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NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children
5

NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children

By Nai Nami - Our Streets. Our Stories.
Recommended by 99% of travellers
99% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
About
Give back as you enjoy a fascinating cultural experience on this ethical tour of downtown Nairobi. Your guide, a former street child, shows you around the city center underbelly, telling tales of how to survive on the streets. Visit a hidden market, eat lunch at a basic kibanda eatery, and discover your guide’s personal journey with no more than one other traveler. Choose between morning or afternoon tours.
from
AU$69.67
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 18-99, max of 8 per group
Duration: 2h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
  • See the real Nairobi through the eyes of a street child on an intimate tour
  • Help young people from tough backgrounds build a viable future
  • Each guide looks after maximum two travelers, ensuring a real connection
  • Eat like a true Nairobi local at a kibanda street shack

  • Personal guide
  • Local lunch
  • Soft drinks
  • Lunch
What's not included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off: The tour starts and ends in front of Bata Shop at Hilton Hotel in Nairobi CBD


Departure details
  • Bata, Watalii Ln, Nairobi, Kenya In front of the Bata Shoe Shop in City-Hall Way next to the former Hilton Hotel
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 66070P1

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wear good shoes (no sandals or high heels)
  • Carry a copy of your passport (main page and the page showing the visa stamp) or your original passport
  • Do not carry any valuables like flashy jewellery
  • Do not bring a camera, since taking pictures in town is not allowed (but your phone is fine)
  • Minimum age: 14 years
  • Most travellers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travellers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Which attractions will I visit with NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children?
How much is NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children?
NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children price starts from AU$67.89. Discover and book NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children on Tripadvisor
What is the NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children cancellation policy?
NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children on Tripadvisor
Which company provides NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children?
NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children is hosted by Nai Nami - Our Streets. Our Stories.. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Nai Nami - Our Streets. Our Stories. on Tripadvisor. Discover and book NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children on Tripadvisor

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 66070P1

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Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • You'll start at
    Bata
    Watalii Ln, Nairobi, Kenya
    In front of the Bata Shoe Shop in City-Hall Way next to the former Hilton Hotel
    See address & details
  • Pass by
    Nai Nami - Our Streets. Our Stories.
    Kenyatta International Conference Center
    National Archives
    August 7th Memorial Park
    Tom Mboya Statue
    Nairobi Railway Museum
    Kariokor
    Jeevanjee Gardens
  • You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
Nai Nami - Our Streets. Our Stories.
806
Nairobi, Kenya
Joined in February 2018

