This Nairobi street tour with former street children is a small-group walking tour led by the young men of the Nai Nami project, who grew up on the city’s streets and now guide visitors through downtown Nairobi while sharing their real life stories, with a local lunch included, from $45 per person. It’s not a sightseeing tour of monuments; it’s an honest, human, and genuinely moving look at a side of Nairobi most visitors never see, with guides who keep you safe throughout.
Tour Details and Price (2026)
NAI NAMI: Nairobi Storytelling Tour
- From $45 per person
- 2.5 hours, small-group walking tour (maximum 8 travelers)
- Led by former street children, now guides with the Nai Nami social project
- Walk through uptown, downtown, and midtown Nairobi
- Local Kenyan lunch and soft drinks included
- Starts and ends in front of the Bata shop by the former Hilton Hotel, Nairobi CBD
- 4.9 stars from 948 reviews, Badge of Excellence
- Minimum age: 14
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
Nai Nami means “Nairobi with me.” The project gives disadvantaged youths from the slums a job, an income, and a future. When you book this tour, your money supports that mission directly, and you get one of the most authentic and highly rated experiences in the city.
👉 Book your Nairobi street tour with Nai Nami
What This Tour Really Is (and Isn’t)
Let’s be completely honest about what you’re booking, because it’s different from a typical city tour.
This is a storytelling tour, not a monument tour. You won’t be ticking off famous landmarks. Instead, your guides walk you through the streets where they once lived, sharing their personal histories, how they survived cold nights, how they made it off the streets, and how they now help other kids do the same. You pass places like the National Archives, the August 7th Memorial Park, the Railway Museum, and the Kariokor market, but the real subject is life on the street.
It’s raw and eye-opening. Reviewers describe it as moving, profound, and sometimes emotional. You’ll see poverty up close. If you’re looking for a polished tourist experience, this isn’t it. If you want to understand the real Nairobi and support a genuine cause, it’s exceptional.
You will feel safe. This comes up in review after review: the guides escort you through busy areas you wouldn’t explore alone, and travelers, including solo travelers and solo women, consistently report feeling completely safe and looked after.
Important: Bring Extra Cash for the Kids’ Meals
This is the one thing to know before you go, because past guests wished they’d been told clearly:
During the tour, you’ll have the chance to buy meals for current street children you meet along the way. This is optional and separate from your tour price, and it typically costs around 300 Kenyan shillings (roughly $2 to $3) per child. Guests often want to feed several kids, so bring extra cash in small denominations. Some past travelers felt caught off guard by this or unsure how much to bring, so plan ahead: it’s a meaningful part of the experience, but it’s an added cost on the day, and you decide how much you give.
The lunch for you and your guides is included in the tour price. The meals for the street children are the separate, optional part.
Before You Book
- Wear good shoes. No sandals or heels. The roads and pavements downtown are rough and uneven.
- Bring a copy of your passport. Carry a copy of the main page and your visa stamp, or your original passport.
- Leave valuables at the hotel. No flashy jewelry. Don’t bring a camera (photography in town isn’t allowed), but your phone is fine.
- Bring extra cash. For the optional street-children meals (small denominations, see above) and any tips.
- Minimum age 14. Given the subject matter and the environment, this tour isn’t suitable for young children.
- It’s a lot of walking. Comfortable fitness needed. Not wheelchair accessible.
- Confirm your meeting time. The tour starts at the Bata shop by the former Hilton. Message the operator on WhatsApp to confirm.
- Cancellation: free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
What Travelers Say
“So glad I did this and would recommend to anyone. It ended up being a 1-to-1 tour. It felt like a genuine long conversation, and my guide answered all my questions and made me feel very comfortable.” (Haley R., August 2026)
“This tour was eye-opening and impactful. Hearing about life on the streets through the eyes of someone who lived through it left us with both appreciation and respect.” (Kay E., October 2025)
“If you want to see the unsanitised, real streets of Nairobi, with genuine experts, take this tour. Learn from your guide their real-life experiences from the streets. Feel safe with the team who escort you through uptown, downtown and midtown.” (Andrew M., September 2026)
Book Your Nairobi Street Tour
An honest, unforgettable walk through downtown Nairobi with guides who lived it, sharing their stories, keeping you safe, and building a future for the next generation of street kids. A local lunch included, from $45 per person.
👉 Check availability and book your tour
Prices based on 2026 rates. Your tour lunch is included; meals for street children you meet are optional and paid separately in cash on the day. Confirm details at checkout.
