Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour

Nimoh was amazing. She had lots of information on life in Kenya and shared all about her tribe and her clan. Her English was excellent and she was an excellent communicator. We made an amazing meal at her house. I have traveled all over the world and had lots of tours and this experience was an all time favorite. This was an excellent way to learn about everyday Kenyan life. !

It was such a fun experience our guide /cook was friendly and personable she educated us about how Kenyans shop and food system. The bus ride was an adventure. The preparation of the food at her home was wonderful. The food was delicious . It was a memorable and absolutely wonderful experience.an added bonus another guest husband is from my hometown. We plan to get together next month. An added bonus made a friend.

Whenever I travel, I love taking cooking classes to experience the local culture. I've taken classes in different places around the world, but this was hands down the VERY BEST cooking experience I've ever had! What made this experience so special was that it wasn't just a cooking class—it was a true cultural adventure! Riding a local bus, shopping for fresh ingredients at a local market, and then cooking an authentic meal in a home, it was like getting THREE amazing experiences in ONE tour! And then there's Wairimu, our wonderful host! She was incredibly personable, warm, welcoming, and engaging. She made us feel like we were spending the day with a friend rather than participating in a tour. Her personality and hospitality made an already amazing experience even more memorable! I absolutely LOVED every minute of it! This is exactly the kind of authentic, immersive experience I look for when traveling. If you're visiting Nairobi and want to experience the culture beyond the typical tourist attractions, THIS IS THE ONE! I cannot recommend Wairimu and this experience enough! ❤️

It was a fantastic day! We learned so much about the culture. The food was great, but the ride on the bus and the visit to the market were also really fun, interesting and memorable experiences. We felt safe and well prepared for all elements of the day. Our guide/instructor -- Nimoh (of Cooking with Nimoh) -- was incredibly personable, eager to share information and stories, a skilled chef and a good teacher. Special dietary needs in our group of 3 were all accommodated. Did I mention the food was excellent? It was, a nd although I am a decent cook, I learned several very practical, useful tips. This was the best part of my 2+ week vacation so far. Do it!

We had a great time! Loved riding the local bus and seeing the local market. Cooking was super fun and delicious food for lunch! Nihmo was a wonderful teacher and guide.

This was so much more than just a tour — it was an incredible opportunity to experience everyday Kenyan life and learn about the local culture firsthand. We took a local bus to an authentic African market with our guide, picked out fresh ingredients and traditional foods, and then had the amazing opportunity to return to her home, where she taught us how to prepare a delicious, traditional Kenyan meal from her tribe. Getting to experience the food, traditions, and hospitality in such a personal way was truly special. Our guide was welcoming, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing her culture with us. Being invited into her home made the experience feel genuine and meaningful, rather than just another tourist activity. If you’re visiting Kenya and want to go beyond the typical tourist attractions, I cannot recommend this experience enough! It was one of the highlights of our trip and a memory we will cherish for a long time. Five stars without a doubt! 🇰🇪❤️

This evening was great fun, and very informative too. Nimoh seems to know everyone! She is from the Kikuyu tribe, and the dishes that we made together were things that might be served at a Kikuyu wedding or similar celebration. She told us a lot about Kenyan and tribal tradition and culture. Recommended!

Wonderful experience! Our host was a wealth of information. She was so kind to have us in her home and gave us this experience. I will say, plan accordingly, it said it was 3.5 hours but I think when it all done, it had been 5 hours. True local experience. I must do!

Nimoh was wonderful! Would recommend this experience to anyone wanting to see authentic life in Kenya.

Nimoh is wonderful. She’ll take you shopping in the market, and then to her home to prepare a traditional Kenyan meal. You’ll get to ride on the city bus too, not to be missed. A definite highlight of our 2 week trip to Nairobi.

Nimoh is such a breath of fresh air. She was extremely kind, informative and handled our experience with such love and care. This was the first activity of our Kenya trip and she set the bar. Incredibly grateful to have met her and indulge in the Kenyan food culture. This wasn’t a 10/10 experience. More like 100/10!!!!

Excellent way to see Nairobi way of living when it comes to the produce and meat markets, public transportation and dealing with traffic as well as opportunity to prepare and eat an authentic Kenyan meal using all local and fresh ingredients.

I wasn’t sure what to expect being our second day in Nairobi which has been a little overwhelming, however Nimoh expertly took us under her wing and we had the best experience. Visiting the market and butcher to buy fresh and ripe produce was a highlight. Being welcomed into Nimoh’s home for the cooking class and resultant feast was an absolute privilege. The food was simple and delicious. Made with passion and tradition. Highly recommend cooking with Nimoh.

