Karen

The area is named after Karen Blixen, the Danish author of the colonial memoir Out of Africa; her farm occupied the land where the suburb now stands. Blixen’s home has since become a museum and is a local tourist attraction, other tourist attractions are the giraffe center, the exclusive giraffe manor and the ololua nature trails. Karen lies south-west of Nairobi CBD. It borders the Ngong Forest and is home to the Ngong Racecourse. Karen and Langata jointly form an area of mid to high-income residents. It is a vibrant residential suburb characterized by big mansions, many trees, tranquil atmosphere, and plush gardens. Karen is also a center for many upscale restaurants and hotels in the city, offering cuisines from around the country and the world. There is a branch of the Red Cross in Karen.