August 7th Memorial Park

The basics

The August 7th Memorial Park was established as a symbol of peace and hope from tragedy. The complex contains a museum dedicated to explaining the impact of terrorism and the need for tolerance and public outreach—the Peace Memorial Museum—and the Memorial Gardens, a tranquil space commemorating the 218 victims and featuring a sculpture made from wreckage from the blast. There is also a 600-seater conference venue that hosts events throughout the year.

Things to know before you go

• Charges to enter the Memorial Park are 50 Kenyan Shillings ($.35) per person. A separate admission ticket is needed to access the on-site museum, which costs 100 Kenyan Shillings ($.70) for residents and 150 ($1) for non-residents.

• Bring your student identification because enrolled students receive a 50 percent discount on admission to the museum.

• The Memorial Park is known for its lush and relaxing gardens in the bustle of Nairobi’s city center. The site offers complimentary Wi-Fi, encouraging people to come and sit for a while.

• All the plants in the Memorial Garden are indigenous to Kenya, and the featured rocks were collected from Kenyan riverbeds. This is meant to highlight the broad impact of the blasts on Kenyan society.

• The Memorial Garden features a memorial wall where the names of the 218 victims are recorded. To learn more about the lives of those killed in the bombing and information about the terrorist attack, a visit to the museum is highly recommended.

How to get there

The August 7th Memorial Park is located at the junction of Moi and Haile Selassie Avenues in downtown Nairobi, near Nairobi Railway Station in the Central Business District. It is a 6-minute walk from the Kenyatta International Convention Centre and easily reachable from other downtown attractions and hotels. The park is sometimes included on a stop on half or full-day tours of Nairobi, some of which may offer hotel transfers.

When to get there

The August 7th Memorial Park is open daily from 6am until 6pm. Note that the Peace Memorial Museum keeps shorter hours; it is open Monday through Saturday from 9am until 6pm. On Sunday, the museum only opens in the afternoon from 1pm until 5pm. Check the Memorial Park’s social media feeds for notable closings and an up-to-date schedule of events, from concerts to commemorative activities each anniversary.

Exploring Nairobi’s bustling downtown district

The Central Business District (shortened as CBD) is home to a handful of Nairobi’s most popular attractions. The vibrant neighborhood is pedestrian-friendly relative to other parts of Nairobi, making it a popular destination for walking tours of the capital. Must-see sights include the sprawling, history-filled Nairobi National Museum, panoramic city views from the upper floor of Kenyatta International Conference Center, the informative Nairobi Railway Museum, and the Maasai Market—a great place to shop for handicrafts.