill their guest’s choice of fresh meat right out in the open, filling the restaurant with savory smells of sizzling chicken, beef, pork, goat and sides of plantain, potato, and local produce. There are TVs available to watch sporting events with friends, making this local spot even more relaxed and laid back to hang out and enjoy a good meal.
They limited few vegan and gluten free options, as this is a BBQ type place. There also is a few steps into both the outdoor seating and indoor seating area.