#7 of 1,786 Tours & Activities in Nairobi
  • jennifera12345
    jennifera12345
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    0
    Great tour to experience the real Nairobi
    This tour is perfect for everyone interested in seeing the real life in Nairobi. Our guides Quick and King led us though Downtown and the Slum, providing interesting information. We're really happy we found and booked this tour.
  • emvelasova
    emvelasova
    0
    0
    Essence of Nairobi
    Boys made us feel very welcome, safe and free to ask any questions! They are doing great work showing people around the town even to places where I would hesitate going alone but that were definitely worth to see to get the essence of Nairobi with all its differences and sad as well as hopeful stories. You can read about it, you can look it up on google, but nothing compares to being there with the people whose story it is. We walked we laughed we ate amazing Kenyan food and we would do it again!
  • julietm834
    julietm834
    0
    0
    Very interesting and confronting experience, good storytelling by the guides and nice local lunch afterwards.
    It was intense but felt safe among the guides. Very interesting to see the world behind the tourism and the almost slum part of town where the real life happens. Unforgettable experience.
  • 8samirah
    8samirah
    0
    0
    Very interesting tour!!
    Very interesting tour which I can highly recommend. You get a very different perspective of the life in Nairobi and especially of the kids growing up in downtown. A tour which left us with a lot of impressions since the informations are really authentic; especially through the almost 1:1 relation (1 guide - 1 tourist). The guides are all really nice and care for you so you’ll feel absolutely safe. One thing we missed: a brief introduction into the history of the slums and downtown.
  • Ann K
    Ann K
    0
    0
    Don’t miss this eye opener
    I can highly recommend this tour. The guides were very engaged and told us a lot about life as a former street child. They guided us through downtown Nairobi and opened our eyes for the extreme poverty and corrupt system that the poor suffer. Despite that nearly all in Kenya are devoted Christians.
  • K9888XFandreai
    K9888XFandreai
    0
    0
    A must in every program
    This was one of the imports program points of my short visit to Nairobi, which would have consisted of mainly conference rooms and hotels. Priest was so kind to share his childhood story of living in the streets, bars and shops downtown. Thank you guys!
  • simonekN680NR
    simonekN680NR
    0
    0
    Great Tour!
    We really enjoyed the tour through Nairobi‘s town center. Our guide was friendly and told us a lot about his personal experiences. We would definetly recommend the tour for other travellers who are interested in getting to know another side of Kenya.
  • winki
    winki
    0
    0
    Highly recommended walking tour of Nairobi
    The walking tour and lunch was our favorite experience in Nairobi. We were three in the group and had three guides, each of them with his own personal experience growing up on the streets. You get to see parts of Nairobi where you would likely not walk by yourself and hear some of their stories. We always felt safe and well taken care of. It's a great project and hopefully many more will take one of their tours.
  • ChMathieu
    ChMathieu
    0
    0
    An unforgettable experience
    Definitely a Must-Do in Nairobi! The guides showed us spaces of the city, you wouldn’t see otherwise as a tourist. They shared their stories and introduced us to the people from Downtown - and excellent food.
  • 286belindau
    286belindau
    0
    0
    Nai Nami
    What an incredible experience, as a solo female traveler I felt safe at all times. Hearing all about my guide King’s life, was just so heartbreaking, you will be shocked at what they have had to endure as young children through to adulthood. Despite this, the determination to change their lives and the lives of other street children is so inspiring. Most of the guides have no education at all, and have taught themselves to speak English. We enjoined a traditional style meal at the end and the leftovers were giving to the street children, please spend another $10 and you can buy more meals for the kids. Thank King for an experience that will stay with me for life.
  • clarissev823
    clarissev823
    0
    0
    A memorable experience
    We went on a tour with these wonderful people last August and enjoyed every moment we spent with them. That was such a memorable experience ! I highly recommend this tour to everyone who wants to get a real grasp of Nairobi.
  • Passport68048539417
    Passport68048539417
    0
    0
    Great walking tour in down town Nairobi
    Very nice city tour throuh downtown Nairobi. Sunami and Typhoon were excellent guides and the local lunch you get at the end of the tour is a true local experience.
  • GillSparrow
    GillSparrow
    0
    0
    Don't hesitate - book
    Having grown up in Nairobi my sister and I returned years later to head down memory lane. Daniel was a fantastic guide and his stories very humbling, a brilliant way to understand Nairobi and all its challenges. To be a very small part of someone like Daniel (Captain) changing his life was inspirational. I can't recommend this tour enough ... don't hesitate, just book
  • sambissett
    sambissett
    0
    0
    One of the best things I have ever done!
    Coming to Nairobi, we were contemplating doing a Kibera tour. However, despite the fact the money goes back into the slum, we felt that it was still unethical tourism. Then I stumbled across this tour! Truly one of the best things I've ever done. Our guides, Mrembe and Typhoon were hilarious. Lots of laughs were had throughout the tour, and they introduced us to so many of their friends on the street. It's very eye opening to hear their stories about growing up on the streets, but it's also great to see where these guys are now, and making something of their lives. We got to see 'the real Nairobi'; certainly parts of the city ('downtown') that we wouldn't/shouldn't have ventured into on our own. We felt 100% safe with our guides the whole time, and it was overall an amazing experience. The tour finished up with lunch in a local kibanda (veg options available), which was delicious. If you do ONE thing in Nairobi, make it this.
  • dylanclementia
    dylanclementia
    0
    0
    An unforgettable amazing experience
    I want to thank all the guys from Nam Nami for giving us a personal tour around the city! I appreciate the personal stories that you guys shared with us but also giving us a tour through downtown Nairobi while simultaneously opening our eyes to the struggles most street children go through. You guys ensured that we felt safe throughout the tour as well as providing us with the opportunity to purchase some nice souvenirs at the local market (while helping us with the bargaining). Once again, thank you so much and wish you guys all the best in the future with your project!
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5.0
632 reviews
Excellent
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stuart l
Rugby, UK26 contributions
Mar. 2020 • Couples
This is about the most genuine walking tour we have ever been on
The guides were friendly and took us to places that were outside a normal tourists’ comfort zone but we always felt safe and welcomed