We had a wonderful time! The market tour was informative and fun, Nimo knew a lot of the vendors so there was a lot of interaction. The local bus ride was awesome - first time on a bus like that. Once we were at her home the cooking class taught us new techniques and the food was yummy. So glad we picked this tour!

This experience was wonderful. Nimoh is a gifted instructor who made the whole experience very positive. She communicated prior to the class with an informative email. The shopping experience at the market was very informative and gave a glimpse into the life of a Kenyan. We learned how to prepare a traditional meal with everyone given a chance to participate. We then enjoyed the meal and learned about Kenyan wedding traditions. I would recommend this experience to everyone!

Nimoh is wonderful! We had a fantastic day and really got to experience everyday Kenyan life. We enjoyed the cooking class and, of course, the delicious food. She was very generous with her time and stayed much longer than originally planned, as we wanted to do some additional shopping and spent more time exploring the market.

We went food shopping at the market which was an experience in itself!! We then helped to prep and cook a wonderful traditional Kenyan meal which was delicious! Nimoh shared her knowledge about food and nutrition and was a pleasure to spend the evening with!

Once the class got started, it was good. However, the provider was almost an hour late to the meeting point. Then you must pay to take a bus, or pay more for a private bus, to the market which took 30 minutes from meeting to market. So the tour FINALLY started 90 minutes after the schedule. Then you have to bus to the providers house. From this point forward it was fine but we were just starting so late. I would not do this tour again.

She was so wonderful and very knowledgeable. You could tell she has a great relationship with the community. She did a great job of ensuring everyone's comfortability level. She provided clear directions throughout the entire process. She welcomes all into her home and that was surprising. The experience was definitely a 10 out of 10.

We had such a wonderful experience with Nimoh! She was so friendly and knowledgeable and a great ambassador of Kenya and the Kikuyu people. We rode the local buses, experienced the market which was amazing, the local butcher, and the cooking of a traditional meal. It was so delicious! I would recommend this to anyone!

We have done A LOT of cooking classes and excursions during our travels, and this was hands-down one of the best we’ve ever experienced. In fact, it was the highlight of our time in Nairobi! The experience was made truly special by our guide, Nimoh. From the moment she arrived, we knew we were going to have an amazing day. She was energetic, enthusiastic, incredibly knowledgeable, and so much fun to be around. By the end of the experience, it honestly felt like we were spending the day with a friend rather than on a tour. We started by taking a local Nairobi bus, which was an experience in itself! Nimoh then took us through a local market, explaining the ingredients and giving us an authentic glimpse into everyday Kenyan life. We learned about how people shop for fresh ingredients and cook whole foods every day. The market vendors were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and Nimoh made the experience engaging and fun. We even stopped at the butcher to buy meat for our meal! We then went to Nimoh’s home, where we spent more than two hours preparing an incredible Kenyan meal together. While we cooked, she shared so much about Kenyan culture, family life, traditions, and weddings. She was open, warm, funny, and happy to answer every question we had. At some point, we realized we weren’t just taking a cooking class—we were sitting in someone’s home, learning about their life and culture, and genuinely connecting with her. And the food? Delicious! But honestly, the company was even better. What made this experience stand out from other cooking classes we’ve done around the world was how personal and authentic it felt. Nimoh’s personality and passion made the entire day unforgettable. If you’re visiting Nairobi and can only do one excursion, DO THIS ONE. Don’t hesitate. It was fantastic, and without a doubt, the highlight of our trip. And if you get Nimoh as your guide, you are in for an absolute treat!

Email from Waimaru at 10:30 am asking us to switch from 5:00 class to 1:00 class that day. Advised we could not change as just arriving at airport. She reconfirmed us for 5:00 class. At 3:30 pm, an hour and a half before class was to start, got another email from Waimaru saying she was cancelling 5:00 class that day. Big disappointment!

My family really enjoyed making food and sharing stories with our host and cook. Going to the market and getting fresh food that we were able to cook ourselves added to our overall experience!

What an amazing time. Hostess was born and raised in Nairobi, cooking class and then food tasted absolutely amazing. She was such a wealth of knowledge, fun, bubbly and told us so much about local habits, traditions and culture. Very funny and I must say food out of this world. This is a must do experience

I had a wonderful day with Nimoh. We rode the local buses together and shopped for the ingredients for our lunch at the markets before Nimoh warmly invited me into her home, where we cooked and shared a delicious meal together. A beautiful experience from start to finish, I highly recommend this tour to anybody visiting Nairobi who wants to have a special and unique experience.

