Nairobi is the largest city in East Africa, the region’s commercial hub and Kenya’s industrial and political heart. It is also the region’s youngest, most modern and most rapidly developing city and has enjoyed a relentless growth curve.

Although the city contains the African HQs of a number of major UN agencies, it still has an air of lawlessness. Its reputation for being hard and fast and dangerous means that the unfortunate nickname ‘Nairobbery’ still has a ring of truth to it. The resulting need for a bit more street-smart commonsense often means that people skip straight through the city.

This is a shame though, since Nairobi is a vital and lively introduction to the real Kenya. The safari capital of the world, the city is actually an excellent base for travel and adventure.

Kenya’s capital is home to a fascinating variety of people and the stimulating mix of cultures means that there is a buzz about the place. A cosmopolitan collection of shops, an unrivalled selection of cultural activities and centres, a varied restaurant scene and a definite café culture mean that the city has a surprisingly modern edge to it.

To escape the hustle and bustle of central city life and dodge the worst of the dangers though, head to the suburbs and take advantage of the city’s close proximity to a national park, where wildlife that was here long before the city existed now gazes on skyscrapers.

Nairobi has always been a frontier town and although it remains a little rough and ready, the city still has a distinct appeal, plenty of energy and, as East Africa’s most thrilling and proud metropolis, really ought to be experienced properly by visitors to the country.