Tourist fantasies of Kenya often conjure images of wide-open wilderness and free-roaming animals. But its capital is a delightfully cosmopolitan counterpoint to the country’s wilder draws – swaying savanna is traded in for rooftop bars, five-star hotels, and world-class restaurants in this buzzy city.

You can see Nairobi’s vibrant creative scene on display at the Bomas of Kenya, a cultural centre which hosts traditional tribal song and dance performances conceived by resident artists. Nairobi also has a wealth of excellent museums, including the impressively wide-ranging Nairobi National Museum and the beautiful, mud-built African Heritage House. For the motor heads, the Nairobi Railway Museum displays trains from the iconic East African Railways.

Still, to get a taste of the natural lures that make Kenya so enticing, you don’t need to go too far. Just south of the city, you’ll find the sprawling, wildlife-teeming Nairobi National Park. Take in its untamed beauty by following the Nairobi Safari Walk, a long boardwalk that offers walkers a prime look at some of the park’s animal residents, including pygmy hippos and albino zebras. The northeast corner is occupied by the ever-popular David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where visitors can have close encounters with orphaned black rhinos and baby elephants. Just outside the park, the Giraffe Centre houses endangered long-necked denizens, who are known for planting kisses on puckered tourists. It’s all just so romantic, isn’t it?