We have told so many people about our wonderful afternoon with Nimoh! We enjoyed every part of the class, from visiting the market to preparing the meal and catching the Nairobi buses. The meal itself was INCREDIBLE and we also really enjoyed learning about Kikuyu culture. Nimoh is so generous with her time and knowledge. We could not recommend enough as something to do in Nairobi

Nimoh was incredible! She was so generous with her experience and culture and the market and public transportation experiences are something I don't think I would have been able to experience otherwise. If you like food and do one thing I Nairobi, do this!!

Absolutely fantastic market tour and class with Wairimu for our family of 4 with 2 teenagers. A great way to experience a slice of local life in Nairobi.

UNRELIABLE HOST! As I was unwell, I had messaged the host the night before my class to ask if it was possible to reschedule - if she had said no, I would have attended my booked morning session. She said it was possible to push my booking to the evening on the same day - very kind of her. We had planned to go to the meeting point as agreed the night before. We were in the area visiting a nearby temple when Wairimu messaged 3 hours before our new slot saying the previous class overran and she can no longer honour our agreed session. She suggested rescheduling and when we responded to her availability she completely ignored our emails, texts and calls. Completely unreachable! Had she said it was not possible to reschedule I would have attended the first session. She agreed to change it, cancelled on us last minute and then continued to ignore us for the rest of the 2 weeks we had in kenya. We did not get to do this cooking class. There are other reviews who also had similar issues with this host, DO NOT IGNORE! When she finally replied, she completely ignored the fact that she ended up cancelling on us and refused to give us an explanation for ignoring us or give us any sort of refund/compensation. Viator were also completely useless and not willing to look at the proof I provided. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

My experience with this tour company was extremely disappointing because I was never able to join the tour. The pickup was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. I was running a little late due to heavy traffic, so I immediately contacted the guide. He told me that the group was at the market and that I could meet them at the entrance. He also shared his live location with me. I took an Uber to the market and, according to the live location, I was only about five minutes away from the group. When I arrived, my Uber driver was kind enough to help me look for the guide. We walked around the market, but he was nowhere to be found. Before arriving, I had repeatedly asked the guide exactly where I should meet the group, but he never replied. I assumed I would be able to find him using the live location he had shared. However, once I got there, I called him several times and he never answered. Shortly afterward, he disconnected from the internet, so I could no longer see his live location. My Uber driver even tried calling him from his Kenyan phone number, but by then the guide had switched off his phone completely. This was extremely unprofessional. I made every reasonable effort to join the tour after following the guide’s instructions, but he became completely unreachable. He had told me that he was with the group, yet I couldn’t find him anywhere. Instead of helping me locate them, he ignored my messages, stopped answering calls, disconnected from the internet, and eventually turned off his phone altogether. The biggest issue was not that I was slightly delayed because of traffic—it was that the guide made himself completely unreachable, leaving me with no way to contact him or locate the group. As a result, I missed the entire tour despite making every effort to join it.

Nimoh was great at giving us a memorable experience. She made us feel very safe on the local buses and in the local market. We were travelling with 2 kids aged 9-11 and my daughter can get very nervous in these situations but Nimoh looked after us so well she was fine. The cooking and eating at her apartmentbwas also great. Thank you so much. We are really glad we booked this.

Being able to explore the outdoor markets like a local was incredible, as was learning how Nairobians shop and prepare food. This was an absolute highlight to our trip to Kenya! We were paired with a lovely Dutch family for our dinner, and it was most enjoyable preparing the produce as a group, learning about Nairobi life along the way. Nimoh taught us a lot, and we also adored her two cats. Oh, and the meal we all made together was yummy! PS – We needed to head straight to the airport after dinner, and Nimoh was kind enough to let us arrive early and store our bags at her apartment so we didn’t have to lug them through the markets.

We traveled with a group and arrived a day early before the group tour started, so booked this tour with our free day. My husband and I took the evening tour and WOW! What an experience!!! Wairmu was so welcoming, professional, and extremely informative about her culture. Like others have said, she met us and then we took a Matatu DJ bus to the market, which was the perfect way to begin our tour…and was an experience in and of itself. Then, she gave us some choices of meals to choose from as we shopped like a Kenyan for our groceries. She proceeded to cook and explain as we helped her chop /etc. We chose a traditional Kikuyu tribal meal, which was delicious. During dinner we watched a traditional tribal wedding as she explained each part of the wedding. We left full with a delicious meal and rich with new knowledge of the tribes and their customs. HIGHLY recommend this tour/food class!!!!

