The Bomas of Kenya is a cultural center where tourists can visit more than one hundreds huts representing
15 of the most important tribes of Kenya (out of the 42 officially recognized tribes in the country.) It is a very nice, quiet place where you can lose yourself in Kenyan culture for an hour or two. At the entrance you can ask for a guide who will tell you a little more about every tribe that is represented in the center. Most of them can even be visited inside and this way you can have a first hand experience of the conditions in which Kenyan tribes live. Most of the tribes have a rather identical form of organization: the largest hut is generally the one belonging to the husband. Next to his hut there are 2-3 huts for each of his wives. Several granaries will also be noticed next to each wife’s hut. You should definitely get inside to see the meager conditions and the simplicity of these houses (if you can call them like that.) There are some differences between the huts built in this center but in many cases these differences are hardly noticeable. I think the most different huts are the one of the Luo, Maasai, the Kikuyu and the pastoralist communities of Northern Kenya. Most other huts are a combination of materials and styles of these styles.
On your way out, at the entrance, you can get inside a pretty large auditorium where between 2.30 and 4.00 pm musicians and dancers perform traditional music and dances from the 15 tribes represented in the complex. I got there in the morning and did not have enough time to wait to see them perform but if you do have the time, or you arrive there at around 2 pm, don’t hesitate to visit the place and sing with the locals
For me, honestly, the place wasn’t so amazing since I was born and bred in Romania. There is a place called Sibiu where people can go and visit what Romanians call the Village Museum. This place is identical to the Bomas of Kenya. The only difference is that the Romanian Village Museum is 10 times bigger than the one from Nairobi and therefore more breathtaking. I was however very surprised to see that the architectural styles of the two cultures, the Romanian and the Kenyan, are quite similar.
You don’t believe me? See for yourself!
Price per person: 600 Kenyan Shillings
Website: www.bomasofkenya.co.ke
This should be your third stop after the Nairobi Safari Walk and the David Sheldrik Wildlife Trust, for no other reasons but the location of the attraction.



















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