In this article, we cover the best family-friendly spots in Karen. Karen is one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods in Nairobi, with the most fun places and attractions.
Visiting fun places is self-care that enhances creativity, promotes self-esteem, and improves social life. It creates unforgettable memories and strengthens relationships with loved ones. And with the clamour for fun and adventure heightening each day, here are some of the family-friendly places parents can take their loved ones.
Best Family-Friendly Gardens In Karen
1. Asmara Restaurant, Karen
Asmara is a restaurant that specialises in Eritrean cuisine. It is located on the right of Ngong Road, near the Karen Dukas roundabout and close to the Talisman restaurant. The restaurant building is easy to spot because of its red-tiled and white-walled exterior, set in an extensive Karen garden.
The Asmara menu is quite diverse, with offerings ranging from pepper steaks to pizzas. However, the restaurant’s main focus is on Eritrean dishes, and they offer an awesome range of African foods.
If you are new to Eritrean cuisine, we recommend trying the Asmara Special. It is a pan-fried beef fillet strips dish that is prepared with green pepper, berbere powder, and tomato. It is served with a traditional beef soup and vegetables. Berbere powder is a blend of Eritrean or Ethiopian spices, including chilli peppers, garlic, ginger, basil, korarima, and so on. The Asmara Special costs Sh1,600.
For a meal that is perfect for sharing, you could try the Asmara Mixed Plate. It is a dish that gives you “a taste of everything,” comprising three portions of meat served with assorted vegetables. The Asmara Mixed Plate costs Sh1,400.
If you are a vegetarian, there are many options for you on the Asmara menu. The Asmara vegetable dish is a mix of cabbage, kale, potatoes, peas, lentils, and beetroot in a spicy Eritrean sauce. It costs Ksh 900.
If you are dining with kids, the Asmara Kids Corner offers tasty Asmara chicken, Kiddie beef or veggie burgers, savoury fish fingers, and more. The outdoor playground provides plenty of fun, complete with swings, tubes, a tunnel, and slide sets.
Contact: 0724 124555
Email: e-mail: admin.karen@asmara.co.ke
Opening Hours: 10:00 am to 11:30 pm daily
2. Natare Gardens
It is a lovely, secluded, well-kept, lush green garden along Kerarapon Drive, Ngong, Kenya, with a backdrop of the Ngong Hills. The entrance fee is Ksh 400 for adults and Ksh 200 for children, making it ideal for a family picnic in Nairobi. The admission fee is for swimming because they have a lovely, large aqua-blue pool. Aside from the pool, there’s a fountain waterfall and bouncing castles for the kids, especially on Sundays.
Contact: +254-713-899147
Email: info@nataregardens.co.ke
Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
3. Langata Botanical Gardens
Langata Botanical Gardens is a spectacular recreational area located approximately 20 kilometres from Nairobi’s CBD and less than 20 minutes from the Karen Shopping Centre. You are bound to fall in love with the beauty and serenity here. Langata Botanical Gardens is ideal for relaxation, recreation, celebration, and inspiration, with a therapeutic vibe. There are hundreds of indigenous trees, large beautiful lawns, and a lagoon with a wide variety of fish. The area is surrounded by bandas that are secluded by natural vegetation, giving you enough privacy to catch up with your partner while relaxing in nature.
The entrance fee is Ksh 500 for adults
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 7:00 pm daily
Contact: 0722 382615
4. Oloolua Nature Trail
Oloolua Nature Trail is situated in the upmarket suburb of Karen 250 hectares of the indigenous tropical dry Oloolua forest acting as the household of the Institute of Primate Research (IPR). The National Museums of Kenya is the institution of this bio-medical research facility, established the 5-kilometre Oloolua Nature Trail amid this forest, providing an oasis of tranquillity for city residents with a desire to escape the city hustle and bustle.
Visitors who come to do a short walk, jog along the trail, walk their dogs, or simply have a relaxing picnic in the serene setting adore the Oloolua Nature Trail. Organised groups are not left behind. They usually come to learn about environmental conservation through guided forest tours. The Oloolua nature trail meanders through dense forest vines and undergrowth beneath massive indigenous trees and bushes, in some places following the course of the Mbagathi River, which cuts through the forest. Giant riverside bamboo stands to entice visitors to descend some rickety stairs to the river and rest on benches built beneath the bamboo. Trickling water and chirping birds, are the only sounds that you listen to while resting, lulling you into a reflective mood.