The stories and experiences shared were from the heart and these guys are role models for the next generation of street kids who want to get out of the situation they find themselves in.

If you want to see behind the scenes with a one to one guide then this is worth every penny. In fact I would guess you will leave wanting to help them change more lives in some way or other
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chad H
San Diego, CA2 contributions
Feb. 2020 • Solo
I had a day in Nairobi before heading home from my holiday in Kenya. I found this tour on the internet and it did not disappoint. A cultural experience that will leave you sad, emotional, and hopeful all within a 3 plus hour timeframe. I was given a personal tour through the downtown area of Nairobi where my guide, Tsunami, showed me where he grew up and how he survived the streets as a young boy. We met current street kids, whom Tsunami mentors, and learned their heartbreaking stories. Nam Nami is not only a tour, but guys who are trying to make a difference in their community. It's inspirational and I feel fortunate to have had this experience. I highly recommend this tour to everyone.
Written 29 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Yvonne L
San Francisco, CA44 contributions
My husband and I just finished this tour an hour ago and I had to write a review as I like my memory to be as fresh as possible when I write. Booking this tour was such a breeze and so easy to do, along with the confirmations and instructions on where to go. On our tour was just my husband and 1 other couple and we each had out own guide. I had Kissmart and my husband had Typhoon and we spent most of our time with these two guides. Nairobi is our stop back to the USA so we decided we wanted to do something different, neither of us are really into super touristy things but we both loved the opportunity to see Nairobi out of the tourists attractions and to be surrounded by locals without exploited them and their community. From the start Kissmart started pointing out places he used to sleep under or where he would pick pocket. It's incredible the outlook he has on life after how hard his beginnings were. He has such a positive vibe and only wants go better his community and help others succeed. I can tell he truly a community gem with the amount of people who were waving to him across the streets and in every direction. If you get Kissmart as your guide, make sure he tells you his poop bucket story, it's one I'll be sharing with family and friends! Now, Typhoon, always smiling and like a bubble of sunshine! My husband felt like they could be friends and he taught him all sorts of street slang and how to fit in with his crew. When we went to the market he helped us haggle and though my Asian-a** could have probably haggled more my conservative husband hates haggling so he did minimal haggling (my mom would be disappointed.) I would recommend this tour to ANYONE coming to Nairobi, even if it's just a day. There wasn't a single moment when I felt unsafe and they do a good job of making sure we're all well taken care of that no one harrasses us.

Don't second guess it! Honestly, if I came to Nairobi alone as a female I'd book this tour! The guys waited until our uber got there, made sure it was the right one and let me bum off their hotspot to order the ride so they stayed with us til the end so we could leave safely. Impeccable tour and fellows!

Time to "bounce"
Written 3 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lilly N
2 contributions
We went on a Nai-Nami group tour in Nairobi at the beginning of September 2022. For us this was a highlight of our trip in Kenya and Tanzania. Couldn’t recommend it more highly.

All of the tour guides have experienced growing up on the streets at one point or another. Their stories of their experiences are fascinating and humbling. We really appreciated them sharing their stories with us so openly.

Each couple or group got their own tour guide who walked with them and answered any questions they had. It gave an insight into an area of Nairobi you would never usually see as a tourist. The tour was quite moving and sad, but also inspiring, because the perseverance and mental strength of these guys is incredible. But the tour wasn’t just serious, it was also a lot of fun, with a lot of jokes between the guides and the guests. We felt very safe with these guys throughout, and they helped us get in a taxi at the end to take us back to the hotel.

