Nairobi National Museum at a glance
The Nairobi National Museum stands on Museum Hill, at Kipande Road, closer to the city center than the park gates. It is an easy half-day stop in Nairobi, rain or shine. The galleries cover human evolution, with fossils from Koobi Fora, then Kenyan culture and history, then natural history. The Snake Park next door keeps living reptiles and amphibians and has an aquarium.
The museum is open every day, holidays included, from 08:30 to 17:30. It pairs well with a morning in the national park, so many visitors combine it with Nairobi National Park game drives on one day and the Karen Blixen Museum on another.
What you can see
Three galleries and one outdoor stop.
Human origins
The human evolution displays include fossils from Koobi Fora. This is the part of the museum that explains why Kenya matters for the story of early humans.
Culture and history
These galleries cover Kenyan culture and history. If you wanted to see traditional culture and the Bomas of Kenya are not an option, this is a good substitute in the city.
Natural history
The natural history displays include a mounted elephant and an elephant skeleton in an exhibition hall. They give useful background for a day in Nairobi National Park.
The grounds
The museum garden has trees, shrubs and a large dinosaur sculpture, and the Snake Park with its reptiles, amphibians and aquarium is on the same hill.
Our pick: a guided museum visit
A guided visit to the Nairobi National Museum with hotel pickup.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Nairobi tours and wildlife visits
Game drives, giraffe and elephant visits and city tours that fit around a museum visit, with live prices and availability.
Nairobi museum and Snake Park tickets
Prices valid since 7 May 2026. E / K means adult / child.
| Ticket | Kenya and East Africa citizens | Residents and other Africans | Visitors from outside Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Museum | KES 350 / KES 200 | $9 / $6 | $18 / $9 |
| Snake Park | KES 350 / KES 200 | $6 / $3 | $18 / $9 |
| Combination: museum and Snake Park | KES 600 / KES 300 | $15 / $10 | $25 / $15 |
The Snake Park is not automatically part of the museum ticket, so ask for the combination ticket if you want both. For Kenya and East Africa citizens and for visitors from outside Africa, the adult combination costs less than two single tickets. For residents and other Africans, the adult combination equals the two singles at $15. For most visitors from abroad who want to see both, the combination ticket at $25 for adults is the better value.
Prices are listed per person for 2026 and can change, so check the amount when you buy.
Opening hours and night tours
When the doors are open.
Daily hours
The museum is open every day from 08:30 to 17:30, holidays included. Plan your arrival with the closing time in mind, especially if you add the Snake Park.
Night tours for groups
A night tour runs from 18:00 to 22:00. It is offered only to organized groups of 10 or more people, and it has to be arranged in advance. It is not available on dates that are privately booked.
No open evening visits
The museum does not run an evening program that anyone can walk into. If you are travelling alone or as a pair, plan for daytime.
Nairobi museum and Snake Park in your day
How the museum fits with other stops.
Karen Blixen Museum
A second museum in Karen, open daily 08:30–17:30.
Where to stay near the park
Museum Hill, Lang'ata and Karen compared by area.
From the airport to the park
Gates, routes and what to allow for.
Things to do in Nairobi
Museums, wildlife visits and nature in one list.
The museum sits closer to the city center than the park gates. That makes it a good choice for the first or last day of a trip, when you want something close to your hotel. Keep an eye on traffic on the way and do not stack a museum, the Giraffe Centre and a game drive into one day.
Nairobi National Museum: frequently asked questions
What are the opening hours of the Nairobi National Museum?
Every day from 08:30 to 17:30, holidays included. Night tours from 18:00 to 22:00 are for organized groups of 10 or more and need to be arranged in advance.
How much is a ticket for the National Museum?
Since 7 May 2026, adults from outside Africa pay $18 and children $9. Kenya and East Africa citizens pay KES 350 for adults and KES 200 for children. Residents and other Africans pay $9 and $6.
Is the Snake Park included in the museum ticket?
No. The Snake Park has its own ticket, and there is a combination ticket for both: $25 for adults from outside Africa and $15 for children, or KES 600 and KES 300 for Kenya and East Africa citizens.
What is in the Snake Park?
It keeps living reptiles and amphibians and has an aquarium. It is a separate attraction on the same hill as the museum.
Can I visit the museum in the evening?
Only on a group night tour, which needs 10 or more people, is arranged in advance and runs from 18:00 to 22:00. It is not offered on dates that are privately booked.
Is this the official website of the Nairobi National Museum?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the National Museums of Kenya and does not sell museum tickets.