Brilliant, expeienced things I would otherwise not had the opportunity to experience.

This is an absolute must do in Nairobi! Nimoh was so awesome and I felt like I learned a lot not only about the local food, but also about the culture. She guided us through a local market where we got the ingredients and then to her home to prepare the food. As we were eating the meal she shared about the local culture and we loved the experience. Would highly recommend!

This was a great authentic experience. From the market to the bus ride and then cooking in a Nairobi home. Nimoh was very entertaining knowledgeable and kind. I totally loved this cooking lesson and can’t wait to cook for my friends and family at home.

This is a cultural experience of cooking a traditional Kenyan meal. Nimoh took us to the market and we chose the ingredients. In the market Nimoh explained the various fruit and vegetables that are characteristic of many Kenyan dishes. We then went to her apartment and prepared the ingredients for a meal and talked and laughed. It was an educational experience but was also great fun.

Not what we expected. Down to earth to say the least. For us, this is not the city to use public transportation for foreigners. Host is very nice and sweet.

We had a wonderful morning with Nimoh. Her explanation of the various foods at the market was very interesting, and it was great to meet some of the locals there. Cooking at her home was lovely. Nice and relaxed and it was great to be hands on. The traditional meal was delicious and highlighted the flavours of the ingredients we had shopped for. The real highlight though was the conversation, which was wide ranging and a real eye opener for us and our teenage sons. I thoroughly recommend this to others.

This was a complete immersion experience! It takes you deep inside the every day life of a person living in Nairobi. The markets, the food, the public transportation, the cooking methods, the eating with your hands. All of it was authentic. Nimoh was fabulous! She answered all of our questions about life in Nairobi while sharing her comfortable and welcoming apartment. She should have her own Food Network show. Her skills and personality are made for television.

A great way to experience the less touristy side to Nairobi. Catching the crazy local buses and checking out the conditions at the local community produce market sprawling along the side of a busy road are things you would not otherwise see or do unless living in Nairobi. Nehmo is a charming, efficient and informative host - obviously well known and well liked in her community so I felt safe and relaxed in her company. She chose the best and freshest produce at the market, and meat at the butchery before we headed to her lovely apartment for the cooking lesson. The building was without power on our day but this had not worried her one bit - we were able to make a delicious lunch that we all enjoyed. Thoroughly recommend this tour to anyone interested in seeing a different side to Nairobi, meeting locals and eating good food.

So much more than a cooking class... the activity represented genuine immersion into life within this vibrant city. The activity included riding a local bus (a truly unique experience), and a visit to one of the city's largest food markets (purchasing dinner supplies like a local). The conversation during dinner was fun, open, and insightful, and our dinner menu represented delicious Kenyan cooking. Each step along the tour/class provided truly unique memories for us!

This is so much more than a cooking class. I was a little nervous about meeting a stranger and going to their home, but we felt 100% comfortable the entire time. Nimoh was a wonderful guide on the matatus and through the traditional produce market, and was knowledgeable and passionate about teaching cooking while also sharing her cultural traditions and those of Kenya in general. Do not hesitate to book this tour!

This is not just a cooking lesson this is an expirience, starting from the moment you meet this hostess every minute is worth remembering. Nimoh is an excellent hostess who has thought through every little detail, would highly recommenr

A must do. What a lesson in culture as well as cooking. She made you feel safe crossing the street, riding the bus and in the market. We would not have known what to do without her. So fun and interesting. Great start to our trip through Africa.

This was the best expirence I ever had in Kenya .They were very kind, nice and forgiving

I had such a wonderful experience! Nimoh has such a warm and inviting personality. She’s incredibly knowledgeable with Kenyan food and history/culture. This tour gives you a true taste of local life with the local bus ride and local market. I learned how to cook Kenyan dishes and I am so excited to cook again by myself.

This was the best cooking experience I’ve ever had. Nimoh’s attention to detail far exceeds any tour I’ve taken. From the details of the bus service to the produce market engagement with vendors and explanation of choosing quality vegetables was exceptional. Of course, her cooking skills are to be envied. What a delicious meal! This tour is not to be missed and highly recommended. Enjoy!

The local food tour with Nimoh was very nice. We loved that the experience started taking the matatus so that we could get a taste of daily life as a Nairobian. The visit to the market was wonderful, with lots of fruits, herbs, and vegetables, walking through narrow paths and finding the products for the menu. Once at Nimoh's house, we felt at home, very comfortable, and we cooked a delicious, exquisite meal. We learnt about Kenyan food from a particular ethnicity and not only as food as substance but also as identity, memory, and resistance.