There was also a great meal at a local cafe at the end (although I should say, when I booked on the website, the advertised price said it included a meal, but when it came to it we actually had to pay extra for the meal in cash. This wasn’t a problem, the meal was very affordable, and we didn’t mind extra money going to these guys, who really deserve it. But just FYI, carry cash with you)

Thanks guys for a great tour.
Written 23 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ecemuratoglan
Mauritius115 contributions
Mar. 2019
Nairobi city center consists of quite crowded and dusty streets. I cannot say that I recommend you to go alone as a tourist. I made my first city tour with the association Nai Nami. Nai Nami lets you see the city from the eyes of Nairobi's street children, to meet the ultra-sweet Kenyans and to be safe on the streets.
It's okay to walk around in some neighborhoods such as Westland, Kilimani or Lavington. However, as all streets are not asphalted, be prepared for dust! Colorful buses will pass by at high volüme music, playing Jambo FM, you will see interesting small street restaurants, and you be surprised to see how creative the people of Kenya are with the limited facilities provided. Recycling and reusing have a different meaning.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Elliott M
2 contributions
Jan. 2020
My wife and I have backpacked through more than 20 countries over the past two years, and I must say that this was one of the best experiences we have had yet. It was extremely interesting and was more authentic than almost anything else we have found throughout our travels.

It was just my wife and I on the tour, and we were accompanied by two very friendly guides who showed us around the city that they grew up in. This tour gave us the opportunity to see and get a feel for many sections of Nairobi that we probably would never have been able to visit on our own. The guides made us feel very safe throughout the entire tour and introduced us to tons of people living in the city along the way. I also really appreciated how open the guides were to discussing sensitive issues. I am one of those people who has way too many questions for my own good, but they seemed to enjoy answering all of my various questions and did so in an honest and straightforward manner.

If I could, I would give this tour more than 5 stars.
Written 25 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike
Lavington, Kenya1 contribution
Feb. 2020
This walking tour offered a different and interesting view of downtown Nairobi from the perspective of former street kids who grew up in the area. From their stories, we can appreciate the life situations which they grew up in.
We were met promptly at the appointed hour and were introduced to three young men who accompanied each of the three people on the tour.
My personal guide was Quickway, who earned his nickname from his ability to move fast during his youthful adventures on the street.
Quickway told his story as we wondered the streets of his former youth.
I would highly recommend this tour for learning more about the people of the area, seeing the different parts of downtown and experiencing the lives of former street kids who have turned their lives around.
Written 25 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marcella-KL
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia17 contributions
Mar. 2020
Nai Nami- "Nairobi with Me" was exactly that - a very authentic walk through downtown guided by guys who have themselves lived on the streets, and managed to get off the street. We did a tour of Downtown Nairobi, a place that (mzungu) tourists do not venture on their own, with Kissmart, Typhoon and their team and it was super interesting. In addition to hearing their stories, it was also very clear that they were trying to give back to their community and paying it forward to try an get more kids off the street. They are also looking to engage women guides who will be able to share their perspective. Its also worth noting that throughout the whole experience our safety was their top priority. Highly recommend spending a morning with Nai Nami
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Camaya
6 contributions
Apr. 2021 • Friends
This tour was amazing. Everyone was extremely knowledgeable about the area and told very compelling stories about their childhood. I felt completely safe and was able to explore areas of the city that I would not have seen otherwise. The guides are full of life and will make sure you have a great time. If you are interested in doing some shopping they will take you through the market and help you bargain prices. The tour ends at a restaurant with amazing food
Written 4 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lisa
4 contributions
Jul. 2022
What a great way to see Nairobi! Excellent opportunity to get to know local guys and see parts of the city we surely would have missed on our own. Such compelling and inspiring stories! The best part is that they are now working with kids to help prevent them from having similar hardships growing up. Fun, warm, responsible young men!

One caution about arrival to meeting point: don’t allow Uber driver to take you to Hilton’s secured entrance. Hilton will charge you to enter there as they require a business transaction to occur after you’ve entered their secured area. Drop off outside this spot instead.
Written 11 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour with Street Children provided by Nai Nami - Our Streets. Our Stories.