Photo of the Week
Thika Greens
I shot this at sunset hours on the old Thika rd. Just take a left after the Bluepost area towards Thika Greens Golf Club. It's a pretty road especially at sunset, chill and easy for a quiet walk/drive.
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24 Hours in Stone Town
Nairobi to Mai Mahiu, Suswa Road and Back via Ngong
Shades of Blue Down South
Exploring Kanunga
Nairobi to Kakuzi
City Guides
24 Hours In
Stone Town
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Breakfast
7:30 AMLukmaan Restaurant
Vitumbua (rice pancakes) with chai in the narrow streets. Simple, and exactly what you want before a morning of walking.
Things to Do
9:00 AMThe Old Fort
Start at the 17th-century fort. Free to enter — the open-air amphitheatre inside is worth seeing.
Wander the Medina
Get lost on purpose. Carved Zanzibari doors, spice shops, alleys that open into courtyards. Don't use a map.
Places to See
11:00 AMHouse of Wonders
The largest building in Stone Town and a UNESCO site. The exterior and waterfront benches nearby are a good rest stop.
Hamamni Persian Baths
Built in the 1870s by Sultan Barghash. Beautifully preserved — the caretaker gives short tours for a small tip.
Lunch
1:30 PMZanzibar Coffee House
Climb to the rooftop for panoramic views over tin rooftops and minarets. The seafood curry is excellent.
More Activities
3:00 PMDarajani Market
Chaotic, colourful, deeply photogenic. Spice stalls, fish market, fruit vendors — the afternoon light is incredible.
Sunset at the Waterfront
Walk back to Forodhani Gardens. Sunset over the Indian Ocean with silhouettes of dhows. Find a spot on the seawall.
Dinner
7:00 PMForodhani Night Market
Fresh seafood, Zanzibar pizza, sugar cane juice, skewered mishkaki. Walk the full row first, then commit.
Mercury's Bar
End the night on this rooftop overlooking the harbour. Cold Kilimanjaro lager, live taarab music, sea breeze.
Where to Stay
Park Hyatt Zanzibar
Boutique
Mizingani Seafront Hotel
Mid-range
Zanzi House
Budget
Lamu
Lamu Island, Kenya
Breakfast
7:00 AMWhispers Coffee House
Mandazi and strong Kenyan coffee on a rooftop overlooking the waterfront. Watch the dhows set out while the town is still quiet.
Things to Do
9:00 AMWalk Lamu Old Town
No cars on this island. Just narrow coral-stone alleys, donkeys, and carved Swahili doors. A UNESCO World Heritage site that still feels lived-in.
Lamu Museum
Two floors of Swahili maritime and cultural artefacts. The ceremonial horns and navigation tools are fascinating.
Places to See
11:00 AMShela Village
A 45-minute walk along the waterfront to this quieter village. Bougainvillea-draped walls, boutique guesthouses, and 12km of empty beach beyond.
Lunch
1:00 PMBush Gardens
Fresh grilled fish, coconut beans, and chapati in a garden courtyard. The prawn curry is the thing to order.
More Activities
3:00 PMDhow Sunset Cruise
Hire a traditional dhow from the waterfront. Sail through the mangrove channels and watch the sun set over the mainland.
Dinner
7:30 PMPeponi Hotel Terrace
Seafood on the waterfront terrace in Shela. The grilled lobster is excellent and the view across the channel is pure magic at night.
Where to Stay
Peponi Hotel
Boutique
Lamu House
Mid-range
Sunsail Hotel
Budget
Nairobi
Kenya
Breakfast
8:00 AMTin Roof Cafe
In the gardens of the Michael Joseph Centre. Shakshuka, fresh juice, and good coffee surrounded by greenery — a calm start before the city hits.
Things to Do
9:30 AMNairobi National Park
The only national park inside a capital city. Lions, giraffes, and rhinos with the skyline behind them. Do the morning game drive.
Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
Open 11am–12pm daily. Watch orphaned baby elephants being bottle-fed and mud-bathing. Arrive by 10:45 — it gets crowded.
Places to See
12:00 PMKaren Blixen Museum
The farmhouse from Out of Africa, preserved with original furnishings. The Ngong Hills views from the garden are exactly as described.
Lunch
1:30 PMMama Oliech
Legendary Nairobi spot. Fried tilapia, ugali, and sukuma wiki. No frills, just the best fish in the city. Cash only.
More Activities
3:30 PMKarura Forest
A 1,000-hectare indigenous forest in the middle of the city. Waterfalls, caves, and running trails. Feels impossible that this exists in Nairobi.
Alchemist Bar
Nairobi's creative scene in one shipping container complex. Art, cocktails, street food, live music on weekends.
Dinner
7:30 PMAbout Thyme
Farm-to-table in a garden setting in Westlands. Seasonal menu, craft cocktails, and one of the nicest outdoor dining spaces in the city.
Where to Stay
Hemingways Nairobi
Boutique
The Boma
Mid-range
Wildebeest Eco Camp
Budget
Diani
Kwale, Kenya
Breakfast
7:30 AMSails Beach Bar
Feet in the sand, fresh fruit platter, eggs any way you want them. The Indian Ocean is right there. Best way to start a Diani morning.
Things to Do
9:00 AMSnorkeling at the Reef
The coral reef is just offshore. Book a boat from the beach — you'll see parrotfish, starfish, and sea urchins in crystal-clear water.
Colobus Conservation
Visit the Angolan colobus monkey conservation centre. Guided forest walks with primates overhead in the coastal forest canopy.
Places to See
11:30 AMKongo Mosque Ruins
Hidden in the coastal forest — a 16th-century mosque ruin wrapped in baobab roots. Eerie, beautiful, and completely empty. Ask locals for directions.
Lunch
1:00 PMAli Barbour's Cave Restaurant
A restaurant literally inside a coral cave. Open to the sky above, candlelit tables below. Seafood is the move. Book ahead — it's small.
More Activities
3:30 PMKitesurfing at Galu Beach
Diani has some of the best kite conditions in East Africa. Beginners can book a lesson, or just watch from the beach with a cold Tusker.
Sunset Beach Walk
Walk south along the beach at low tide. White sand, warm water, and nobody around. The light at 5pm is incredible for photography.
Dinner
7:00 PMNomad Beach Bar
Right on the sand, lanterns and fairy lights, grilled calamari and cocktails. The kind of place where dinner turns into the whole night.
Where to Stay
The Sands at Nomad
Boutique
Swahili Beach Resort
Mid-range
Diani Backpackers
Budget
Beyond the Lens