A picnic area with benches, drop toilets, and trash cans provides a pleasant setting for couples or groups to relax, play, or eat a meal in the woods. For those who want to spend more than a day in the forest, a secure campsite with tap water, drop toilets, and firewood for lighting a bonfire is also available. You must, however, bring your tent, food, and cooking utensils.
The last and possibly most spectacular, of the forest’s attractions is a 20-foot waterfall near the forest’s entrance. As you make your way to the waterfall, you’ll pass a wooden tower that was built years ago to view a Crowned Eagle’s nest that was nearby. This tower was used by scientists to study the behaviour of the Crowned Eagle in its natural habitat. Unfortunately, human activities and settlements near the forest have caused the birds to migrate away from this haven. A papyrus swamp further down the river offers a further glimpse into the rich biodiversity of this indigenous forest. From here on, the trail climbs out of the river valley, occasionally bursting upon glades bathed in bright sunlight, before diving back under the canopy of the cool forest cover.
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily
Details of entrance fees are here
5. Mamba Village Centre
Just as the name suggests, “Mamba Village Crocodile Farm” is famous for its crocodiles and is home to the giant Nile crocodile. Located off the Langata-Karen road, Mamba Village is a fun place to take your children and family to spend an afternoon. The kids will love seeing crocodiles, even though they might give you and most other adults the heebie-jeebies.
Don’t worry, though, a man-made lake in the middle of the park offers a beautifully relaxing view to calm your nerves. To access the park, you have to pay an entrance fee. Once inside, other services like food and entertainment (boat rides, etc.) are offered at an economical price.
The best day to visit the Nairobi crocodile farm is Sunday. It’s the only day visitors are allowed to see the crocodiles get fed at 4:00 pm. If you wish, you can hire a tour guide to take you around the village or just walk around at your own pace.
6. Stedmak Gardens
Stedmak Gardens is located in the posh estate of Karen in Nairobi. If your kids love wildlife, then Stedmak Animal Park comes highly recommended. Your kids and teens alike will go wild when they call out and get the African grey parrot respond-Kasuku! Your children will get excited when they spot their favourite Lion Guard characters-lion, hyenas, gazelles, ostriches, snakes, tortoises and various bird species—in the park.
Stedmak Animal Park sits within a larger amusement park with a kids’ play area, a heated swimming pool and family restaurants.
- The entrance fee to the Animal Sanctuary is Ksh 1,000 for adults & Ksh 500 for kids
- Kids activities (go-karting) cost Ksh 500, while train ride cost Ksh 300
Contact: +254 705 734780, +254 786 338020
7. Karen Blixen Coffee Garden and Cottages
Formerly a farmhouse of the Out of Africa Blixen family, this accommodation is near the Karen Blixen Museum and the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant and Rhino Orphanage. It has 16 en suite rooms, a honeymoon suite, and three rooms with two en suite bedrooms each. Guests can enjoy the restaurant, swimming pool, and bar. They also have access to the nearby Karen Country & Golf Club’s golf course, tennis courts, and swimming pool. Upscale shops, restaurants, and boutiques in Karen are within easy reach.
8. Serenity Gardens, Karen
The Serenity Gardens, nestled in Nairobi’s enchanting Karen, offer a serene environment for weddings, picnics, and team-building events. You can customise your experience with tents, tables, chairs, and decorations to suit your style and budget.
From Ksh 500 per person to Ksh 40,000 per day, you can tailor your event to your needs. The garden provides modern amenities such as piped water, power, secure parking, and clean restrooms. Exclusive use of the gardens for capturing your memories is guaranteed for Ksh 10,000 per group.
The Serenity Gardens Karen is open every day from 9 AM to 7 PM, and you can extend your stay for just Ksh 2,500.
Other family-friendly gardens in Karen include:
- Karen Country Club
- Karen Blixen Museum
- Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary
