Nai Nami: Nairobi Storytelling Tour

I joined a shared group walking tour through the streets of Nairobi. We were a group of 5 girls from different countries. Priest was our guide and he was very kind and patient. He shared many stories and insights about Nairobi and the different areas. We walked through downtown and midtown, where the local markets and bus stations are. The local lunch was lovely, and we learned a few Swahili words. Thank you for sharing your streets with us.

This was a really wonderful experience. My wife and I moved from the U.S. to Nairobi recently and will be living here for two years. We want to develop an understanding of the country in all its complexity, and this tour was an important first step in getting to know a side of Nairobi that tourists often do not see. Our guide went by the name Typhoon. He survived a life of poverty and crime on the streets, and now these tours have allowed him to find stability and live as an engaging, kind, and community-minded father of two. He showed us the streets where he lived as a child, told us fascinating stories about his life, and inspired us with the extent of his generosity toward the street children of today. The tour itself winds through "Downtown," which borders the government and business headquarters of "Uptown." Typhoon made it clear that foreigners could not walk safely in Downtown without a guide, but with him, shopkeepers, street children, and passersby greeted us warmly. The streets were crowded, and the poverty was evident, but the tone of the tour was educational and designed to build empathy and understanding. Typhoon answered all our questions and left us feeling much better oriented in a city that is beautiful, diverse, and complex in every way. It was an incredibly positive experience, and one we would recommend for anyone visiting Nairobi who wants to venture beyond the curated world of Kenyan eco-tourism to learn more about the realities of life in the city.

Great to see ‘the real life’ at downtown in Nairobi.

One of the best guided tours I have done, leaving an impression I will never forget. Make sure to ask for Morgan as a guide, he is a guy with a story that you will want to hear.

Great experience with Morgan and Priest. A unique introduction to a side of Nairobi that was unknown to me. Lovely, kind and knowledgeable guys who had an unfair start in life. They made us feel very comfortable and 100% safe.

Our Nai Nami Storytelling Tour is completed and in the books. It was a wild and non-stop 2.5 hours. The streets were FULL on a Saturday afternoon… we can not imagine what Monday to Friday looks like. Special thank you to our personal guide Kissmart and his assistants Tsunami, King and Donga. Kissmart is very special in so many ways and he knows the streets like the back of his hand. Many people in the streets know and respect Kissmart. We felt very safe.

I went on this tour with my daughter and niece. The tour started fine. Our guide was Qwic Qwic and our security was king and tsunami. We were told very clearly that we could not walk around without security, this becomes relevant later. We were also told of lots of reasons why we could get arrested which did feel a bit odd but potentially understandable to keep us safe. We walked round uptown and Qwic told us stories about his childhood which from reviews seems to be a standard story used by a few guides ( but didn't know this at the time) All was fine until we stopped at a pub right next to the red light district, where we had 3 juices normally about 100 shilling each (70 in shops so assuming noore than this cost in downtown pub) and the guide asked if they could have a drink to which we said yes. They then all had beers. We were then left for 20 mins while Qwic chatted with his pals and when he returned he showed us a letter from his daughter's school, handwritten,saying she could not return until he paid 3,500 shilling. This felt very much like a scam. We did not give him money. We then were stung for a bill of 1,400 shilling so feel we were scammed here for many more drinks than we had, might explain the disappearance of security at this point. (We only brought just over 2000 shilling all in all with us for safety reasons) Bearing in mind water and juice was supposed to be supplied on this tour as per the website. After we left the pub it became apparent as we got to downtown that our "security" had possibly stayed in the pub, as were nowhere to be seen, and we only had Qwic We were taken to a place for lunch which was also meant to be included as part of the tour however by then I just wanted the tour to end. We refused lunch as we didn't know if we were going to have to pay for this as well and we only had approx 500 shillings left. We felt obliged to give this to the lady in the restaurant as we felt bad sitting in her restaurant but not eating, so this felt the right thing to do. At this point Qwic told us the tour was over effectively leaving us in downtown in a place which security and qwic made a huge deal about being incredibly unsafe. The website specifically says it ends where we started and this was where our driver was picking us up. Qwic finally agreed to walk us back to the drop off point which was 20-30 mins through some of the toughest parts of Nairobi going through back alleys and streets. This felt and was incredibly unsafe as 3 females with our guide walking ahead on occasion while we are being approached in the street. I can honestly say I have never been so scared in my life and if it wasn't for the fact I can confirm the guides on the website I honestly would think I'd been scammed by some rough guys in the street. Kismar the owner appeared unhappy at the end when he seemed a bit put out by us not having security but this did not feel genuine and I didn't feel safe to be honest with him. Avoid this tour at all costs.

What an unforgettable experience! We explored Nairobi with Typhoon and got to see the city through the eyes of someone who truly knows it. The tour was incredibly interesting, eye-opening and inspiring. What made this experience so special was Typhoon’s openness in sharing his personal story with us. I was genuinely touched by his journey, the challenges he has overcome and how he now uses his experiences to inspire others. It gave us a completely different perspective on Nairobi and made the tour so much more meaningful than just sightseeing. We learned so much, shared great conversations and left with memories and stories that will stay with us forever. Thank you, Typhoon, for your honesty, kindness and for sharing a part of your life with us. We couldn’t recommend this tour enough!

We specifically chose to see Nairobi through the eyes of these special Guides. It’s a real off the usual beat view of inner city Nairobi. The stories of our guide Priest were powerful and a testament to what many have to do to overcome and survive a difficult upbringing. My wife and I will highlight this as memorable moment from our trip to Kenya

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this insightful and authentic exploration of Nairobi's "Uptown" and "Downtown" areas. The tour was particularly impactful due to the personal narratives shared by our guides, King and Tsunami. Their accounts of growing up on the streets, interwoven with Kenya's political history, provided a profound and human perspective. Despite navigating crowded streets, we consistently felt secure throughout the experience. This tour offered an invaluable opportunity to gain a genuine understanding of the local culture, moving beyond the typical tourist perspectives often encountered in safari lodges. The tour provided a perfect counterpoint to the rest of our travel experiences in Kenya, offering a balanced and enriching dimension to our trip. We highly recommend this tour.

Excellent experience with Priest & King. Such a great way to see a city and support a local worthwhile initiative. Highly recommend.

This tour is fantastic and a reality check all at once! The guides were great (Priest and Taifun, thank you!) and made sure I was always safe. It was mostly 1 guide per visitor/couple. They took me places I would never ever go alone as a tourist, so really a unique and truly authentic experience. We went through uptown, downtown and midtown, to a local bar and restaurant. The atmosphere is pretty hectic and intense and makes you realize your privileges back home. Make sure to bring enough cash for drinks and a generous tip for these guys.

Our walking tour through the streets of Nairobi with Tsynami was a terrific experience. We walked through the three inner city areas of town and learnt so much through Tsynami’s life experiences. I highly recommend this walking tour to appreciate how young men from a very tough upbringing can influence the next generation.

This tour with Morgan was excellent! We learned so much about how various people in Nairobi live, especially street people and the levels of poverty that there are. This is something that many people passing through for safari never see. Although the guides’ stories may be heartbreaking and tough to hear, everyone should take this tour to see the whole picture. Please support this worthwhile program!!

The tour is highly recommended for anyone that wants to see the less touristy side of Nairobi. I was a solo traveller and I arrived 15 minutes for the tour. Not to worry…. Morgan was already there to welcome me. Even though there were other people on the tour, I ended up having a one on one tour with Morgan, although we bumped into some of the other guides and tourists on the walk as we all following a similar route for the first half of the tour. Morgan spoke excellent English and was very attentive and made me feel very safe. He was very honest and forthright about his life to date and you could ask him anything. In downtown he showed me some landmarks from his time on the streets and I was given the opportunity to donate some money to buy food for some street kids. Morgan handled everything very professionally and he made sure the smallest children benefited from the food. We then ended the trip with a beer! If you are an adventurous sort of traveller and have few hours spare in Nairobi this trip is a must!!!

This was a very unique experience and I’m so glad I did it. I turned up 15 minutes early and Morgan was already waiting at the meeting point. I was travelling solo and although there were other tourists booked, we all split into small groups and I had a private tour with Morgan, although we did bumped into the other tourists and guides as we walked along as for the first half of the tour we were following the same group. Morgan spoke excellent English and made me feel extremely safe, especially walking through downtown where there were no other tourists. Morgan was extremely open about his life, explaining how he ended up living on the streets and also how he managed to turn his life around. In a very polite way Morgan asked me if I would like to donate some money so that he could buy food for some street children. He ensured that the younger children got fed from a stall on a street corner. All the guides were very friendly and you could see how they look out for each other and also the street children from their territories. A very moving experience and a stark contrast to the usual tourist experiences. Highly recommend both Morgan and the tour in general.

I thoroughly enjoyed my tour with Priest, hearing his story and meeting some of the other guides at the restaurant. I felt safe the entire time and left with a deeper appreciation for things I take for granted such as clean water. Highly recommend

Kind of one the fence with this one. It was interesting and we did see places we would not have gone to, but felt forced to donate even more money than we agreed upon to pay for lunch for street kids. That kind of put a damper on things. If you go, have a set amount in your mind you are willing to donate and stick to it.

We were met by our guide Priest who led us on a walking tour like nothing else we have experienced anywhere in the world. Priest shared his life stories from the streets he guided us though in a real life experience of people going about their daily life in uptown, midtown and downtown Nairobi. Completely safe with the amazing team from Nai Nami in support and taking very good care of us. We can’t recommend this experience highly enough.

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 will be escorting you through uptown, downtown and midtown. Special thanks to Priest who led our trip.

It was an amazing experience! Must do when you visit Nairobi.

If you want to experience the real Nairobi, this tour should definitely be on your itinerary! Typhoon and his friends will take you to places you might never think of visiting, and his stories will leave you wanting to know more. If Hollywood ever decided to make a movie about his life, no one would believe it was based on a true story! And the best part? They genuinely care about making life better for those who need help the most - especially the street children. This is much more than just a tour; it’s an experience that stays with you.

Our guide shared incredible, deeply personal stories about life in the city - often dramatic, moving, and revealing the harsh realities of local survival. He made sure we understood every detail completely. Safety was clearly a top priority: two of his colleagues discreetly followed us through the trickier areas, ensuring we felt secure the entire time. Everyone involved was exceptionally friendly, open, and welcoming. To top it all off, our tour spontaneously extended into a walk through the slums. It was a truly unique, eye-opening experience unlike anything we’ve encountered in all our travels. If you want an authentic, safe, and unforgettable look at Nairobi, book this tour! One downside of the trip was the "lunch" which was only a little soup. Based on other reviews, it seems like we didn't get the lunch that others have.

I walked around with Typhoon, and he was very welcoming and even introduced me to other members of the Nai Nami guide team at the beginning of the tour. These guides even joined off and on during the tour to allow me to feel extra safe during the tour. The entire time, Typhoon told me his life story and showed me around the places he knew as a child. I felt very safe, despite being in Downtown Nairobi, and I got better acquainted with the city and some Kenyan culture through this morning walk than in the entire rest of my time in Nairobi. I recommend that anyone takes this tour, as it will help you discover Nairobi and get to know some inspiring people.

Truly the best tour/travel experience we have done. The experience has had a profound effect and we thank Morgan and Kissmart for their openness, guidance and knowledge.

We’ve had a very good experience with Quick and his crew. Seeing neighborhoods we would not have gone to was enriching and hearing his story was touching and sad, while seeing how they work to help their community is positive and encouraging.

This was the best tour I’ve ever been on in any place I’ve ever visited! My guide’s name was Quick, he introduced me to a few of his partners Typhoon and Tsunami. It was like walking around the city with a friend you’ve known for years. He treated me like a brother and gave me one of the best experiences of my life. I hope to see him again one day.

Really interesting experience - more about understanding the poorer side of life in Nairobi than seeing the city. Very safe way to see some parts of town that you wouldn't otherwise see. Make sure you have some extra cash on you because you'll be asked if you want to buy lunch for some street kids at about 300 KSH per kid, plus there might be a stop for an optional drink.

We thoroughly enjoyed the walk with our guides through uptown and downtown Nairobi!! They were so professional and protective of us! We got to see some real street life!!! It was thrilling!

I had a great time with Tusnami. The tour took us around the downtown area over about 4 hours. Tsunami was a great storyteller and always had conversation pieces about his life and experiences. This tour is best for people looking to see how people in Nairobi live day to day. I paid $45 which was reaswonable and all the money goes to good causes.

Thank you King and Quick for sharing your stories with us and giving us insight into your life growing up in Nairobi. While it is heartbreaking to learn about what you have endured from a young age, your resilience and hope for the future is inspiring. We would recommend this experience to those visiting Nairobi and wanting to learn about the realities of the people living in Nairobi and to give back to this community.

We spent 2,5hrs with the Nai Nami group - they showed us around tpwn - where they used to live. They are extremely nice - and walked around 5 people with just 2 tourists. This is a unique experience to understand real Nairobi and help some people get off the streets!

So glad I did this and would recommend to anyone. Ended up being a 1-1 tour. It felt like a genuine long conversation, and Quick was able to answer all my questions and made me feel very comfortable

Our tour guide Max Obell of safarisbymax.com recommended these guys and our guide for the day was Daniel who was very informative with his life experience of the streets of Nairobi. This is a great tour to do on your first day in Nairobi as you will also be taught where you can safely walk and even the secret to crossing the streets with the most craziest traffic. During the tour we were asked if you would like to make a monetary donation to help feed street kids, which we did give an amount equivalent to about $10 and no further pressure to give any extra.

Had such a wonderful experience with this tour. I felt a bit nervous exploring Nairobi on my own so this was a perfect choice. Morgan was my guide and he shared so much about himself and the city, it felt like exploring with a friend and I learned a lot. Him and his crew made me feel safe and comfortable for the entire experience, I would really recommend it to other female solo travelers looking for good tour options in the city. Getting to see the busy heart of Nairobi with these guys was really such a highlight. And hearing personal stories during the tour really hits the heart also. It was an experience to remember, book it if you have the chance!

Our tour with Morgan was one of the highlights of our time in Nairobi. We had arrived from Germany just the day before, so everything was new to us. Morgan immediately made us feel comfortable by explaining the city, teaching us a few Swahili words, and showing us around Downtown and Midtown with great respect and knowledge. What made the tour so special was Morgan himself. Having grown up on the streets of Nairobi, he shared his own story and gave us an authentic insight into everyday life that you simply won’t get anywhere else. It was eye-opening, emotional, and incredibly thought-provoking. We always felt safe with him. He clearly knows the city and the people, and his friendly personality, excellent English, and genuine passion made the experience unforgettable. At the end, we even had the chance to contribute to meals for people in need, and Morgan later showed us that the food had actually reached them. A wonderful gesture that made the tour even more meaningful. If you’re visiting Nairobi and want to understand the city beyond the usual tourist sights, we couldn’t recommend Morgan more highly. Greeting from Anke, Volker, Sönke und Hauke.

If you are thinking of booking this tour, DO IT. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Nairobi. Quick was our guide, and by the end, he felt more like an old friend. He showed us around the streets of Nairobi and, more importantly, shared the pieces and places of his life with us. His stories will stay with us forever. Thank you, Quick, and the rest of the Nai Nami team!

The Nai Nami walking tour of uptown, downtown, and midtown Nairobi was a very humbling experience. Morgan was a perfect guide and Sunami did great protecting us along the way. This was our 25th Wedding Anniversary trip so to celebrate, Morgan and Sunami took us to a local pub to cheers the occasion. This was a perfect way to start our 5-day adventure in the Nairobi area. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect guide. Asante Sana, Morgan and Sunami!

We loved the tour and our guide King!! Would definitly recommend :))

My son and I took the walking tour today at 10am. We had privilege and pleasure of being guided by Quick. This is a must experience opportunity, period! It was not a tour, it was an emotional awakening and humbling honor! Walking through the chaotic heart of Nairobi with Nai Nami does not feel like sightseeing; it feels like being trusted with the deepest secrets of another human soul. It was a privilege to hear our lived experience expert guide, Quick, shared the oral publishing of the story of his evolving life. From the very first handshake, the traditional barrier between "tourist" and "guide" completely evaporates. You are not being led by a corporate checklist, but by young men who survived the unforgiving streets and turned their scars into wisdom. Quick’s humble wisdom equal parts authentic, and penetrating. We felt safe and captivated the entire time. We understood our position as welcomed guests invite into the space by a trusted local community leader and expert! No two tours are the same because not two people or experiences are the same. However, their storytelling is raw, unfiltered, and deeply captivating. As they guide you through the bustling markets and hidden alleyways, they share their unique, personal histories of crime, addiction, survival, redemption, and hope. What makes this experience truly unforgettable is the profound shift in perspective and human connection. You begin the journey looking at Nairobi from the outside, but you leave feeling a piece of its heartbeat inside you. It challenges your preconceptions, biases, and ignorance, breaks your heart, and pieces it back together with inspiration. If you want to look at buildings, take a bus. If you want to connect with the resilient, beating heart of humanity, book this experience. It is a masterclass in empathy, human connection, and the power of second chances — and arguably, first chances!” With profound gratitude, Aubrey

The tour was super nice. We had a problem on arrival and the group was very flexible to wait for us. Tai Fun was our guide and his way of showing us around really made the tour very pleasant and interesting. Recommend

We had an amazing time exploring the city with Morgan as our guide! He was able to tell us everything about the city and took us to places we wouldn't be able to come otherwise. He made us feel very safe and was very open about his life. We would highly recommend to take this tour if you wanna see the the real Nairobi!

If you want to get to know a different side of Kenya beyond its fantastic wildlife, I highly recommend the Nai Nami city tour in Nairobi. Our family—with two teenagers—got to explore neighborhoods with our guide Tsunami and his friends that we would never have set foot in without them. They shared their life stories with us, took us to places where they used to live, and answered all our questions without sugarcoating anything or holding anything back. It was an afternoon we’ll never forget, and we hope that Tsunami and the whole group who were with us can serve as role models for many street children, showing them that it’s possible to get off the streets.

Such a great way to learn about Nairobi

We took the walking tour during our trip to a conference in Nairobi. The walking tour was the highlight of the trip. We learned a lot about life in Nairobi, both about politics and life on the street. This is definitely something no one should miss.

My partner and I spent had a really nice afternoon with Morgan from Nai Nami. Morgan is an excellent guide. Not only is he knowledgeable, he is personable, engaging and fun. Throughout the tour Morgan stopped or was stopped by friends to chat. It is unique to be given a tour around a place from a person from that community. There was a moment when we were near a young woman who was being approached by a older man who was intoxicated. Morgan intervened to keep us, and the young woman safe as best as possible. Afterwards, when Morgan checked in with us and explained what happened in more detail, he expressed his concern for the young woman. We asked Morgan some delicate questions about if and how to be respectful visitors to socially and economically challenged neighborhoods in Nairobi. Morgan was thoughtful and gave us insight into the people, what they did, how they work, who they are. It was a privilege to enjoy an afternoon with Morgan, couldn't recommend him more highly.

Honestly, this tour really is an absolute must-do when visiting Nairobi. It's certainly not for the faint-hearted, expect some heavy stories (I've had some tears in my eyes multiple times), but also expect some of the most heart warming people you've ever met. The whole idea and concept of the organization is just great, showing people the realities of living on the streets of Nairobi as a child, while still using their reach and revenue to help current street children. We always felt safe, even it areas a tourist should probably not enter alone. A huge thank you to Quick, Morgan and everyone else we met!

Hands-down the best tour I’ve ever done - and I’ve traveled pretty extensively. It was personal, moving, interesting, and made me feel like I got to experience the authentic Nairobi, and not just the touristy areas.

I had a wonderful experience. I visited three different parts of Nairobi and I had the pleasure to meet with very kind tour guides and learn the history of the places and the people who live in this beautiful, complex, tough but full of life’s city.